Delegate Election Results

The Democratic Party of Georgia has published the results of Saturday's elections on their website. Congratulations to all who are headed to Denver. On May 24 the State Committee will gather to elect the remaining representatives.

Early this week I received my invitation to attend the annual Human Rights Campaign fundraising dinner to be held on May 3rd in Atlanta. Since I was always going to be out of town that day, and not necessarily up for the protest that I expected due to the whole ENDA hubbub, I deleted the email and moved on.

Little did I realize but, that it would set off a stream of e-mail exchanges that are interesting and worth sharing. Below is the first response I was copied on from Pastor Paul Turner. Posted with his permission.

Thank you for the invitation...However, I will not participate with anything involving HRC until the Transgender Community is really part of the LGBTQI they so often say they represent.

There are those in our community who think I am being "childish" and "foolish" about this, however, I cannot nor will I stand with an organization which uses a part of our community as a political chess piece.

I cannot nor will I stand silently by while our sisters and brothers in the Transgender community are told they must wait for protection, or "they must understand we are not there yet". Every year I stand at the State Capital to hear more names read of our sisters and brothers who have been slaughtered. Yet, HRC does not see the need to take a stand on their behalf? The HRC really thinks it is OK to have just LGB?

ATHENS, GA.- The Young Democrats of The University of Georgia and Athens-Clarke County will host a forum for the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate on Wednesday, April 23 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the North Psychology-Journalism Auditorium on the UGA campus. Confirmed attendees are Josh Lanier, Rand Knight, and Dale Cardwell, and tentative is Jim Martin. Josh Lanier is a retired Vietnam War veteran from Statesboro, Georgia. He has worked in business for several years, and at one time served on the staff of U.S. Senator Herman Talmadge (D-Ga). Rand Knight is an ecologist and businessman from Atlanta. Dale Cardwell is a former investigative reporter for WSB-TV in Atlanta, and currently resides in DeKalb County. Jim Martin is a former state representative and Commissioner of Human Resources, and was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2006.

"I think this will be a great opportunity for these candidates to learn about what issues are important to young people," said Andy Lipscomb, political director for the Young Democrats and organizer of the event. "Maybe they can get some new supporters, too."

The event is open to the public. For more information, contact andyl@uga.edu.

Hillary Clinton would be a great president, really, but I humbly suggest that perhaps it would have been better if she hadn't won Pennsylvania and we could move on. Her win means another long slog of negatives and slightly below the belt shots from surrogates and dredging up of comments that were either unfortunate given the actual facts or inconvenient in a wider audience.

Why'd Hillary win? Not enough African-Americans? Too little income? Not enough education? Bloom off the rose?

Here's why, Obama has been leaking oil for months now. He had so much message discipline early on, he was all Hope and Sunrises and Change and Goodness. Then his people started getting in the way. "Best case scenario" and Hillary Clinton as a "Monster".

And then they went negative in commercials. Hillary can do this because her supporters already expect it. They'd prefer she stayed positive, but will accept it if she has to go negative. The people attracted to Obama are all about hope and change and have their idealism threatened when it appears Obama is running a politics as usual campaign.

So, Obama, why even do any of that seeing as even your internals don't have you winning Pennsylvania? I don't get it. They need to get everyone on board, tell them Hope and Change are the only words you can say, and then just drive on to Denver. He cannot afford to get into any of this with Clinton.

Am I wrong?

remaining primary predictions after the jump FWIW

Ok, so it's finally time to swap the winter clothes for the summer ones, and while doing so please take a moment to discard items that are woefully out of style, ill fitting and unusable to you. Yes I know you luv that skirt, but we've seen it endlessly and it wasn't that cute to begin with... ooops sorry for the DFI moment.

Here are a few folks willing to take that stuff off your hands, in most cases it's far better served with them than continuing on with you and your life journey. Most will welcome household items too.

Dress For Success: 404-589-1177 CALL FIRST
Dress for Success Atlanta is a nonprofit organization that provides business attire, career development and confidence boosts to low-income women transitioning into the workforce in metro Atlanta.

International Rescue Committee – a critical global network of first responders, humanitarian relief workers, healthcare providers, educators, community leaders, activists, and volunteers. Working together, we provide access to safety, sanctuary, and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been shattered by violence and oppression. How you can donate and help here.

This service might be my favorite.

Paid for by the North Carolina Republican Party:

McCain wrote the NC GOP leader saying he deplores such ads:

"From the beginning of this election, I have been committed to running a respectful campaign based upon an honest debate about the great issues confronting America today. I expect all state parties to do so as well. The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats. In the strongest terms, I implore you to not run this advertisement."

Read more here

McCain can write all the letters he wants...but he's not going to be able to stop all those GOP PACs and 527 groups who will fund such crap advertisement. I hope Howie has something in store to combat McCain and his followers.

NY Times columnist near tears.

Apparently, Brown University thought Thomas Friedman would be an appropriate speaker for their Earth Day address. The Greenwash Guerillas thought otherwise...

h/t: Sirota

There's nothing to see here people. Especially not a military funeral. Just move along.

If you're bothered by the negative campaigning of today, check out some attack ads of yore.

What if ABC had been in charge of the Lincoln-Douglass debates?

This guy proves it: men are smarter than women.

Your official guide to the left-wing blogosphere.

It's not just my Luddite tendencies that make me leery of texting. It's also my obviously well-founded fear that my Turkish texts will be tragically misinterpreted.

I knew they would both disappoint me someday. I just didn't anticipate it would be on the same issue.

Thinking about voting McCain? This guy says don't be such a dumbass.

Does Paul Broun hate the troops?

Does anyone know how I can download pictures from my Samsung SGH-a737 camera phone to my Mac without emailing them? How about how I transfer shows from my TiVo to my computer?

Oh, and one more thing. Check out where the license plate was issued.

Here are a few offerings:

The Inman Park Festival. Always super fun, entertainment and the parade makes for some fabulous people watching. I understand the Congressman Lewis will be marching too. I would dearly love to say I marched with Cong. Lewis ~ seriously how cool is that!

The Young Democrats Annual Convention in Macon. All the details here.

Cobb County Democratic Committee's JJ Dinner. It's their 20th Anniversary of holding a Jefferson Jackson dinner, and they welcome everyone to attend. But you'd better hurry up and RSVP so they have a plate of food for you.

The Boss.

I've been to many concerts in my life, beginning in 1971 or so with Ike & Tina (yes, together) Turner. I've even seen Bruce Springsteen before, albiet 30 years ago. Jazz in small clubs, Prince at a huge basketball arena, Patti Smith at a raucus working-class bar, and many others. But, never, have I been so moved by a performance as I was tonight by Bruce Springsteen at Philips Arena.

Just last week Danny Federici, Bruce's long-time friend and keyboard player for the E Street band died after a long illness. Even so, he played with the band right up until the middle of March. I knew going into the show tonight that the last few performances had been tributes to the friendship and comraderie that the entire band felt towards their friend. But, WOW! Even in front of tens of thousands of people, the intimacy I felt and the emotion that emanated from that stage was breathtaking. 180 minutes of rock and roll like nothing I've ever heard or seen.

I often say that I worship at the church of Patti Smith. Well, tonight I've been converted to worshipping a diety. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith. Fitting, too, since they have been friends for many years. In fact, together they wrote her first and biggest hit, Because the Night.

Big kudos to Bruce for his mentions of the great work being done by the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Political commentary was brief but welcomed.

Also thanks to Take Me Out Tickets for scoring us some awesome seats!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

. . . to our very own Catherine Smith for winning Democrat of the Year at the YDG Convention! It's a very much deserved honor.

In a 6-3 decision, with Justice Stevens authoring the opinion, SCOTUS has upheld Indiana's Voter ID law.

The Supreme Court on Monday backed Indiana's law requiring voters to show photo identification, despite concerns thousands of elderly, poor and minority voters could be locked out of their right to cast ballots.

Since the Republican National Committee is calling the DNC's new anti-McCain ad "misleading" and "illegal" and calling for stations not to air it, there's only one thing to do: Post It.

McCain talked to a gathering of reporters and townspeople in front of the St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama.

Photo: The Selma Times-Journal via Associated Press

What candidate (and sitting US Senator) goes to Selma, Alabama and doesn't have Black folks in their photo op? You know Selma is only 70% Black.

When asked about the lack of diversity in the audience, McCain said the main goal of the tour wasn't to bring out voters. "Whether, at the end of the day, they choose to vote for me or not is not my major purpose," he said. "My major purpose is that if I understand the challenges-and they are enormous-that they face today I will be a far better president of the U.S."

What an ASSCLOWN!!

Keep up with who's in and who's aught at the SOS site here. Best of luck to all our Democratic candidates qualifying this week.

Jim Martin was the only Democratic US Senate candidate to qualify today, and he came out swinging. Yes, Deak. One, two, three, swoon.

Martin on Chambliss: I went to 'Nam. He didn't

"At the end of the day, my race is going to be a very close political race. We're prepared for that. I know that Democrats in this state are energized. There are an awful lot of them that want to see me out of office," Chambliss said.

Martin's interchange with the press was less formal. The Atlanta attorney, a former state lawmaker and 2006 candidate for lieutenant governor, noted that Chambliss had voted with the Bush administration 92 percent of the time during his term.

When told that, an hour earlier, Chambliss had felt confident that he'd win in a military-minded state, Martin had this: "I served in Vietnam, he didn't. I'm proud of the military history of the state."

And four veterans running for US House of Representatives joined Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd for a press conference at the Capitol today. The candidates were: Bill Gillespie (District 1), Bill Jones (District 6), Doug Heckman (District 7), and Bobby Saxon (District 10).

Finally, more info from Matt about the when/where of candidate qualifying this week below the fold. Apparently, they're shaking the bushes in certain districts.

Ok there I said it.

I was going to wait till Friday afternoon for this post, but after a couple coffee "Klatches" recently, it's seems best to just put it out there. I've shaken my head at so many of your antics, I think I have a filling loose now.

I get you want to have your name on the ballot, and it appears some of you can afford $400.00 but beyond that please spare me your whining and crying about how no one is "helping" you.

Ok, here's a thought... WE DON'T KNOW YOU! We've never seen you before, we've never heard of you, so why should we "help" you? Oh and when I "google" you, nothing but scary crap pops up, or worse (?) I get nothing.

Those of you climbing into the various "clown cars" (*cough* District 61 & 65) around town, really some need to check yourselves and realize that some of ya'll need to stop. Stop now.

Why don't you all spend some time in your communities, helping others, building teams, contributing to a better society? You seriously gain no points with me by running a crappy campaign and sucking the energy from the process.

Oh and don't call me a loser and then expect me to vote in a primary for your dumbass.

In the 38th House District. Thank Gawd too!

Pat Dooley a long time public servant, former representative and fixture at Cobb County Democratic events is a welcome entry into this race. I'm sure the decision wasn't easy and we are thrilled to have her in this election.

State House District 38 includes the southern and eastern areas of the incorporated City of Marietta as well as a few surrounding unincorporated areas.

Folks these are the people we should be challenging! Steve Tumlin is infamous for his sponsorship of the evil "Pay Day Lending" legislation. Rep. Steve Tumlin, R-Marietta, introduced the bill in 2007 after being approached by the industry.

I will update this post as soon as more information is available, I just wanted to get this out as quickly as possible. It's a Good Thing... as Martha Stewart would say.

Beginning tomorrow, more than 400 city workers will be laid off as part of Mayor Shirley Franklin's proposed 2009 budget. Also included in her budget are a proposed property tax increase to balance a budget with an expected $140 million shortfall.

Workers described the mood at City Hall today as "tense" and "testy". No one knows yet who will be cut. It's a terrible thing for someone to lose their job, but Mayor Franklin should have initiated staff cuts years ago, by attrition, before she was forced to take such drastic action.

Franklin: Layoffs, property tax increase needed
Beginning Thursday, more than 400 city jobs on chopping block

Atlanta City Council members: Mayor mum on layoffs
Four council members said they have yet to be consulted on the budget's impact

$8.1 million in budget cuts feared for Atlanta parks department
When city budgets get tough, arts and recreation programs are typically among the first to get cut.

Perennial Republican candidate Erik Underwood has announced his intention to challenge Rep. Nan Orrock.. in the primary. Uh huh. Assuming this email's true, why don't we have some fun with it: