Trouble for Taylor? From the Tip Line...

From the tip line: Sonny's not dumb. This Sunday, Sonny will be speaking at one of the largest African American churches in Middle Georgia. He will be the guest of Rev. Watson, pastor of Beulahland Baptist Church in Macon, hosting Teacher Appreciation Day. I understand that this event, complete with gifts for teachers, was announced over the intercoms in some of our public schools in Bibb County today. (That seems just a bit like Sonny using school resources-again-to politic.) Talk about taking aim at Taylor's base. This is not good news for Dems.

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Mental health care may take hit in Middle Georgia

Mental health care may take hit in Middle Georgia
See article by reporter Matt Barnwell of the Macon Telegraph.
Go to www.macon.com and click on Houston-Peach to read thearticle.
Don't delay too long to read this article while it is still on line.
DHR reps say that funds to publicmental health care haven't been cut,
just sort of rearranged, but consumers, families, and public mental
health agencies are feeling the rearrangements.

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Perdue's Dirty Little Secret

So, we're at 46th instead of 49th in SAT scores, and I'm supposed to throw a party. Test scores in the math and verbal sections actually dropped three points, and Sonny's proud. I have a Governor who thinks that a decline in SAT scores is something to celebrate. I have a Governor who apparently aspires to be 46th in the nation. Somebody pinch me. Wake me up. This has to be a nightmare. It gets worse. Perdue didn't fix the test, but he "fixed" who takes the test. Keep reading.

Sonny's dirty little secret is that the % of students taking the test declined from 75% to 70%, largely because some students (presumably those who tended not to do so well on the test) are no longer required to take it. Now there's a political solution to an education problem: if you don't like the test scores, just change who's taking the test. In some communities the drop in test-takers was dramatic. For example, only 15 students in Twiggs County and 30 students in Wilkinson County took the test. That's right, to meet the needs of politicians who don't want to face their own failure, some students don't even have the opportunity to fail: they're not even in the game anymore.

Sonny Perdue and his Team have repeatedly demonstrated their disdain for public education. He brazenly cut billions from education during a term when he knew that he had to face re-election. Sure, with a surplus in the bank, he has tossed education a bone in an election year, but friend of public schools? I think not!

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Check Out This Host List! Wow!

Below is an invitation to a Macon fundraiser for Lauren Benedict, candidate for Georgia HD 140. Lauren is working hard to take back this seat, currently held by a freshman Republican who won by only 80 votes. She is definitely a candidate we can all get behind. Check out the host list for this party, and then save the date and come on down to Macon for a great time with a great candidate! Your contribution can be made online by clicking here.

HOSTS


Aurelia Adams
Hon. Joe Allen
R. Lars Anderson
Hon. Roy Barnes
Hon. Tommy Barnes
Dr. Catherine Bomberger & Duke Groover
Hon. Tom Bordeaux
Wendy & Russell Boston
Hon. Dianne Brannen
Dr. Palmira Braswell
Hon. Robert Brown
Melanie & Chuck Byrd
Hon. Willette Hill-Chambliss
Tiffany and David Cusson
Tracey L. Dellacona
Hon. Earl Dennard
Zack Dozier
Peggy DuBose & Bob Rush
Melita Easters
Mike Gardner
Hon. Sam Hart
Mercedes & Dr. Carlos Giron
Melanie Goux
Rev. Camille Hegg
Yolanda & Terrill Hill
Hon. Ike Liston
Terry Holland & Jeff Logan
Mary Long
Hon. David Lucas
Hon. Elaine Lucas
Charlotte McMullan
Hon. Filomena Mullis

Mary & Hon. Jerry Modena
Amy & Daryl Morton
Rudolph Patterson
Hon. Betty Phillips
Hon. Anita Ponder
Hon. DuBose Porter
Katie & Jeff Powers
Hon. Nikki Randall
Carmel Sanders
Gene Shinholster
Nancy Terrill & Camp Bacon
Shelly Tice
Hon. Mary Wilder
Joni Woolf
Hon. Brenda Youmas


List In Formation


Please join us for a
reception to elect

Lauren Benedict

to the

Georgia House of Representatives

Tuesday, September 12, 2006
6:00-8:00 p.m.

At the Home of Duke Groover and Dr. Catherine Bomberger
2417 Clayton Street 31204
Macon, GA 31201

$100 suggested minimum contribution

RSVP to Amy Morton at (478) 741-1138
or by emailing amy@aol.com

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Getting "Real" With Max Cleland

If you have HBO, you know what time of year it is. "Real Time" with Bill Maher is back, and last night our very own former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland was one of his guests. Max made it a point to say that one of his fellow war heroes, Jack Murtha, is coming under a "Swift Boat" sort of attack in Penn. Max is helping to organize a demonstration on his behalf, vowing not to let "them" do to Jack what was done to him, and done to John Kerry. There's a special place in hell for those who intentionally and falsely tarnish a soldier's record to gain power for themselves. And it's gettin' crowded....

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Reports of Her Demise are Greatly Exaggerated...

Last night, Georgia's WIN List supporters and candidates heard from two of the classiest women in Georgia politics: Cathy Cox and Shirley Franklin. While Cathy was unable to attend the event, she sent a letter to be read as Georgia's WIN List hosted our endorsed candidates and supporters at the home of Melita Easters. Her words were encouraging and forward focused, especially to all of us who are committed to electing Democrats, and in particular Democratic women, in Georgia. It was great to hear from her.

This was just one of the highlights of a fabulous evening. Several of our endorsed candidates who have already won their elections were there and provided the inspiration we needed to keep raising the "dough" to help our three statewide candidates and our remaining senate and house candidates WIN in November. Nothing is quite as inspiring as success!

On that note, Stacey Godfrey, chair of our candidate committee, announced that fifteen of the twenty women we endorsed, who had competition in the primary, won their races. That is an astounding success rate of 75%. Mayor Franklin's remarks to the group of a hundred or more inspired us all to do what we need to do to get these great women elected! As always, she made us all proud. It was such a pleasure to have her there. What a class act.

To learn more about Georgia's WIN List, click here.

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Bipartisan health forum will feature candidates from HD 136,145,146 in Warner Robins Sept. 18

CONTACT:A. James Rockefeller 478-953-6955 ajr@rockefellerlawcenter.com
HEALTH FORUM TO ADDRESS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO AREA FAMILIES
Warner Robins, GA – A healthcare forum will be held on MONDAY, September 18 from
6:30-8:15 p.m. at Middle Georgia Technical College, 80 Cohen Walker Drive, Warner Robins. All six (6) candidates for Georgia State House of Representative for Districts 136, 145, and 146 will be present or have representatives from their campaigns. They will discuss political solutions to general health care issues -- including rising health care costs and the continuing viability of community hospitals -- and mental health & substance abuse -- especially the rise in methamphetamine addiction and Georgia’s structure of community-based mental health treatment. The initial phases of the forum will be moderated, with questions posed to all six (6) candidates directly by the event moderator; the second portion will include questions posed by audience members. The general public and media are invited.

The event is sponsored by the following agencies:
Houston County Drug and Alcohol Council (HODAC)
National Association of Mentally Ill (NAMI)
Families Against Methamphetamine Abuse, Inc. (FAMA)

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Preventing 800,000 Abortions a Year

That's what the research says can happen as a result of today's decision by the FDA to allow OTC access to Emergency Contraception (EC). This is long past due and a decision to celebrate. In addition to preventing as many as 1.5 million unplanned pregnancies a year, some estimate that this move will prevent as many as 800,000 abortions.

When Georgia ranks 41st in the nation in rate of teen (15-17) pregnancies, and almost half a million of Georgia's children live in poverty, it is clear that unplanned pregnancy is a public health crisis. This is one step toward prevention. The next step is making sure that those teens have access to this important form of birth control.

Now maybe we'll hear something on the HPV vaccine....

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Women Trending Democratic, But Not Toward Taylor

Based on the results of two recent polls, it appears that while 60% of Southern women are prepared to support a Democrat for Congress, Georgia women favor Perdue over Taylor by eleven points (Perdue 47%, Taylor 36%).

Two recent polls, one conducted by Insider Advantage and the other conducted by AP-Ipsos, together paint a very discouraging picture for Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor. The Ap-Ipsos poll found that in a generic house race, Republicans are behind Democrats in all regions of the country, even in the South where in 2004, among women, Bush got 54% of the vote. (The South was the only region where Bush won among women.) It appears that the Republican advantage among Southern women has now evaporated, with 60% of female registered voters now saying that they would vote for the Democrat in their congressional district, and 61% of Southern women saying that they disapprove of Bush's job performance.

The Insider Advantage poll shows Perdue still hovering below the 50% mark but leading Taylor overall 49% to 32% with 19% undecided. Certainly, a lot can change between now and November, but Perdue leading among female voters and pulling 19% of Democrats with 21% undecided is not good news.

I have said this before: it is not enough to talk about what women or Democrats who supported Cathy Cox "ought" to do. This election will come down to what they actually choose to do. It's the result that matters, not who's fault it is if Taylor loses. Here's what Matt Towery had to say:

"These numbers mean Taylor must do two things in the coming weeks, build himself up and tear Perdue down. But there are lingering issues from the brutal primary battle that still haven't been put to rest. For one thing, the Taylor campaign's lawyer still is suing the Cox press spokesman over an issue that flared in the final weeks of that campaign. Whoever has that lawsuit still going should be drawn and quartered because if they think they're going to win this race without Cathy Cox, they're insane. This poll screams that."

In the past when the issue of this lawsuit continuing has been raised, folks have been quick to point out that it is not Taylor who is doing the suing here. True, but the reality is that the lawsuit was born in the heat of the primary and the plaintiff is represented by the Taylor campaign's attorney. The fact that the issue continues to be discussed, privately and publicly, is an indicator that this is a problem for Taylor. In my conversations with women, it is among the top two or three reasons they give for why they are wavering in their support for him. Will this issue make or break the election? I don't know, but it has the potential to become an albatross around the neck of the Lt. Governor who is going to be scrambling for every vote he can get in November.

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Georgia GOP Hall of Shame

You know all that money Sonny spent in his unsuccessful attempt to attract the NASCAR Hall of Fame to Atlanta? Based on a story in today's AJC, perhaps we can put those plans to work creating The Georgia GOP Hall of Shame. I co-nominate Sonny Perdue and Mike Bowers to be the first inductees. I have never seen a political party so adept at choosing their worst violator to be the spokesperson on a particular issue.

Sonny, "the most ethically challenged governor in Georgia's history" (Mike Jablonski), and the first sitting governor to found guilty of campaign disclosure law violations, ordered to repay more than $18,000.00 and fined $1,900.00, chooses none other than Mike Bowers, himself fined $3,600 by the Ethics Commission in 1997 for disclosure violations, to call for "quick action" on the ethics charges against Taylor. Look, if Taylor took money he was not supposed to, then he needs to pay the money back, pay his fine and take responsibility. But Perdue and Bowers might want to find someone with clean hands to express their righteous indignation.

This idea, of having the person with the least moral authority embrace an issue, is a Rove tactic, and an effective one at that. Using it does require a profound lack of self-awareness, or maybe just some good old fashioned sociopathy. Nationally, the DSCC has an online version of a national GOP Hall of Shame. It includes the likes of Georgia Allen, Dick Cheney, Jack Abramoff, Michael Scanlon and Karl Rove.

So, I think that I will begin a Georgia GOP Hall of Shame over at Georgia Women Vote!. I will take nominations, complete with a short explanation of why your nominee is particularly worthy and provide this link back here. Feel free to post nominations here. Hypocrites will get priority listings!

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Helping WIN Women WIN!

This Thursday, at the home of Meltia Easters, Georgia's WIN List will host a very important debut. We will spotlight our endorsed candidates who have won their primary elections and, with your help, are going to WIN in November. WIN List, a political action committee committed to helping elect qualified, pro-choice Democratic women, is a great place to invest your political dollars. Already this cycle, three new women, Margaret Kaiser, Stacey Abrams and Robbin Shipp, all endorsed by WIN, have won seats in the General Assembly.

Why give to WIN? Because WIN List carefully recruits, trains and screens our endorsed candidates before we invest your money in their races. It's no accident that WIN List women, WIN! In 2004, when the Georgia sun did not shine so brightly on Democrats, 83% (20 of 26) WIN-endorsed candidates won their races! Whether you are a longtime supporter of WIN or have never attended a WIN event, I hope that you will come this Thursday to honor the following candidates. You can learn more about each of them and even directly donate to their campaigns, just by clicking on their name:

Statewide Office Secretary of State Gail Buckner *
School SuperintendentDenise Majette*
Public Service CommissionDawn Randolph*

State Senate
SD 2 Regina D. Thomas (I)
SD 32 RuthE Levy*SD 34 Valencia Seay (I)
SD 36 Nan Orrock *SD 38 Horacena Tate (I)SD 44 Gail DavenportSD 46 Jane Kidd*SD 55 Gloria Butler (I)

State House
HD 2 Sadie Morgan*
HD 39 Alisha Thomas Morgan (I)
HD 44 Sheila Jones (I)
HD 46 Melanie Eyre*
HD 48 Jan Hackney*
HD 55 "Able" Mable Thomas
HD 56 Kathy Ashe (I)
HD 57 Pat Gardner (I)
HD 58 Robbin Shipp
HD 59 Margaret Kaiser
HD 60 Georganna Sinkfield (I)
HD 68 Carol Rozier*
HD 74 Roberta Abdul-Salaam (I)
HD 75 Celeste Johnson
HD 83 Mary Margaret Oliver (I)
HD 84 Stacey Abrams
HD 85 Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (I)
HD 86 Karla Drenner (I)
HD 87 Michele Henson (I)
HD 92 Pam Stephenson (I)
HD 113 Becky Vaughn*
HD 130 Debbie G. Buckner (I)
HD 133 Carolyn Hugley (I)
HD 136 Beth Perera*
HD 138 Nikki T. Randall (I)
HD 140 Lauren Benedict*
HD 144 Dee Yearty*
HD 151 Freddie Sims (I)
HD 169 Danita Knowles*
HD Jaki Johnson*

I = Incumbent; * Faces opposition in November general election




Here are the details:

Let's Take Back the Gold Dome

by

Helping WIN Women Win!



Join us on Thursday, August 24, 2006 at the home of Melita Easters, 3215 Glen Arden Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30305 when Georgia's WIN List presents our Endorsed Candidates for the 2006 General Election. To reserve your place, use the form below. For more information or to reserve by phone, call Leslie at 770-489-6689. You may also reserve by e-mail at info@georgiawinlist.com.

Minimum donation is $50 per attendee.

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Voting Accuracy and Voter Apathy

POLITICS AND LUNCH: Ga. Sec. of State's Office on Elections

Politics and Lunch Presents: Allison Bracewell McCullick

VOTING ACCURACY AND VOTER APATHY

Accuracy and Engagement in the 2006 Election

Wonder why fewer than 30% of eligible voters cast ballots in the primary this July, and the numbers in the runoff election in August were even more dismal? Want to know what can we do to engage voters and assure them that their vote is accurately counted? To get the inside scoop on how to motivate voters for your favorite candidate, come to Politics and Lunch this Friday, August 25th at noon at Nashville Station, 1015 Riverside Dr., Macon, Georgia 31201.

Allison Bracewell McCullick, Special Projects Coordinator for Georgia's Secretary of State, Cathy Cox, will be our keynote speaker for this Friday's Politics and Lunch. Ms. McCullick will have voting machines with her and will be prepared to answer your questions about voting accuracy, voter id, voter registration and other topics related to elections in Georgia. I hope that you will all be able to come.

Politics and Lunch is a monthly luncheon series that focuses on how politics and politicians create policies that impact the quality of life in our community. We focus on education and empowerment and engagement. The series is not sponsored by either political party, and there is nothing to join. The only cost is for your lunch, $8.00 plus tax, tip and beverage. Reservations are requested but not mandatory and can be made by contacting Amy Morton at amymorton@aol.com.

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The Church Lady and Cialis

The perfect metaphor, above the stunned image of recently fired Sunday School teacher Mary Lambert, an ad for Cialis flashed today. At least we have our priorities straight. Somehow, I don't think that Ms. Lambert, who was removed from her position as a Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church of Watertown, NY for the undeniable offense of being female, ever anticipated that she would be selling Cialis.

See, the pastor, Rev. Timothy LaBouf, who also happens to serve on the Watertown City Council, decided that a "literal" interpretation of scripture prohibited women from "teaching or having authority over a man" and that she "must be silent." I wonder whether the Good Rev. has read the Gospel of Luke? He must have missed the part where Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the Mother of James returned from the tomb after seeing the risen Christ and told the apostles what they had seen. That's right, three women were the first to proclaim the gospel. And guess what? The apostles didn't believe the women. Some things haven't changed much.

I should disclose here that I happen to be an ordained minister, seminary trained, in the Southern Baptist tradition. Hold your condolences. The Baptist church was a great tradition, actually the first denomination to advocate for true religious freedom, not just religious tolerance, in the New World. Things have changed just a bit...but still my faith is important to me, and that's why I don't like it when folks like Rev. LaBouf do things like firing poor Ms. Lambert. Shame on him. I hope Rev. LaBouf saw the article, but somehow I doubt he made it past the Cialis ad...

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Here Are the Results!

Here are the results of the poll we posted on what characteristics are needed in a DPG Chair. It is interesting, but not surprising that "Mr. Grassroots/Field Organizing" was the winning answer with 40% of the vote. "Mr. Moneybags" finished in second place with 28% of the vote. Perhaps we need a runoff!

Often, money and grassroots are seen as competing, mutually exclusive options, but they are not. The Party needs both to re-bound. During this discussion, Mel from over at Blog for Democracy raised the point that it is not only the position of chair that is important, but also the position of Executive Director. Where do we go from here?


What Does the DPG Most Need?

The next DPG chair needs to be:

Answer 2 Mr. or Ms. Grassroots (field organizing)
40%
10
Answer 1 Mr. or Ms. Money Bags (fundraising)
28%
7
Answer 3 Mr. or Ms. Charisma (team building)
24%
6
Answer 4 Mr. or Ms. Kingmaker (candidate support)
8%
2
total votes: 25
Create your own free website poll

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Middle Georgia Democratic Women had big crowd at International Tasting Party in warner Robins, Aug 19

The Middle Georgia Democratic Women's Club almost turned into a standing-room-only event last night in Warner Robins. About 110 people came to sample the culinary offerings at the International Tasting Party fundraiser held at the Warner Robins Recreation Department.
See pictures and more details at:
http://democraticgrapevine.blogspot.com/

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