I'm not sure what this attempted hit piece is all about or even what this video is trying to prove?

If Decaturguy can't figure it out, I doubt anyone else can. This should come down.

With all the news yesterday about the Republicans screwing the pooch, this is what we have here today?

If Borders won't be running, I wonder who will.

I viewed this, and did have a hard time determining what was being said. However, the poster was at the capitol and I am confident he or she was able to determine who these people were. Hence, the post.

And, Sweetpea, this is part of showing how the people got screwed yesterday. A quick review of Ms Borders contribution records show her to be a political fence-sitter. Lobbying for the private cities legislation shows her to be leaning to the right on that fence.

Why don't you provide us that information then Catherine? For the life of me, I can't find any other contributions from Lisa Borders other than $1,000 to John Kerry, $2,000 to Cathy Cox, $250 to the Democratic Party, $250 each to Stacey Abrams, Nan Orrock, and Kathy Ashe, $450 to Darryl Hicks, $250 to Hunstein, $450 to Jim Martin, $1,000 to Mark Taylor.

Sounds like she's on the right team to me, Catherine. Am I missing something?

I don't even get what the fuss is all about.

Let's see the evidence:
a. Lisa Borders is the current Atlanta City Council President - hence, she might have a wee bit of interest in the private cities bills with all the annexation stuff going on within the City/South Fulton/N. Fulton. Not including all the money Atlanta is spending on infrastructure needs.

b. Lisa is a vice president at Cousins Properties - hence, she might have a wee bit of interest in the private cities bills since her company builds homes, subdivisions, and possibly mini-cities.

c. She looks rather bored in this video. Her pleasantries seem to be just that.

d. Is the lobbyist from Texas named Tom DeLay? If not then show some evidence that the people she was speaking with are into some illegal activities.

e. How does one grainy and inaudible video become the sole justification for the Young Democrats of Atlanta not supporting her mayoral run?

f. I'll go one step further than Decaturguy and prove that she's on the right team - here's her voting record:
Voted 2006 Primary Dem. Y - Yes
Voted 2004 Pres. Primary Dem. Y - Yes
Voted 2004 Run-off Dem Y - Yes
Voted 2004 Primary Dem. Y - Yes
Voted 2002 Primary Dem. Y - Yes

She has voted in every general, primary, and runoff election since 1996 and not once for Republicans.

g. is this all the Young Democrats of Atlanta could muster from Sine Die? Weren't they at the Capitol for like 13 or 14 hours?

h. now that this has been put to rest, can we go and attack the real enemies - DINOs and Repugs?

$1500 to Isakson.

I apologize because I neglected to check state disclosures. Glad to see that voting record. It puts some of my concerns to rest.

However, I have to wonder where Ms Borders' loyalties lie - with Cousin's Properties or City of Atlanta. The private cities legislation is bad for the people of Georgia:

http://tinyurl.com/2mj9ny

I like private cities. heh.

someone draw me the picture of how her $1500 contribution to Isakson hurts or help her in a nonpartisan race that is 2 years and 7 months away? Hasn't she been one of the primary backers of the Beltline?

When did we get an announced candidate to run against Saxby -- ooops, guess I'm just thinking of races that we really should be worrying about.

Private cities is an amendment to our constitution that allows residents to be taxed without a vote on the persons passing taxes, that allows developers to get tax-free bonds to finance their construction, levy "assessments" (read, taxes) for improvements to the development...This is something Americans should recognize - taxation without representation.

Oh, and there's a clause in the amendment that now allows developers to give "gifts" to local elected officials who help the developers get approval for building the development.

BEST DEMOCRACY (or not) money can buy.

Ah - Angry Benson releases his wrath again!

Posts like this and issues like the Private Cities bill makes me have to remind myself that once again, the Democratic Party is a big tent. The Private Cities bill is obviously one of those bills in which there are a lot of differing opinions within our own party, with rumors of staunch liberals like Representative Kathy Ashe voting in favor of Private Cities. I know many who read this blog are disappointed in the way this vote turned out.

In regards to Lisa Borders possible running for Mayor of Atlanta, and the Young Democrats of Atlanta's involvement in her race, it should said that over the next 3 years, as part of the Home Grown Political Innovator Grant, the Young Democrats of Atlanta will be focusing on securing and increasing the youth vote for all Democratic candidates throughout the metro-Atlanta area.

or maybe yellow dog is already booked with Lisa Border's opposition, hence the early opposition from ydg.

yoyobutter, wrong client...wrong race. back to your drawing board.

Re: Lisa Borders

Private cities are a bad idea in my opinion, but outside of that when Lisa Borders goes down to the legislature with her motivation at least partially by that of her employer (Cousins Properties) and not of her elected position, as has been suggested, she is essentially leveraging her elected public position for her better paying private job. I don't really think you can exchange hats so easily and keep your decision making completely removed from her remunerative employ. This is one of the main problems with our city council. Occasionally, as in the beltline, the citizens of the city and developers have common goals, not more often this is not the case.

Re: Kathy Ashe, I think she's great, but a "staunch liberal" she's not. She was a Republican as recently as 2000.

As far as Borders competitors, I think Kasim Reed has a good shot at Mayor, though I would rather they just removed term limits for women.

And for the record, Benson (angry or not) is not a spokesperson for the Young Democrats of Atlanta. As President, even I don't make decisions about what races we will support. Annually, we elect a Campaigns Chair (who is not Benson) to propose campaigns we will work on and organize our efforts. To dedicate a large portion of organization resources would take a vote of our membership. Neither the Campaigns Chair nor the membership would be likely to make decisions on such purely ideological grounds as Angry Benson - most of us are more savvy politicians than he (bless his heart - but every organization needs a pure ideologue or two). Ironically, in the great city of Atlanta, it is unlikely that a general mayoral election would be any sort of contest needing our assistance, and the Young Democrats of Atlanta don't, as a body, support candidates with primary opposition. So, Ms. Borders, please don't take Benson's threat to heart. He does not speak for us (nor do I), and though we love him, he has an annoying habit of going off half-cocked, especially online where no one can call him on his hyperbole in real time. At least he got a nice discussion going in which you seem to have come out shining. *Speaking for myself*, I look forward to meeting you soon and working together to make Atlanta a more Democratic place where all our citizens have access to good jobs, education, safe housing, and adequate health care for their families.

And we can talk then about this lousy private cities legislation :-)

Emily,

Agreed, I cannot think of a race less needy of Young Dems support, but the caped crusader will fight on regardless.

As afar as primary opposition you mentioned, I don't think that there is a primary in that race, it is non-partisan anyway.

Ceasar Mitchell is also running. There are also hints that Mary Norwood will join the "race for Atlanta Mayor" party.

Mouth is correct...city elections are non-partisan and primary free. Plus, I doubt anyone in a mayoral race would identify themselves as Republicans anyway. We may be a red state but Atlanta is a blue city. Calling yourself an "R" would be political suicide.

The Ceasar rumor is a live one, isn't it? Not sure if either he or Mary Norwood would be willing to get out of their seats to run an uphill race against Lisa and/or Kasim. Mr. Mitchell will probably wait and see if Mr. Reed pulls the trigger on a campaign before wading in himself. But there's still two years before this race gets heated and I suspect there are some surprise candidates waiting in the wings.

Our energy will be better spent in the meantime holding our governor and general assembly responsible for yet another awful 40 days. What a joy it is to be blue in the reddest state in the land.

Nicely said, Mouth (re: Ms Borders).

I'd like to point out that no one named Benson has posted on this thread.

As for drawing a picture for Smittty - I think it's interesting that you phrase your question thus:

"how her $1500 contribution to Isakson hurts or help her in a nonpartisan race that is 2 years and 7 months"

How it hurts or helps her is not really my concern. How it helps or hurts the citizens of Atlanta should be our focus. Shouldn't it?

Rephrase the question: "how does her $1500 contribution to Isakson hurts or help The City of Atlanta in a nonpartisan race that is 2 years and 7 months".

The question really pertains to the idealogical stronghold of 100% Dem or nothing. What do you weigh more - her $1500 donation to Isakson or her constant support for Democratic values? Do you throw the baby out with the bathwater? If so, then in the Atlanta Mayoral's race, you might find yourself with no suitable candidate.

MOTS, "[Borders]is essentially leveraging her elected public position for her better paying private job." - Check out all the rumored candidates for this post and you will only find one, Mary Norwood, that is in no position to increase her pay in a private job. So are we all down for Mary Norwood as the next Mayor of Atlanta?

Well, if you say it like that... I would have to say that the impact is likely to be nil.

I don't demand 100%. But, I do expect elected officials to first consider the people they serve.

"I do expect elected officials to first consider the people they serve." - totally and 100% agree!!!

Smitty:

What do you mean, "increase their pay in a private job"? I am sure all of the council people can make more as consultants, well, maybe not all, hmm, how about half. I am concerned about conflicts of interest in their jobs, and, obviously, that's a matter of degree. That said, developers, much of whose value added contribution to the process comes through negotiating deals with governments, or soliciting governments directly for jobs, should be in as limited a position as possible to determine the actions of our elected leaders in ways other than their arguments. Putting their employees into elected positions is directly opposed to good government.

Like I said, MOTS, look at all the candidates and see what their current jobs are and then tell me what is the difference between a developer putting their employees in elected positions and a law firm doing the exact same thing.

Ummm...did ya know that Shirley Franklin was also a former Cousins employee right before she was elected...I'm just saying.

It's neither good for the goose or gander when the public gets ultimately screwed.

"It's neither good for the goose or gander when the public gets ultimately screwed." totally & 100% agree.

we should try the reverse. lets elect the CEO's of places like Cousins Properties. I am voting for Cleta as CEO of Coke.

MOTS, you have my vote for Cleta.

OOOHHH! I like this game! I would vote for Dennis Kucinich for CEO of GM.

Chris Dodd for CEO of Ford. The man is Mr. America and what's more American than Ford. Calm down all you Chevy drivers.

Kucinich is good! He may have to fend off a challenge from Ralph Nader in the primary.

David Poythress for Georgia Power, oh yeah, I went old school.

Way old school :)

I'm going young - Kasim Reed, new owner for the Atlanta Falcons. That corporation needs some youth at the helm. Someone that can understand the bling mentality but is legally astute to keep the players from being sued by all their baby mommas.

Those kids would be inspired, I'll say that. It would work for a season or two.

Jessie Jackson - head of AT&T. If JJ was heading AT&T ain't no way we all wouldn't know where a march was happening.Can you imagine the commercials?

Karla Drenner for Atlanta Gas & Light. We need someone with multiple environmental degrees to protect us all.

Bobby Franklin for President of GAE?

I KID! I KID!

Nice! How about Alton Brown as head of McDonalds? That would actually be a really good idea. Wait, maybe not.

grift in that case, Nancy Schafer for president of the Psychiatric Association of Georgia.

Cathy Woolard, head of Jacoby Development. I guarantee Atlantic Station would have more damn trees, less pavement, and no boxed stores.

Gilbert Godfrey for head of Chik-Fil-A. "Guess what people, we're open Sunday!"