Broken clock (Blog for Democracy)

Broken clock

Shipp: Georgia Democrats seem to be waving white flag

As for the Democrats, an examination of their candidate recruitment efforts leads to no other conclusion than that they have run up the white flag in their attempt to regain control of Peach State politics. Despite big talk from party leaders, Democratic qualifying is the weakest it has ever been. For the first time, the party is leaving uncontested a statewide office (Republican Doug Everett's Public Service Commission seat).

Democrats, led by House Minority Leader DuBose Porter of Dublin, say they have abandoned aggressive tactics centered on attacking Republican shenanigans and corruption under the Gold Dome to focus on grass roots. They claim they are letting the Republicans fight among themselves, while dedicated Democrats quietly toil away, building a statewide network of local leaders. In the new Democratic handbook, "grass roots" may be translated as "laying low."

The Democrats of 2008 are reminiscent of the Republicans of 1958. Except the Republicans of a half-century ago usually offered progressively amusing agendas. There's nothing amusing about today's dwindling and lethargic Democrats.

Candidate Recruitment Chair Winfred Dukes should have resigned instead of Virgilio Perez-Pascoe. The next time Dukes stands up to run for anything on the DPG State Committee level, I will personally shout him down. Ineffectual doesn't even begin to describe him.

Posted by Mel on May 7, 2008 12:47 AM | Permalink

Comments (19)

rptrcub

I'd personally love to run. But A) I work for a state agency in the first place and B) I'm too liberal, too gay, for Georgia.

Posted by rptrcub | May 7, 2008 6:34 AM

Posted on May 7, 2008 06:34

Jen B.

"They claim they are letting the Republicans fight among themselves, while dedicated Democrats quietly toil away, building a statewide network of local leaders."

Except they're not! Instead we've got tons of primary challengers (some legit, most not).

Posted by Jen B. | May 7, 2008 7:49 AM

Posted on May 7, 2008 07:49

Jules

Rptrcub... once you get to know me, you will realize that you can never be too liberal or too gay for me :) welcome.

That being said, should you ever leave said agency depending on your district, the office you seek and the political climate, it might not be as big of an issue as you think, never say never.

Posted by Jules | May 7, 2008 8:52 AM

Posted on May 7, 2008 08:52

Rubyduby

I don't even want to read this column because I am still trying to calm down over the last one where he says that:

"Former President Carter is the other maverick in this troublemaking troika. Carter won't stay put. He meddles in politics around the globe. If the policy of the United States is to shun North Korea, the former president flies off to meet with that outcast nation's leaders.

If the United States decides not to talk with the Arab terrorist group, Hamas, Carter concludes that he should powwow with them.

As a result of his one-man foreign policy tours, Carter has been frozen out of the Bush Clinton & Bush presidential club that meets regularly for golf and brunch. Carter is just not one of the boys"

And for that I say THANK GOD! And seriously Bill - don't go away mad, just STFU AND GO AWAY! Your expiration date was about two decades ago and now you are just starting to stink.

Posted by Rubyduby | May 7, 2008 9:28 AM

Posted on May 7, 2008 09:28

Mouth of the South

This is crazy. Aren't there any employees of the state party available to run for these positions?

Posted by Mouth of the South | May 7, 2008 11:13 AM

Posted on May 7, 2008 11:13

MelGX

Funny MOTS, but this isn't about our HD-55 candidate.

The DPG Vice-Chair positions are (or should be), important components of the party structure. The Chair sets the tone, the ED carries out day to day operations, along with staff, but it's up to the Vice-Chairs to focus on their areas of responsibility.

Any organization will be stronger with an engaged BOD.

These terms are for FOUR YEARS and this is Duke's SECOND TERM. It's an unbelievable failure on everyone's part to have re-elected him. He should step down.

Posted by MelGX | May 7, 2008 12:51 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 12:51

rptrcub

Thanks, Jules. I know Cobb might be changing but I'm not sure what the chances are in a place where the local downtown nutjob has an Aryan Nations flag hanging outside his Civil War shop on Old 41... if you catch my drift.

Posted by rptrcub | May 7, 2008 2:25 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 14:25

Kimmiega

Oh yes, he's super special... wonder if he will host the annual Hammersmith festival again. Gack!

Still, lots and lots of ways to serve, elected positions are just one of them. As Dems we need to do a better job of working our way to appointed and hired jobs with influence as well.

Yesterday a openly gay black man won a election in VA, Falls Church.. not exactly SanFran.. so hope, it springs eternal.

Posted by Kimmiega | May 7, 2008 3:17 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 15:17

Rubyduby

I am definitely agreeing with MelGX on this.

The only one of the elected VC's who does anything at all is Sally (now that Virgilio is gone) and she runs her butt off criss crossing this state working for Democrats.

To have re-elected Dukes after him doing such an abysmal job last time was just...well...typical.

And before anyone says that I'm mean and I'm poopooing the party ~ prove me wrong.

Posted by Rubyduby | May 7, 2008 4:36 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 16:36

rw30030

I hate to be the nice police, but you're being really mean again. Jane is a wonderful person who doesn't deserve to have people beating up on her.

Posted by rw30030 | May 7, 2008 5:24 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 17:24

Rubyduby

And Jane isn't a Vice Chair is she? Read much?

And for what its worth, I agree that Jane is a wonderful person.

So sayeth the Slayer!!!!

Posted by Rubyduby | May 7, 2008 5:28 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 17:28

MelGX

rw30030, Jane didn't choose Dukes. We did. Everyone who voted for him is responsible. All of us who failed to recruit a stronger candidate for this position are responsible.

Jane is the last person who is responsible for his poor performance.

That's why Shipp's comments are completely misdirected. He should have called Dukes out by name and laid the blame squarely at his feet.

Posted by MelGX | May 7, 2008 5:50 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 17:50

MelGX

Furthermore, I think Jane is doing the best possible job with the hand she's been dealt.

On EVERY board I serve, the Vice-Chairs are the work horses. But in the DPG, Jane seems to be working harder than most of her board put together. With the noted exception of Sally.

Posted by MelGX | May 7, 2008 5:59 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 17:59

CatherineAtlanta

What I find interesting about this is the idea:

"they have abandoned aggressive tactics centered on attacking Republican shenanigans and corruption under the Gold Dome to focus on grass roots."

Seems to me that the best way to reach the grassroots is to remind them (us) of the shenanigans and corruption under the Gold Dome. Isn't that the most compelling part of this whole thing? It shouldn't be, but since we have no platform, no fundraising schemes, no events... That leaves us with what's bad about THEM.

Besides, when did we become unable to do BOTH?

Posted by CatherineAtlanta | May 7, 2008 6:31 PM

Posted on May 7, 2008 18:31

Mouth of the South

I just can't believe we couldn't get someone decent to run against Mike Jacobs. Honestly had we picked up but one seat and it was his, I'd be fine with that.

Posted by Mouth of the South | May 8, 2008 12:56 PM

Posted on May 8, 2008 12:56

innerredneckexposed

why can't Gross win?

Posted by innerredneckexposed | May 8, 2008 1:29 PM

Posted on May 8, 2008 13:29

Mouth of the South

really?

Posted by Mouth of the South | May 8, 2008 1:36 PM

Posted on May 8, 2008 13:36

innerredneckexposed

well i mean it just seems to me that people doubt him for the sake of doubting him.

Posted by innerredneckexposed | May 8, 2008 2:15 PM

Posted on May 8, 2008 14:15

Tim

there's also a different mindset, at least to me, pre-qualifying versus post.

Keith is THE democrat in HD 80 race. He seems genuinely sincere about running this to victory.

In some races do we always want the PERFECT candidate, yeah sure. Do we get it, hell's to the no. But compared to the CSF that is some of these primary races, i'll take working on a general election race in HD 80 thanks.

I'm very happy that HD 80 has a Young Democrat running, woot woot, plug plug.

Posted by Tim | May 8, 2008 2:39 PM

Posted on May 8, 2008 14:39

Broken clock

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