Blog for Democracy

I get email…Recruit Shirley Franklin

Found in my inbox:

Fellow Democrat,

You are receiving this email because we know you care about the fate of the Democratic Party of Georgia and would be willing to commit your personal support to moving the Party forward. Now is the time that the Democratic Party of Georgia needs strong aggressive leadership.

We believe that SHIRLEY FRANKLIN is by far the best candidate to chair our Party.

Shirley Franklin has not requested this “draft movement” but we feel that if a large number of significant Democrats will commit to supporting Shirley, she might consider running for the Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Please click below and add your name to the list of significant Democrats across the State of Georgia. We need the petition signed by Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. Please forward this email to your family and friends.

Click here to sign petition.

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Bernita

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50 responses to “I get email…Recruit Shirley Franklin”

  1. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    I arrived here at the start of Shirley’s second term. I keep hearing that she was a great mayor in her first term, but all I saw was inattention, dismissive behavior in the face of real problems, mismanagement and excuses.

    I want the next chair of the DPG to be able to run the party effectively, fix some of what’s broken about it, and create a plan for how to fix the rest that will endure beyond their tenure. Nothing that I have seen from Shirley Franklin in the four years I got to watch her as Atlanta’s mayor tells me she is well-equipped for any of these tasks.

    This is throwing a marquee name out there for a job that is best done by a virtual nobody to the general public. Usually, only the insiders know who their state party chair is. A well-known figurehead chair would only damage the party further and would not advance the ball at all.

    This argument would also apply to suggestions to make Michael Thurmond the next chair, but others have already made that argument quite effectively.

  2. Steve Golden Avatar
    Steve Golden

    Thank you Wendy– constantly the voice of reason.

    There are so many problems with Mayor Franklin as Party Chair (first of which is that I have heard from many sources that she could care less to run). Not to say I don’t like her quite a bit, but I don’t believe her skill set is in this particular area.

  3. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    I’m tempted to say a real playa would take the loss just to step up the game. But it’s a still largely thankless unpaid position trying to stave off the barbarians, who already own the gates & city. And of course Case-Shiller is still dropping here & elsewhere. So ‘market sucking’ will be ‘awhile’ yet. JMP

  4. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    It’s on! Of course I might have to stay with you cause the market sucks and I won’t be able to sell my house in 11 days.

  5. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    I’ve got game, but you’re welcome to run too. But literally I’ve been circuit riding the 11th for a the better part of a decade. JMP

  6. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    just making sure you’re bringing you A game in case I move over to the 11th in the next 11 days 🙂

  7. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Most of the active County committee members & voters in the respective counties of the 11th CD will know me Bernita. I’ve been active in every 11th CD race for at least the past 10 years, and have helped out & contributed in each & every campaign. There’s few folks I know who can say the same. And I’ll always welcome the competition. I visit & listen to as many of them as I can. Thanks for the question. JMP

  8. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    you’re for running for the 11th CD right, JM? Have you introduced yourself and your candidacy to the Dem voters in the 11th CD or are you sticking to the same old, same old of catering only to the 11th CD state committee members? How do you know what the Dem voters in your district want/need without asking them? Or do you plan on keeping the same top-down governance that has kept this Party out of touch with their voters. just asking if you’re going to be a part of moving the ball forward…

  9. Tim Cairl Avatar
    Tim Cairl

    I’ll reiterate my point, having Shirley Franklin as head of the DPG would be a disaster.
    This is a bad idea.

  10. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Yes, that’s recognized, as here. But the foreshortened time frame is also not going to be doing anyone any favors either. So why not just put up those candidates you think would do better, & not use all this subterfuge (which is what it amounts to), and just ‘stand & deliver’? I remain as ever mystified. JMP

  11. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    Actually JMPrince, that wasn’t Penn’s problem – Penn did what the current candidates running for Chair are doing – only looking to please the voting bloc by saying and doing whatever it will take to get their vote. Penn’s opponent did the reverse by bringing in outside voices to the conversation. Those outsiders used their powerful voices to influence and change the minds of the same voting bloc.

  12. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    An interesting thought Steve. But yes gaming the civies is not the issue here. This is one of those Delegate math questions. Get to the people who count & can actually vote on the question. Don’t worry, Mark Penn failed at the math here too. But the 600 some-odd signatures currently are interesting, even perhaps telling. But mostly? They don’t seem to be the voters needed. JMP

  13. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    Not that it matters, but I wonder if any of the other prospective candidates (Thurmond, Berlon, Hicks, Martin) could get 1,000 people to sign a petition.

  14. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Well we’re all slowly losing our minds too. While Bernita’s argument has the force of logic, the other comments noting ‘past behavior as a prologue to future performance’ is also one to keep in mind. Me? I’d dearly wish that those wanting to advance her cause for the position do so openly & transparently & fight for their candidate they champion. To me this once again smacks of the same sort of deeply suspect ‘insiderism’ that everyone rightly complains about. Again not even commenting on the merits of the proposal. I just really dislike the use of anon petitions, especially when seeking to govern in & for a Democratic party. JMP

  15. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    whew glad we are back in the same parallel universe…I was thinking that DC and your holiday wine had made you lose your mind or something.

  16. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    No need to preach to me.

    I have no illusion that any of the advice you suggest will be taken.

    My comments are only for those who are considering running-apart from Mayor Franklin.

  17. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    a “trillion ways” really, really? The Party couldn’t figure out 5 ways to get them to participate in this past election. They couldn’t even get the 300 State committee members and the county chairs on board with their plan – might have something to do with that crazy old process called direct communications.

  18. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    It’s a distraction to them getting elected is my point. They can certainly figure out a trillion ways to reach out to Dems once there.

  19. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    how are they a distraction? I totally disagree with that. Let me see if I understand, the people who are running for chair should do what they have always done – blow smoke up the asses of the state committee members, get their vote, and then never include them on any strategy or decision making. Yup now that makes a whole lot of sense and totally moves the ball forward. This Party is so moving to non-existent status.

    I never made the point that the people who signed the petition are “obliged” to help, but that’s 1,000 more people who know that help is needed and 1,000 more people who might be “inclined” to help cause someone/some group asked their opinion.

    As someone who is moving off the State Committee, I would hope that a Party leader would ask my opinion after I no longer have a vote…doubt that will ever happen. Since you know it might be considered a “distraction”.

  20. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    I don’t agree that these folks who “care” will help move the ball forward. It’s starting to be like the Gov primary-they know a name and that’s about it.

    Folks on a petition are in no way obliged to help-in fact they’re a distraction to the people who the Chair/all other positions should be impressing; which is the state committee members.

  21. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    “I believe that the Party has to ask people outside of their intimate circle what are their opinions if they want to move forward.”

    Absolutely true.

  22. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    Tim, I’m not agreeing or disagreeing that Shirley is the right person for the job. I’m disagreeing to the notion that those who want to sign a petition to recruit her should be dismissed. I believe that the Party has to ask people outside of their intimate circle what are their opinions if they want to move forward.

    I will cast a vote on Jan. 29 for whomever will move the ball forward.

  23. Tim Cairl Avatar
    Tim Cairl

    And shirley, an insider of all sorts, is going to be the one to change that?
    She was not good on the coordinated campaign, she’s been unseen when she was an officer of the party, I still fail to see how recruiting her is a good idea.

    Anti

  24. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    I find this “draft movement” interesting and not useless at all. I think some of the sentiments expressed on this thread is why the Dem party can’t move beyond the insider baseball players. Think about it this way, there might be 1,000 people who don’t have a vote on the State Committee but are now invested in who is leading this Party. That’s 1,000 people that will be willing to volunteer and support the Party. That’s 1,000 more people than we had during the election cycle.

    In prior years, the only thing the Dem Party has asked of these 1,000 people were to vote for Dems and give the money. They have never been informed on what the Dems will do for them or with their money. The Dems have only asked, asked, and asked.

    If the Party wants to rebuild then it might be a good start to ask the opinions of the voters. But, nah that’s way too much effort to care about what others are thinking. It could mess up the entire strategy – oh wait is there a strategy – I hear crickets.

    I guarantee that about only 30% of those who have a vote on the next DPG chair even knew what the 2010 strategy was. The Party isn’t even giving those with a vote a voice so I don’t see what the big issue it is to have a draft movement.

    The Dems claim they are an inclusive group with a big tent but in reality the tent is only open if you have a big wallet, a big opinionated voice, or have a vote in their exclusive clubhouse. This exclusivity is what has killed this Party and any attempts at a grassroots/ground game.

  25. Tim Cairl Avatar
    Tim Cairl

    I find this entire exercise useless, can we now focus on the people who are actually running and what their ideas and plans are?

  26. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Well, sure. I would be very interested to know who’s behind the mailing.

  27. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    The whole thing is bogus. Maybe two people who actually have a vote have signed this thing.

  28. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Some of the comments on the petition are hilarious.

    “I would like to see her provide more jobs as I have been a resident of Georgia for the past 16 years and have had to work out of state for over 10 years due to lack of employment for transitioning physicians even in the Health Department and county Board of health with my MPH and Dr PH almost completed.”

    Uh, what? Yeah, DPG, WHY AREN’T YOU HELPING THE ECONOMY BY PROVIDING JOBS?

  29. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    I unsubscribed.

  30. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    Here’s what I wrote this am…

    Dear “GAdeminsider”,

    As and “insider” you would surely know that I’m not on the State Committee and have no vote or say in the matter.

    Please lose this email address, as I do not wish to participate in this silliness.

    Thanks….

  31. GA Dem Insider Avatar
    GA Dem Insider

    I’m just a good ol’ Republican doing what I can to keep y’all chasing your tails.

  32. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Yeah and what great & worthy Dems do we know in Dallas who’d be interested in dabbling in Ga. politics besides some snake in the grass like Rove. (Who only offers ‘friendly’ advice to Dems @ Faux TV)? Or a similar Rovian operative trying to desperately confuse the issues? JMP

  33. Gary D. Harrell Avatar
    Gary D. Harrell

    I got this email at 6 different email accounts I have. Whoever this is has really good access to a ton of mailing list! I did find it funny though, when I tracked the email down, I found out it was sent from Dallas, Texas.

  34. BEZERKO Avatar
    BEZERKO

    Um, no.

  35. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Saw the former gov JFH himself just awhile ago this eve. Seems to be doing fine, but he’s not very political these days. But very much still among the living & enjoying life. Now why would we want to inflict such a thing on such a nice elderly gent? JMP

  36. Wendy Davis Avatar
    Wendy Davis

    I want to know why the author of this email chose to remain anonymous.
    Also, why would anyone think Mayor Franklin wants this position?

  37. parker404 Avatar
    parker404

    Yeah, this is an excellent idea, especially since Shirley was SO successful as Chair of this year’s Coordinated Campaign?

    WTH is up with our addiction to retreads? Isn’t there anyone who hasn’t previously failed our party that we can give half a chance of success to?

    I say we make Stuckey Benfield and Virgil Fludd chair and co-chair.

  38. Past their Prime Avatar
    Past their Prime

    Recruiting Shirley Franklin sounds like a terrible idea. We lose with an 8 year past his prime candidate for Governor. Why do we feel like we can continue to go back into the past? Heck, why don’t we see if we can get Zell Miller or Joe Frank Harris to come back and run the party? Maybe we can reanimate the corpse of George Busbee and see what he could do.

    We need to move forward, not behind.

  39. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    So, for those of us who aren’t insiders, why is this so self-evidently a bad idea?

    I hope it’s not because she’s a person associated with, you know, the part of the state that distinguishes it from Alabama.

  40. sndeak Avatar
    sndeak

    Ugh…

  41. Tim Cairl Avatar
    Tim Cairl

    LOL, just spit out my water through my nose, LMAO

  42. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Hell to the no.

  43. Daniel F. Avatar
    Daniel F.

    *coffee on laptop*

    but, jules IS right.

  44. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    Well the woman does have a lot of experience dealing with sewers

  45. SpaceyG on Twitter Avatar
    SpaceyG on Twitter

    *snort*

  46. Lothar Avatar
    Lothar

    If the party wants to lead a movement to have the metro area secede from Georgia, I’m all for this. Otherwise, no.

  47. BE Avatar
    BE

    stinks of abuse of power. how is this not violative of bylaws?

  48. Tim cairl Avatar
    Tim cairl

    this may be one of the worst ideas ever

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