Blog for Democracy

Senate stuff

– The totally unscientific BfD straw poll has closed. As you can see below, Rand Knight won with 130 votes and Jim Martin finished a strong second with 104. As promised, there is now an ad for Mr. Knight to my right (your left), that will stay up for one week, and not a millisecond longer.

– Did you catch the Senate debate last night on FOX 5? Flack live blogged it.

– The Douglas County Democrats are sending out emails to their list concerning Vernon Jones. Should be an interesting meeting next month. Here’s an excerpt:

How many ways can we say “alarming?”

Vernon Jones, DeKalb County CEO and candidate for the U.S. Senate voted for George W. Bush — not once but twice — causing Jane Kidd, Chair of the Georgia State Democratic Party to question Jones‚Äô loyalty to Georgia Democrats.

Additionally, Jones campaign is being funded by Mel Sembler, a big Republican developer out of Florida. Seems there’s some $$$ to be made in DeKalb County at the expense of the citizens and small business owners.

So before you rush out to support Vernon Jones’ candidacy for the U.S. Senate, as Mama and Grandmama would say: “Look before you leap.”

For more information about Vernon Jones, go to the web and type Vernon Jones; George Bush. Several articles dating back to last summer will appear about Vernon Jones, his support for George W. Bush and the money he is taking from Sembler, Sembler’s family, and Sembler’s business associates.

– And there are two events for Jim Martin this week, one of them tonight for LGBT and allies. Full info below the fold.


Kick off your Pride Week

Join your hosts, and the LGBT community and its friends, for a memorable evening to support Jim Martin, candidate for U.S. Senate.

What: “Proud to Support Martin for Senate”!

When: Monday, June 30, 6:00pm

Where: Einstein’s

1077 Juniper St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Suggested contribution: $25

Hosts: Nicolette Allen, Kyle Bailey, Glen Paul Freedman, Matt Harper, Lance Helms, Kyle Williams

—————-

Join some of our favorite Democratic Doctors for a tasty event to benefit Jim Martin!

What: BBQ with Jim Martin

When: Wednesday, July 2nd, from 6:00-8:00 pm

Where: In the parking lot of 619 Rankin Street, NE

Atlanta, GA 30308

Suggested contribution: $50, kids under 12 eat free

Hosts: Drs. Maggie Mermin, Melanie Thompson, Annette Bernard, Bobby Malamis, David Spivey, & Sherry Thacker

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Comments

29 responses to “Senate stuff”

  1. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Actually Zaid, it is part of the Party’s responsibility to recruit candidates.

  2. Zaid Avatar
    Zaid

    “There were quite a few options, but just like they failed to recruit a legitimate candidate to take on the GOP’s most vulnerable House member, Mike Jacobs, they fell down on the job in this race too. ”

    It isn’t their job to “recruit.” The citizens of the state — the grassroots — have put these candidates before us. This isn’t an insider game anymore. Get used to politics 2.0.

  3. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    Well, I’m glad we Mr Baker or Mr Thurmond chose not to run. The last thing we need is a special election for those positions.

    Roy Barnes? Really any better than Jim Martin? I like Jim better, myself. I love Max, and a rematch would have been pretty cool.

  4. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Or none of them wanted to run.

    And when you don’t want to run but are strong armed into it, you have the same tenacity and strength that Jim Martin has right now.

  5. Decaturguy Avatar
    Decaturguy

    To start with I think a Cleland-Chambliss re-match would have been intriguing, would have focused a lot of national attention on the race, and would have been close.

    As much as I hate to admit it, Roy Barnes would have made it a close race and he has won statewide office before.

    An African American candidate who might be able to ride the Obama wave, but yet has won statewide races before and drawn significant white support. No, not the likely nominee, Vernon Jones, but Thurbert Baker or Michael Thurmond would have fit that bill pretty good.

    There were quite a few options, but just like they failed to recruit a legitimate candidate to take on the GOP’s most vulnerable House member, Mike Jacobs, they fell down on the job in this race too.

    Like I said, they must think Saxby is doing a fine job.

  6. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    “has already given Saxby a pass by not recruiting any first tier candidates to run against him”

    Um, seriously, who are the “top tier” candidates that are not running?

  7. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    DG:

    I know its pretty easy to beat up on the DPG but who else are we going to run?

    It is hardly the DPG’s fault if certain statewide officers or legislative “leaders” want to run for governor, not senate.

  8. RuralDem Avatar
    RuralDem

    Saxby is horrible. He’s on DeMint’s level.

    However, some of our candidates are just as bad, if not worse, their just on the opposite side of the aisle.

  9. Decaturguy Avatar
    Decaturguy

    Rural,

    The conservative power structure of the Georgia Democratic Party has already given Saxby a pass by not recruiting any first tier candidates to run against him. These conservative Democrats must think he’s doing a great job in the U.S. Senate.

  10. RuralDem Avatar
    RuralDem

    DG,

    Again, I’m pretty sure I’ve discussed this before, if not on here, then on TT. I’m sure you’re just trying to stir up something, like usual, but I’ll give you a response.

    When you ask am I “for” him, do you mean would I support him, or vote for him? To me, supporting a candidate means doing things like putting out signs or urging friends to vote for a candidate. Obviously voting means casting a vote for that candidate. I’ve voted for candidates without supporting them.

    Also, are you referring to the Primary or General?

    Anyway, I base willingness to support and my vote on more than a candidate’s stance on the issues. Character being a major one, hence my long standing support for Martin.

    I applaud the fact that Jones is willing to call himself and run as a Conservative Democrat. Not only do I feel more aligned with conservative leaning populist Democrat, I strongly feel that these are candidates are usually the only ones who can win statewide.

    However, he has some serious problems outside of his stances on the issues. The numerous allegations of misconduct seriously minimize his chance of being effective against Saxby.

    No, I’m not “for” him. I will say that I think he’s more in tune with Georgia than Lanier and Knight, but that’s not saying much.

    Nominating anyone other than Martin or Cardwell is equal to giving Saxby a pass.

    After the stuff he pulled against Cleland in 2002, we should be giving Saxby tough fight. Instead, we have those in the party that are pushing a candidate more aligned with the Green Party than the Democratic Party.

  11. Decaturguy Avatar
    Decaturguy

    Vernon claims to be the most “conservative Democrat,” right, are you for him, Rural?

  12. RuralDem Avatar
    RuralDem

    DG,

    I’ve said before on many occasions that I think Lanier has no chance.

    Knowledgeable candidate, however, he’s a bit too liberal AND his campaign finance rules automatically set him back.

  13. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Y’all do realize that every poll shows at best we equal Mark’s 06 numbers?

    Just saying.

  14. Decaturguy Avatar
    Decaturguy

    Josh Lanier, too, RuralDem … who just happens to be a rural dem from Statesboro, right?

  15. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Y’all do realize that every poll shows at best we equal Mark’s 06 numbers?

    Just saying.

  16. RuralDem Avatar
    RuralDem

    Rand Knight is running in the wrong state. It’s that simple.

    If he’s the Democratic nominee, then well, Saxby won’t even have to campaign to win.

    Run a few ads touting Knight’s stances on gay marriage and other issues and call it a day.

  17. MelGX Avatar
    MelGX

    This may be obvious, but I’ll say it anyway, if I haven’t said it before.

    For a Democratic candidate to win the primary, it’s necessary to lean left. But to win the general it’s necessary to lean right. This is how a candidate with primary opposition threads the needle. For Republicans, it’s the reverse. The trick for both is not to lean so far in one direction that their viability is compromised.

    Cardwell’s problem (in addition to the poll sitting stunt), is that he came out of the gate leaning right. With that approach, he might have done better against Saxby in the Republican primary than he will against the crowded Democratic field.

    Rand’s problem (I’ll wager), is that he hasn’t even grasp how this works yet. He doesn’t understand that everything he says in the primary will come back to bite him in the general.

    I’ve come to know Jim Martin over the past couple of years and believe him to be a fair minded Democrat. I know he believes in core Democratic values. If he didn’t, I doubt so many of our most effective LGBT activists would be supporting him.

    It’s not politically naive to expect Democrats to vote and govern as Ds once they are elected. It is politically naive to expect them to go on public record in response to Republican “gotcha” questions and still hope to win a statewide election in Georgia.

  18. M_Combest Avatar
    M_Combest

    As much as I like Jim Martin – he truly threw GLBT folks under the bus with this Marriage comment at the debate. He also does not have one single event planned for Pride, the fundraiser is actually not something he even set up. Rand Knight supports full equality for marriage rights for GLBT and also will be proudly marching in the Pride Parade Sunday.

    Rand Knight truly has got further than any other candidate that GLBT have supported in the past, therefore we need to show him that we will stand with him if he takes the brave route and not stay within the GA Democratic party comfort Zone.

    I stand with Rand 110% and Jim’ comments last night only secured that – its about time GLBT folks realize Rand has been touting equality for over year now in this race.

  19. CrankyinGA Avatar
    CrankyinGA

    Lady, if I had anything nice to say, do you think I’d be so cranky?

  20. plange Avatar
    plange

    While we’re talking about the All Good box– while I love Facebook, I’ve always been puzzled why we have an ad going to it? Do we have a BfD group we can point it to on there? Keep meaning to remember whenever I see you folks but I keep forgetting….

  21. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    Personally, I have a lot of respect for and will try to be respectful to, almost anyone who willingly steps into Democratic Primary politics.

    I know there are a lot of people (many of them are my friends) who don’t care for Rand Knight. That’s fine, pump up Jim Martin, Josh Lanier, or whomever you do support. I don’t find the “crazy” remarks to be very helpful for those who are undecided, nor is it good for the party.

  22. Smitty Avatar
    Smitty

    Hey Cranky if the Knight campaign hadn’t already “imploded in a whirlwind of idiocy and scandal” it ain’t gonna happen before July 15th. We’ve been waiting for him to go into a fetal position for a while and it ain’t happening.

    I think he’s learned from the mistakes he made early on in the campaign and hopefully has grown wiser. Heck, his hair is even a lot grayer than when he first started campaigning.

  23. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    DecaturGuy,

    The question, “Do you support gay marriage? Yes or no?”

    Jim Martin, Vernon Jones and Dale Cardwell stated No.

    Josh Laniar and Rand Knight stated Yes, with Knight adding that he supported equality.

  24. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Don’t get me wrong I like it. I just laughed when I saw those.

    You made my morning A-OK Mel.

  25. CrankyinGA Avatar
    CrankyinGA

    When Rand Knight’s campaign implodes in a whirlwind of idiocy and scandal, don’t say MelGX didn’t warn you.

  26. MelGX Avatar
    MelGX

    Don’t look a gift ad in the mouth IRE. You should be surprised I didn’t make it 1 pixel wide. However, even though it is within the “it’s all good” ad space, I will move it up slightly, but nothing goes above Obama.

  27. Decaturguy Avatar
    Decaturguy

    What did Jim Martin say last night about gay marriage and what was the context? I don’t expect him to say that he supports gay marriage, but did he mention civil unions? Equal rights? Anything else? Because we cannot expect him to become more socially progressive after the primary or after would be elected the the U.S. Senate.

  28. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    A) Why am I not suprised to see the Knight box at the bottom and B) why am I not suprised to read that it won’t be up for a milisecond longer than a week.

    It makes me tehl0lz.

  29. robertmalamis Avatar
    robertmalamis

    After watching the debate, doing some further research and some soul-searching, I’ve come to the decision to withdrawal my support for Jim Martin and the “BBQ for Jim Martin” to be held Wednesday night and shift my support to Rand Knight.

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