Some bumper stickers say it all !!

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Al Williams is Right

If Rep. Al Williams is looking for the presidential candidate who best understands that Georgia does not end at the perimeter, then John Edwards is definitely the guy for him. Yesterday, as Gov. Bill Richardson addressed the Black Caucus in Atlanta, caucus chair, Rep. Al Williams (D-Hinesville) opined:

(Williams) decried the pattern of candidates coming only for the day to attend a fundraiser before leaving.
"Unfortunately, Georgia ain't nothing but a cash box," Mr. Williams said. "Most of them don't know there's anything but Atlanta."

Williams is, of course, correct. While Georgia is a major source of cash for presidential candidates, most just pop in and out of Atlanta for a day-or a few hours-of fundraising and maybe a public event. It is as if the rest of the state simply does not exist.

Not John Edwards. Edwards is the candidate who has an actual plan for the revitalization of rural America, and both he and Elizabeth have visited rural Georgia on multiple occasions throughout the campaign. John and Elizabeth Edwards have each visited Macon, Elizabeth has visited Savannah, and most recently, both John and Elizabeth Edwards were the guests of President and Mrs. Carter for a public event in Americus, Georgia that drew nearly 2,000 people.

Edwards' appeal to rural America is also reflected in his fundraising. While the other candidates have simply concentrated on Atlanta, John Edwards' fundraising in Georgia "below the gnat line" blows all the other candidates-Democrats or Republicans-out of the water.

This trend is reflected all around the country, and that's significant. John Edwards has strong appeal to rural voters, perhaps because his own roots are in rural America. This ability to appeal to rural voters is just one of the reasons why Edwards is the strongest candidate is general election match-ups. Check recent polling numbers here.

So, Rep. Williams, John Edwards is your guy. In fact, if we want to win, and want at the same time to elect the most progressive president in memory, then John Edwards is the best choice for all of us.

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Marshall/Bush Voters

If you have not already done so, this will surely provide the incentive you need to contact Jim Marshall about his 'no' vote on SCHIP. Yesterday, I blogged about Doug Moore, Marshall's spokesperson, making the statement that Marshall supported Bush in this debate. Some have said that could not be so. Well, here's the whole quote from the 13 WMAZ website:

Marshall couldn't be reached for comment. But his spokesman Doug Moore said Marshall and the President were on the same side on the health-care bill. Moore also noted that Bush won 62 percent of the vote in the 8th District in 2004."Does anyone know any Ellis-Bush voters?" Moore said.

Marshall is more concerned about the Marshall/Bush voters than voting to support this critical SCHIP legislation. Tell Marshall that's just not right-tell him to vote to override! Just do it. It won't take but a minute, and Georgia's children will thank you.

This does matter. If you have a blog please post this. If you have not done so yet, please let Marshall hear from you.

Here, again, is the contact information:

Let's fill his email box. What do you say?

You can sign an online petition here.


Or, drop him an email here:E-mail: jim.marshall@mail.house.gov

Or, call or fax him here:

Phone: (202) 225-6531
Fax: (202) 225-3013
Phone: (478) 464-0255
Fax: (478) 464-0277

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Women Blogging Politics

Catherine Morgan at Informed Voter has a great list of over 100 political blogs that are written by women. (I especially think it's a great list since she included GWV.) Catherine was responding to this New York Times article that asked, in a year when a Hillary is running for President, why are the political blogs dominated by men? But, seriously, as she points out, these blogs are tremendously diverse. Check out her list here.

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This is Why

Today in the tiny town of Columbus, Kentucky, John Edwards drew a crowd of about 2000 people. This crowd reminds me very much of the crowds I saw him drawing in August in Iowa and the crowd I saw him draw in Americus, Georgia. See the video below, toss a few coins in the jar and look at these numbers to see why Edwards, not Clinton, is the Democrats best hope.

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Marshall: "Supporting the President's Position on SCHIP"

Doug Moore, Marshall's spokesperson, was quoted tonight on 13 WMAZ regarding Marshall's SCHIP vote. Moore said that Congressman Marshall supports the President's position on SCHIP. That's the money quote.

Thanks for clarifying the reason for Jim's vote, Doug.

Kos, and other sources are saying that four of the eight Democrats who voted 'no' on the bill will vote to override and there is a hope that as many as four Republicans are ready to join them.
Forget about Jack, Jim. We already have. Do the right thing-vote to override. Help send Jim Marshall a message: support Georgia's children, not George Bush.

This does matter. If you have a blog please post this. If you have not done so yet, please let Marshall hear from you.

Here, again, is the contact information:

Let's fill his email box. What do you say?

You can sign an online petition here.

Or, drop him an email here:E-mail: jim.marshall@mail.house.gov

Or, call or fax him here:

Phone: (202) 225-6531
Fax: (202) 225-3013
Phone: (478) 464-0255
Fax: (478) 464-0277

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Gillespie to announce for First Congressional Dist.

Who: Democrat and retired Lt. Colonel Bill Gillespie of Chatham County
What: Press Conferences
Where: Tybee Island, 1110 Laurel Avenue and Valdosta, 108 East Central Avenue
When: Oct. 7 at 2:00 p.m. (Tybee Island) and Oct. 8 at 1:00 p.m. (Valdosta)
Why: Announcing candidacy for Georgia’s First Congressional District

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It Just Occurred to Me....

Being the shrewd politician that he is, is it possible Jim Marshall paid Jack Ellis to announce this today to take the heat off of him for the SCHIP vote? :) If he didn't, he should have.

Kidding

The sentiment among Democrats seems to be "how can Jack Ellis possibly think that he can win this race?"

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Jack Ellis to Challenge Jim Marshall

Oh, boy. Randall Savage with 13 WMAZ just called me and said that Mayor Ellis has made it official-he will be challenging Jim Marshall in the Democratic Primary for the 8th congressional district. This will create interesting dynamics in the primary, but Marshall really has nothing to worry about. In fact, Ellis' entry into the race may drive some mad Democrats (think SCHIP) to Marshall side. I'm about to do an interview for WMAZ and will be saying that I would strongly support Marshall in that contest-but Jim, don't you think for one second that this let's you off the SCHIP hook. Keep those emails coming, folks. Tell Marshall to vote to override.

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I'd Like a Little Leadership With My Coffee, Please...

This could be Jim Marshall's moment-if he will step up to the plate and stand up to the President. Before I got out of bed this morning, I picked up my blackberry to read the headlines. (Yes, I really am that addicted.) The first two, taken together, pretty much sums up how many Georgians are feeling about Bush's veto of SCHIP:

1) Bush veto threatens PeachCare funding (AJC) 2. Ga. plans execution this month (AJC)

Further down the list, there was this:

Marshall could feel heat to override Bush veto (Macon Telegraph)

Marshall has been getting a good bit of pressure via Georgia's progressive blogs this morning, and now the AJC has noticed. Galloway and company opine that Marshall is unlikely to switch his vote, and that pushing Kucinich is a better option. That's probably true, but unfortunately, a vote from Kucinich get us one vote, but Marshall could bring others along with him. If Jim Marshall can vote against the President, in his district, so can others of of the 29 needed to override the veto. That's why Marshall's vote is vital.

This does matter. If you have a blog please post this. If you have not done so yet, please let Marshall hear from you. Here, again, is the contact information:

Let's fill his email box. What do you say?

You can sign an online petition here.
Or, drop him an email here:E-mail: jim.marshall@mail.house.gov
Or, call or fax him here:Phone: (202) 225-6531
Fax: (202) 225-3013
Phone: (478) 464-0255Fax: (478) 464-0277

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Tell Marshall: Vote to Override!!

So, are you ready put your clicker and keyboard where your mouth is?

There's been a lot of chatter on the blogs about Jim Marshall's vote on SCHIP. Unfortunately, I don't think Marshall actually reads the blogs. Hard to believe, I know. (Where else can you find ideas like "Glenn Richardson is the Tax Jesus"?) Anyway, I digress.

How about we work together to make sure Jim Marshall hears from Georgia Democrats asking him to vote to override President Bush's veto? Let's fill his email box. What do you say?

You can sign an online petition here.

Or, drop him an email here:

E-mail: jim.marshall@mail.house.gov

Or, call or fax him here:

Phone: (202) 225-6531
Fax: (202) 225-3013
Phone: (478) 464-0255
Fax: (478) 464-0277

Tell Jim Marshall: Vote to Override!!

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Glenn Richardson's Great Big Sales Tax Break for Doctors

As you may know, Speaker of the Georgia House Glenn Richardson has been traveling the state touting his new tax plan that would replace property and ad valorem taxes with a sales tax on everything, including all services. To this point, Glenn's plan has been long on promises and short on crucial details including how it would actually work. Glenn is still working on that one.

Since the sales tax would apply to all services, including doctor's visits which were previously exempt, I was wondering how Glenn was going to sell that burden, both monetary and administrative, to physicians, a group that generally supports Republicans. Well, I don't have to wonder any further.

According to the Associated Press, Richardson, in addressing the Association of County Commissioners yesterday, was reported as saying that "health care is likely to face a very low tax, if any at all, under the plan".

Well, there's the carrot. Since doctors are generally going to be property owners, I can see them liking not having to pay property taxes. Now, Glenn is telling them that their practices will be saddled with no tax. Come on, we don't really think Glenn would consider taxing them a dime.

What has been unveiled of Glenn's plan has already been criticized since a sales tax on services would not make up the shortfall left by the loss of property tax revenues. Now, Glenn is playing partisan politics with who pays and who doesn't. This development should not be surprising since Glenn's fund paid for the development of this plan in the first place.

Reforming Georgia's tax system is an important undertaking that should be done by experts and as far away from the taint of partisan politics as possible. Glenn is finally showing his spots. His plan is a great big tax break for you if you are in the right profession and support him.

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Who Said Church Can't Be Funny?

This arrived in my email today courtesy of Tina. Oh, come on, the laugh will do you good. These have been around for a while but they are really funny.

These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS ) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in to he park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

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Front Page Promotion: LOAF

From the excellent comments this morning on "What Are We For?", Fall Line Dem offers up a proposal for a brand new political party, LOAF. See a portion of the comment below:

Simply in an effort to get elected, it seems that Democrats are running as barely as they can to the left of Republicans. With regard to Marshall's vote, I would have thought the increasing access to reasonable health care for children of working families would be a "Democratic" value. It would also seem to be an issue on which Marshall could lead. However, our Congressman appears more interested in trying not to be objectionable to members of the Republican party than he is of distinguishing why he is a "Democrat" in anything other than in name only. Perhaps there should be a new "party" for Jim Marshall and his ilk: the Least Objectionable Alternative Front (LOAF)".

Update:c And, now for a little levity, Button points out that members of the LOAF party would correctly be referred to as "Loafers."

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What Are We For?

What are we for? That's the question I've been asking in the wake of Jim Marshall's troubling vote on SCHIP. I've made more than a few Democratic ripples by publicly criticizing his vote, but I think that just as it is our role to get Democrats elected-it's our responsibility to hold them accountable once they're in office. Frankly, if Democrats cannot agree on doing more to help provide health care to the children of the working poor, then I'm not sure what we can agree on or what compelling case we can make to the American people for why they should buy what we're selling.

Beyond this particular vote, by this particular Democrat, if we hope to earn the confidence of voters, then we must develop and articulate a vision for where and how we plan to lead in the 21st century. The solutions for a rapidly changing world with a technology-rich global economy and a burgeoning service sector flush with low-wage, no insurance, forget-about-retirement-benefits jobs are not the same solutions our post-depression, post-WWII parents and grandparents needed.

Republicans-with their regressive tax plans and program cuts-see the service sector as a vehicle to help today's landed gentry get richer. I hope that Democrats see these low-wage workers as partners in this new economy-partners for whom government ought to provide a ladder out of poverty that they can choose to climb. But, our voice, on this and other important issues, is weak. So weak that Marshall is apparently hoping for an easier road to re-election in 2008, despite his SCHIP vote.

Our task is not simply about finding media-ready candidates, not just about raising bucket-loads of money, and not about figuring out a new way to "say" what we have always said while defending the Democratic holy trinity of Social Security, Medicare and public schools. It is not about using the right language or correctly framing the message so that the women who makes your coffee tomorrow morning will decide to go to the polls and vote for a Democrat-it's about deciding what we will do to help her lift herself out of poverty once we are elected. It really is about deciding what we are for.

The great leaders of our generation will not simply look back to the past in an effort to preserve the Party, but, instead, they will look around them and to the future and dare to offer a compelling argument for why we should be allowed to govern.

I'm interested in what you think Democrats should be "for." When I move away from programs and think about values, the first words that come to mind are "fairness" and "opportunity." I like Elizabeth Edwards' idea that it is right for government to provide the ladder so that people can climb out of poverty, but not the job of government to climb the ladder for them or carry them up the rungs.

What do you think Democrats are "for"? Think values, not programs.

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