Mike Huckabee is So Going to Win Iowa

I'm a watching the republican YouTube debate. (Yes, I do hate myself.) What I want to say is:

Mike Huckabee is SO going to win Iowa, and probably the whole shootin' match.

We need to focus on who on our team has the capacity to stand up to Mr. "I started at age 14 working and worked my way though college. Because I was able to get an education, I am standing on this stage, otherwise I might be picking lettuce..."

Somehow, Hillary Clinton's name does not jump to mind.

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GOP Candidates Mum on Moms

..and anything else that has to do specifically with women. Joanne Bamberger points out in this piece at Huffington Post that while Democratic candidates like John Edwards and Joe Biden and other have clear platform statements about women's issues-none-read that none of the r's do. Oh, they have things about the "sanctity of life" and such but nothing, I said nothing, about women's issues. Sort of lets you know where you stand with them, doesn't it? Here's an except from Joanne's piece:

And I have to say, I was shocked. At least from what they've got on their sites, it seems like the Republicans aren't very interested in women. Granted, all issues are, in one way or another, women's issues. But I'm looking for something specific about the ones we tend to deal with a lot more than our husbands, partners and significant others.
As for the Democrats, they all have places on their websites to address the so-called "women's issues." John Edwards has his Promise for American Women. Chris Dodd wrote the Family and Medical Leave Act. Hillary Clinton is calling herself a "Champion for Women." Joe Biden has a whole section on his website called "Empowering Women to Take Charge."
So I assumed that the GOP candidates would have similar topics on their sites.
I'm still looking.

Well, what I'd say about that is that if they don't care about us, then we don't vote for them. I suppose their platform on women's issues is that they will, in the most paternalistic way possible, "protect us." Oh, joy.

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Pretty Pointed

According to NBC, John Edwards has launched a pledge drive today, asking voters to sign a pledge refusing to support any candidate for president who “accepts campaign contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs.” The campaign hopes to sign up 1 million “voices” by Feb. 5, 2008, the day the primary process hits critical mass as more than 20 states hold their primaries. At first blush, this would seem to impact Clinton but not Obama.

You can sign the pledge here at America Belongs to Us 2008.

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Will CNN Have the Guts to Ask This One?

Robert Parham, executive director of The Baptist Center for Ethics has submitted this question for the Republican YouTube Debate tonight. I hope they have the guts to ask the candidates this one!

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New Poll: Clinton Trails All Five Republicans in General Election

A new Zogby poll has some sobering news for democrats. In a general election match-up, Sen. Hillary Clinton trails all five likely republican candidates-Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, and McCain- while both Edwards and Obama lead all five. Read more here.

This is not the first poll that has pointed to Clinton's general election problems. Her negatives have always been high. She has had consistent problems with making the "electability" argument. We have three supreme court justices on the line, folks. Don't we need to nominate the candidate who has the best shot at actually defeating the republican nominee? Looks to me as if either Edwards or Obama would stand a better shot than Clinton.

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What Are We Going to Do About Saxby? (Updated)

Over the holiday, I read Bill Shipp's piece encouraging, tongue in cheek, Dale Cardwell to run for senate as a republican. At the moment, I don't see a candidate in the race who-based on current performance and past experience-can beat Saxby. It's not that Saxby is such a great candidate-he's not. A well-positioned, well-funded candidate might've had a shot at him. He's definitely made some mistakes. But, let's be honest. Right now, can any of our guys win? I don't think so.

I know nothing about Josh Lanier other than what I have read on his website and on Tondees. My question is, "how if the money rolling in?" And, I'd like to know a little more about him. He lacks name ID, and that's expensive to create.

Regarding Dale Cardwell, I think that democrats may look back on that race as a missed opportunity. I have my issues with him, as I wrote earlier this month. But, to unseat an incumbent, you need a candidate who is not a typical politician. I like Dale's "fighting for the little guy" thing, and I like some of his positions, but as I have told him, I just get completely derailed when his answer to "what is your top issue" continues to be "to secure our borders." He says that he has polling that shows that's a top issue for Georgia voters. I have my doubts about his numbers. First, I don't know whether he is referring to a poll he commissioned or a public poll of some sort. I suspect it's the latter, and I suspect that the numbers are skewed. When we polled issues for a legislative race in Middle Georgia, illegal immigration was no where near the top issue for general election voters. It wasn't even in the top three. So, this may be a burning issue somewhere in Georgia, but not in my town. So, what about Cardwell now? He needs to raise a whole lot of money fast and refine his message or he is probably not going to be viable, even to win the primary.

And, then there's Vernon Jones. Look, without getting deep into it, let me just say that despite the theme music from "Rocky" that opens his site, given his history, Saxby would have to seriously do a Foley for Jones to have any chance of beating him. I just don't see it happening.
But he's the most likely candidate to win the primary.

Maggie Martinez has also thrown her hat into the ring but seems to have an even bigger hill to climb in terms of name recognition. Again, I know little about this candidate, and I'm in the "tuned in" category of voters. And, then there are the issues with her website. But it would be fun to watch her and Cardwell debate immigration policy.

So, what do we do? I think democrats are waiting for a savior, and I see none in site. Frankly, based on this field, I think that we have members of the state legislature who would make more viable candidates.

Update: Yesterday, I left Rand Knight off this post, unintentionally. Here's a link to his site. Again, I need to know more about him. Anyone else I missed?

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Georgia Democrats Set to Lead

Georgia democrats have a unique opportunity to lead this legislative session. Georgia is facing a severe drought-that threatens business. Georgia is facing a tax scheme-that threatens business. As Porter points out today in the AJC, Georgia democrats are in a unique position to be the voice of reason in an atmosphere of political extremism.

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Eggs at Issue

The traditional "Eggs and Issues" breakfast at the beginning of the legislative session may take on a whole new meaning this year with the "Human Life Amendment" on the table for this session. I posted about this yesterday, and Catherine Morgan over at Political Voices of Women picked it up today with this comment:

My Opinion: This is the kind of thing that really infuriates me. With issues like the war, our broken healthcare system, education, the economy, and so on and so on…Tricking the voting public with wedge issues like this makes me sick. The only thing worse than using a wedge issue to manipulate the voting public, is a wedge issue that will take take away personal rights of women…This is an infuriating story.

This is a national issue for the next election cycle as republicans seek to put this on the ballot in critical states. It's wedge issue politics, and I agree with Catherine: the only thing worse than a wedge is a wedge that tramples on women's most basic rights.

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Get Your Hands Off My Eggs

Why would two of our male democratic legislators in Georgia buy into a republican strategy to put a wedge issue on the November 2008 ballot-an issue that is sure to energize the republican base and make it harder for all Georgia democratic candidates to get elected? Oh, and did I mention that this a part of a national GOP strategy, right out the Rove playbook? That's right, the GOP is seeking to put this amendment on the ballot is several states, not just Georgia. So, why help them?

Mixed in with the water fight and the tax fight, during the next legislative session, Georgia women are going to be literally fighting for control of our eggs. Georgia republicans-with the help of two democratic co-sponsors-will try to pass legislation to put "The Personhood Amendment" or "Human Life Amendment" on the ballot in Georgia in November of 2008.

"The Human Life Amendment," is a constitutional amendment defining life as beginning at the moment of fertilization and offering constitutional protections to the fetus. This bill was introduced in March by a a bipartisan group of legislators that included democrats Hardie Davis and Rick Crawford. This bill, if passed, will not only impact a women's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, but could also limit access to certain types of birth control, including the "morning after pill" and some types of IUD's. As a proposed constitutional amendment, this is clearly a wedge issue that Republicans are seeking to place on the 2008 ballot. It is the top legislative priority for Georgia Right to Life.

Some Georgia democrats are anti-choice, and some are pro-choice. There is room in our party for people who hold both positions. But this legislation is particularly horrid and would have uncertain legal implications for women if it were passed. Most of all, I can't understand why elected democrats would buy into a republican scheme to put this wedge issue on the ballot in 2008. This just doesn't make any sense.

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Paging All Georgia Democrats: What Do You Believe?

I'm headed up to Atlanta today for an initial meeting of the Platform Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Without boring you with the details, this committee has a unique opportunity to formulate a platform of values and principles that reflects not just who Georgia Democrats are but also who we aspire to be. We have an opportunity to help make "the argument" for why, in Georgia, Democrats should again be given the opportunity to lead.

One of our first tasks is to gather the ideas of Georgia Democrats-to ask what is it we believe? What do we stand for. A month or so ago, I posted on this and got some excellent responses. Focusing on values and principles, rather than positions or programs, I want to again invite your ideas.

Why are you a Democrat? What are the fundamental values and principles that make us who we are?

This is cross-posted at Tondee's Tavern.

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A Message From Rosalynn Carter

With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can do something powerful this Thanksgiving-help get a new MRI machine for Sumter Regional Hospital. I urge you to read Mrs. Carter's message below, go vote, and forward this to all your friends. Come on folks, this one's easy. Happy Thanksgiving! (You may need to cut and paste the links in your browser because I'm posting from my phone.)

Dear Amy,
As you may know, on March 1st, a tornado ripped through Americus, which is just down the road from Plains, where Jimmy and I live. The destruction was massive, but the community has rallied and rebuilding is ongoing.
Sumter Regional Hospital <http://www.gha.org/directory/directory/Sumter1.JPG> The hospital that serves our area - Sumter Regional Hospital - was totally destroyed that day. Insurance money won't begin to cover all that it will take to rebuild our hospital. The good news is that we all have a chance to pitch in to help with just a few clicks of a mouse.
Siemens is holding a contest to give away a new MRI machine to a hospital in America that needs it. A new MRI machine costs almost $1 million, and I can tell you that Sumter Regional Hospital has a great need for it. It would mean a lot to me and our community if you would go to www.winanmri.com <http://www.winanmri.com/> , watch the powerful two-minute video called "Blown Away - Sumter Regional Hospital," and vote for our hometown Hospital.
Right now, we are in first place, but the second place hospital is just outside of Buffalo, an area with a much larger population than southwest Georgia! You will see that many hospitals, including other great hospitals in Georgia, have posted videos. Many of them are deserving, but I hope you will take the two minutes to hear our story and help us.
You can vote once a day, every day. Please vote often and forward this message to your family and friends asking them to do the same. The last day to vote is December 31st.
Our grandson, Jason, started Democrats Work because of a deep belief that Democrats can and should do more to help improve their communities in tangible ways every single day. I know you've been involved with Democrats Work because you feel the same way. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to help a community in need, and I am grateful for your support.
On behalf of my whole family, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Rosalynn Carter
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For These Four Things

There are lots of things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. One little table in the corner of my living room tells the story of four things I am very grateful for. The table holds a carnival glass dish, a lamp and a pottery pitcher holding a ceramic yellow daffodil, and reminds me of the values of charity, thriftiness, patience and perseverance I am grateful for learning from my family as I grew up.

The carnival glass dish was my Granny Watson's. When she started housekeeping, she didn't have a lot and the Great Depression was at full force. The dish was one of her few nice things, but when a neighbor who had even less came by and admired it, she gave it to her. Many years later, my mother was surprised to see it at an estate sale after that neighbor's death, and she bought it. When my mother died, the dish became mine. When I see it, I am always reminded of her example of charity and that it really is better to give than receive.

The simple lamp was a wedding gift to my parents, and when I was a little girl, it stopped working. I remember watching while my father fixed the lamp. A few years later, it stopped working again. And he fixed it again. It still works today, and every time I see it, I am reminded of my parent's tear-the-paper-towels-in-half brand of thriftiness.

My mother took up pottery later in life, and the daffodil in the pitcher is one that she made. It reminds me of the ones she planted in a line in our backyard-on either side of my basketball goal. Needless to say, every year, the flowers began to bloom at about the same time the weather was getting warm enough to make shooting baskets in the back yard inviting. And, every year, the flowers got crushed by the basketball, or at least most of them did. I remember many a pained looked on my mother's face when she saw the crushed flowers, but don't recall many harsh words. She never made me stop playing basketball. She seemed to know what was really important in that mix, so when I see the daffodil, I am reminded of both her patience and the perseverance of those flowers that kept coming back year after year despite being crushed.

We don't always know what we're teaching our children, but in every case, it is what they see us do, more than what they hear us say that teaches the important lessons, and I am grateful for having examples of these four: charity, thriftiness, perseverance and patience. I'm still working of all of these-especially the patience!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Oprah Gifts Macon

By now, unless you've been under a rock, you know that Oprah came to Macon for her annual "Favorite Things" show. The show aired today, and below is a list of the items show guests received. Not too shabby! Manufacturers fight to get their products on the list. The 300 samples they provide for the show is a small price to pay for the positive PR.

And, since you asked, HARPO is paying the tax on the gifts for the 300 guests, and recipients simply will have to pay tax on the tax paid on their behalf. Got that Glenn? Also, Oprah loved Macon so much that there will be another show about Macon next week. No more gifts, but she will be highlighting some of the places she visited while she was here. You can't buy that kind of PR, and all for nearly half of us Maconites tuning in to Oprah every day.

Here's the list of gifts Oprah gave:


Samsung Progressive HD Camcorder SC-HMX10C
Approximate value: $799.99
800-SAMSUNG; www.samsung.com
Available at major retailers including Amazon.com,
Circuit City, Sears, CompUSA

UGG® Australia Classic Crochet Tall Boot
Approximate value: $120
888-432-8530; www.uggaustralia.com and Nordstrom
stores: www.nordstrom.com

TOYWATCH Crystal and Colored Crystal Watch
Approximate value: $150-$1500
877-998-8600; www.toywatchusa.com
Also available at Bloomingdales stores nationwide
www.bloomingdales.com

Perfect Endings Cupcakes from Williams-Sonoma
Approximate value: $59 (Set of 9)
800-541-2233; www.williams-sonoma.com

Melamine Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spoons
from Williams-Sonoma
Approximate value: Bowls $32 (Set of 3); Measuring
Cups and Spoons $18 Set (Cups $14, Spoons $8)
800-541-2233; www.williams-sonoma.com

The Artisan® Stand Mixer from KitchenAid Home
Appliances
Approximate value: $349.99
For each pink Stand Mixer purchased and registered,
KitchenAid will donate $50 to Susan G. Komen for the
Cure.
800-541-6390; www.shopKitchenAid.com

The Discovery Channel's Planet Earth DVD Set
Approximate value: $59.95
800-725-4586; www.discoverystore.com

Kai Body Butter and Body Buffer
Approximate value: Body Butter $55; Body Buffer $28
www.kaifragrance.com
Also available at Embrace in Hinsdale, IL: 877-361-7223,
www.embraceyourstyle.com and www.eluxury.com ,
877-890-7171

CLARISONIC Skin Care System
Approximate value: $195/system
888-5-CLARISonic (888-525-2747);
www.clarisonic.com

Claus Porto Soaps from Lafco New York
Approximate value: $42 (Set of 3)
800-362-3677; www.lafcony.com

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Approximate value: $24.95
Available wherever books are sold or online at
www.penguin.com

Breville Ikon Panini Press from Williams-Sonoma
Approximate value: $99.95
800-541-2233; www.williams-sonoma.com

HDTV Refrigerator with Weather and Info Center from
LG Electronics Model LSC27991
Approximate value: $3,799
www.LGUSA.com

Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbetto
Approximate value: $4.99/pint at select grocery stores
800-3-GELATO (1-800-343-5286);
www.ciaobellagelato.com

Rachel Pally Swing Turtleneck and Sailor Pants
Approximate value: Swing Turtleneck $141;
Sailor Pants $194
www.rachelpally.com ; Nordstroms stores
www.nordstroms.com and www.shopbop.com

Scrabble Premier Edition from Hasbro
Approximate value: $70
888-836-7025; www.scrabble.com

United Artists 90th Anniversary Prestige Collection
Approximate value: $869.98
www.unitedartists90.com
Available in stores December 11. Pre-order at
www.Amazon.com , www.BestBuy.com and
www.Borders.com

Shaklee Get Clean™ Starter Kit
Approximate value: $89.60
800-670-6251; www.shaklee.com

O’s Guide to Life
Approximate value: $29.95
Available wherever books are sold or online at
www.oxmoorhouse.com

Josh Groban's Noel CD
Available wherever music is sold and online at
www.joshgroban.com

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Richardson Shows His Hand

It's no accident that Glenn Richardson has been long on rhetoric and short on details of his "GREAT" tax plan. This man may be a lot of things, but dumb is not on the list. When it comes to triangulation, he's about to make Bill Clinton looks like an amateur. I've thought for a long time that his sweeping tax proposal was a red herring. Now, Richardson is beginning to show his hand. Here's what I think Glenn Richardson is really up to.

• By waiting to finalize the plan, he is giving the opposition less time to organize an effective response. Smart.
• His "shotgun" approach-targeting every service industry and every local taxing authority-has created a lot of enemies and a whole lot of people who will be perfectly happy to trade silence for the opportunity to protect their own interest.
• In Macon last week, faced with increasing opposition from municipalities and county governments, Richardson began to show his hand.
• Now, Richardson says that he may just focus on taken tax authority away from school boards.
• That's both brilliant and evil. Brilliant because he's likely to win that battle. Evil because if he wins, public schools are DOA.
• That's fine with him. Richardson has repeatedly expressed his dislike for local boards of education, even questioning the value of their existence.
• By letting city and county governments off the hook, Richardson is betting they will stay out the his fight with school boards-and he's probably making a good bet. The "public schools lobby" will fight alone.
• Richardson and his cohorts have repeatedly spanked the "public schools lobby." We've lost battle after battle with the republican-led General Assembly. Think about it: we lost the 65% "solution" battle, the Charter Schools/Charter Systems battle, the SB 10 battle. Yep, they've pretty much beaten us at every turn.
• By focusing on school boards, he tosses red meat to republicans-Cagle and Perdue will have a hard time opposing this scaled-back plan. Why?
• Because the only way to implement a true state-wide voucher system is for all the education funding to be centralized in Atlanta.
• The goal is not to just disempower school boards, but to dismantle public schools.

This is going to be an expensive battle for public school advocates, one that we will not win unless we fight differently than we have in the past. An organized, well-funded plan is needed to defeat this legislation and keep the Glenntax off the 2008 ballot.

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Bush Limited Edition Holiday Calendar

Micro-targeting is not all it's cracked up to be, otherwise, I (member of the DPG executive committee, WIN List officer, 2004 chair of Georgia Women for Kerry/Edwards who has never ever voted in a Republican primary voter etc.) would never ever have gotten this email today:

Dear Amy,
As a strong supporter of our President and our Party, I wanted to make sure you had the first opportunity to have an official 2008 RNC calendar featuring President Bush.
The images in the calendar span the entire seven years of George's Presidency. I hope they will remind you of what's great about our country and how high the stakes are for America in the upcoming elections.
To receive your limited edition 2008 RNC calendar, please make an online gift of $25 or more to the RNC today.
Amy, grassroots leaders like you are the backbone of the Republican Party. Your continuing commitment to the RNC is critical to keeping the White House in Republican hands and regaining our majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in the 2008 elections.
So please take a moment to make a secure online contribution of $25 or more today and you will receive your calendar from the RNC in a few days. Thank you for your ongoing support of our President and our cause.

Best wishes,

Laura Bush

Right. It's is a little insulting, isn't it, that they assume that because of where I live, where I shop and what kind of car I drive, that I must be a "strong supporter of the President and our Party?"

Amazing, isn't it, that anyone would enjoy reflecting on these seven long years? I was going to break down and buy the calendar for some of my friends as a yearlong reminder to vote for a Democrat in November of 2008, but then I realized that the RNC didn't exactly choose the pictures I had in mind. Plus, why buy theirs when I can make my own?

Here's my version of the George W. Bush 2008 Commemorative Calendar:

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