I'm sorry. I apologize for crowding your inbox. Am I still on your Christmas card list?

You do know that you are never going to convince Mr. Original Email Sender to move into the 21st century Progressive Movement. He is still waiting for Sam Nunn and Jimmy Carter to run again for office.

In his case, I don't think money has bought him Democratic happiness...it has bought him the undeniable ability to forever live in the past.

Think about trying to teach your grandpa to use a Nintendo Wii. Try explaining to him that you can play against people that 1) you never physically see and 2) that live 10 hour time zones away. Grandpa is never going to get that concept until he actually sits down and plays the game for hours with you beside him showing him the way.

Don't argue...don't send emails...think Nintendo Wii. There is nothing to say or do until he is ready to sit on the couch and learn the new Progressive thinking of the Democratic Party.

Nintendo Wii. :)

I love my Nintendo Wii. Does anybody know how to hook it up to the internets? So far, I've just been playing against my friends that I can convince to come over and sit on my couch. :)

While are the moratoria are being imposed, I propose a moratorium on the well-intentioned, yet no-long-humourous use of "the internets."

Rave on Smitty!

Wait a minute! That's my job! I'm the one that successfully alienates a group in 60 seconds or less.

You telling people how to think is like... whinning.

;-)

BTW,

Thanks everyone!

Lighten up Smitty. We've all received the same emails, robo and personal calls, direct mail, etc... We've all wasted other's time and sat back as others waste ours. A few bottom up communications isn't going to hurt anything. The apathy will return soon enough.

Smitty is not trying to alienate anyone or any group. Smitty's extrovert level is really low after the past month of DPG election/infighting. Plus, the crackberry is tired. We all just need to discuss/ramble/rant about other politics beyond the DPG.

We need to sit back and savor the experience of having the first truly democratic elections in the history of the DPG before we continue with the bickering.

The newly elected leadership has not even met yet. I think it's crazy to start bitching about which group/opinion/method is better without at least giving our new leaders the chance to speak to each other less more to the rest of the State's Democrats.

Plus, there are new State Committee members' elections in 30 days. Some of us will retire our posts and some will remain. Let's just save all the emailing until after Feb. 27th.

Can we fight about something else Smitty? I'm half Irish and half Italian. Fighting is in my blood.

And I am just kidding Smitty. Please don't tell Jules to send Rocco and the boys to my house.

OK, here are some items to discuss -

Discussion 1: Will the House and Senate districts fund candidates in exurban counties, like Newton, Forsyth, Cherokee, Rockdale, and Henry counties? Or will they concentrate only on incumbents in Metro Atlanta?

Discussion 2: Can we convince Carol Jackson to run against Charlie Norwood in 2008?

Discussion 3: Will Georgia Democrats contribute to a PAC that strictly provides grassroots for Federal Congressional races for Georgia candidates?

My guesses:
1. Yes, No, No, Yes and Yes. Forsyth and Cherokee don't have enough "Constituency Groups" yet.

2. Possibly, but 2008 is being charitable, and I doubt Norwood will run for re-election, as he hasn't even cast a vote in the House since Jan 5.

3. Interesting question. Who is behind it? Georgia Democrats are free to give money to anyone they want! What areas would the PAC target?

2. Not to me morbid, but Charlie likely won't even live out his term.

1. that's why we have Virgilio now...no pressure or anything :)

2. If Charlie doesn't live out his term, can we expect a serious pissing match on the Republican side? I bet so. Chris, what other Repub. in Charlie's district can pull much weight?

3. 8th and 12th congressional districts.

Discussion 1: Will the House and Senate districts fund candidates in exurban counties, like Newton, Forsyth, Cherokee, Rockdale, and Henry counties? Or will they concentrate only on incumbents in Metro Atlanta?

Is that House and Senate caucuses? Yes I believe they will fund candidates in the exurban counties (or they better) but better yet, instead of promises of being able to fund candidates, they will make it clear that the candidate seeking office must understand the demand for fundraising. Most money should always be raised by candidates, and candidates or future candidates take notice: I have professionally recruited candidates and have replaced support from one to another based on the will, understanding and desire to take 4 hours a day during campaigns to sit on the phones and ask for money. If candidates enter races with the idea of raising their own money, not only are they stronger, but they will not have false hopes of the responsibility it takes to seek elected office. If you can't raise your own money, don't run for office yet, or seek help. The House and Senate caucuses and the DPG will always help financially when able, but most importantly, they will serve to train, hands-on and promote the campaigns and candidates in all wasy possible, which might end up being through volunteers, voter IDs, door-to-door, trainings, etc. not money.

Discussion 2: Can we convince Carol Jackson to run against Charlie Norwood in 2008?

I think Carol would make a very strong candidate and I think Democrats will support her on whatever future moves she makes. Charlie won't make it through his term, and I know that Terry Holley is still a very active force in the district. The Republicans have lots of possible contenders including fmr. Sen. Brian Kemp, Gary Black, fmr. Congressman Burns is interested, etc. I think Democrats' best chance at this seat is a special election, and it would be a true test to our new party. The DNC would be interested, so I'm told, and it would be a good fight for turnout in an off election. However, Democrats would need a smooth ride and rally behind one strong candidate should that be the case. So let's find someone serious and dedicated to working hard in a short amount of time to win that seat and go into 2008 as an incumbent...

Discussion 3: Will Georgia Democrats contribute to a PAC that strictly provides grassroots for Federal Congressional races for Georgia candidates?

I'm not sure what that means, but any PAC that is formed can appeal to anyone that wants to donate to it. I think the new DPG will take on this role and I would urge everyone right now to donate to the DPG to show a strong symbol of support for our new leadership and direction. If you want this "new" era of Democratic politics to live up to it's hope, let's support it in every way we can. Any PAC that wants to help elect Democrats is a good PAC in my mind ;) but a lot more goes into this discussion. What "grassroots" would you be talking about, who would be doing the "grassroots," at what cost? etc. A good discussion, but let's see what our own party can do since it now has a chance to be the leader in what grassroots really is, and that's hard work, live phone calls no robos, knocks at everyone's door, messages that are insync, and a unified party that is proud of what it stands for.

"Plus, there are new State Committee members' elections in 30 days."

Can somebody please tell me why the outgoing State Cmte members elect the incoming Officers and not the other way around?

In most places, the cmte members are elected then the officers campaign for the next 30-40 days then the officers elections are held.

The biggest pain in the butt is finding someone to be treasurer for a federal PAC. It's got something to do with those orange jumpsuits if you screw up since McCain-Feingold : )

sndeak,

"Can somebody please tell me why the outgoing State Cmte members elect the incoming Officers and not the other way around?"

I direct you to the Will Roger's quote, "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."

I'm with Jen - "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."

On number 1.

Verrrrrrrrrry interesting.

Hey Smitty, you know where the current battlegrounds are in Florida? The exurbs.

I like the way you think. If I may make a suggestion? Growth control and transportation. Those are exurb issues where people don't care so much if you have a D or an R after your name as long as you make a lick of sense.

1. - you have to run general assembly candidates like they are running for county commission seats in the exurbs. They have to discuss issues that Grift mentioned plus land use, zoning and the environment. Most older exurbs' residents are definetely NIMBY voters (Not In My Backyard) but there is language out there where candidates don't have to sell their souls in order to get the NIMBY vote. You also can not be a bonafide tree hugger (nothing mean intended) or an asphalt developer (unless you have that clueless Westmoreland look).

There's a constituency group, urban planners, that vote 50/50 Democrat and could help candidates develop the proper messaging in exurbs area. Candidates should talk to the local urban planners and they will find out everything about what a community likes and dislikes.

Urban Planners rock. Full disclosure: I used to be one until I became too damn cynical and got hooked on some bad political crack :)

Charles Brewer would seem to be the perfect match.

NIMBY...heck some of the are BANANA...
Build Absolutily Nothing Anywhere Near Anything

Sprawl, Transportation and Education in the Exurbs are the way to go.

Smitty, you have nailed it.

Forsyth Co. has a republican county commissioner, who once was a former libertarian party chair, and he voted for a zoning moratorium last month. The slow growth candidates swept the races last November, and they were all Republicans...

Our state house and senate reps are all in the pocket of the chamber.

Sometimes it like bizzaro world here.

Jon, and you thought I was just cute with a hot bod :)

Sprawl, Transportation and Education are the kitchen table issues for exurbs counties. If we want to win then we need to groom our candidates to speak the exurban language.

For all future Dem candidates do not try this at home by yourself - get some expertise before you start talking the talk. You just can't fake knowing local zoning and planning issues. They will smell you a mile away.

There's an entire crop of urban planners getting pimped over there at Georgia Tech, which is in the top ranking graduate urban planning schools in the nation. We might as well pimp them (oh, I mean hire them as interns).

Charles Brewer - in my dreams, Grift, in my dreams!

The Internets '08.

1. Hopefully we'll have a presence in all house and senate districts, though that's probably not realistic.

2. Why Carol Jackson? Is she the best choice?

3. Hopefully

Smart growth/Nimby candidates in County Commission races, there's probably opportunities for them in Georgia. The Newton County Commission, currently, is in the pocket of the developers. As for most other races, kitchen table issues are not the driving force behind the conservative wave, and they will not stop it. Watching the train wreck has not been fun.

Smitty,

I like the question of Carol Jackson for Congress. If we had to do a special election today, Carol Jackson does already have support in nine counties.

Remember, however, Max Burns is pimping for a job at North Georgia College and State University. He's setting himself up already to run if Norwood does a Barbaro. (No insult intended to Barbaro)

Burns has laid out his plans for running the business department at NGCSU. He's going to hand off all the duties to a staffer. Bad news for the school. A figure head for the business department.

The business school at NGCSU tried to get academic accredidation and hit a huge snag. To resolve the snag, the business school needs someone with credibility and determination. Not a figure head with a hands off style.

Expect Max Burns to poll the 10th, if he hasn't already. Expect him to buy a house in the 10th. Max Burns is picking out office furniture for Norwoods old office before Charlies is even cold in the ground.

North Georgia Dems need to see through the smoke and mirrors.

Good pick up, smitty.

You guys are much more optimistic about the 10th than I am and damn, I live here.

Jen B.

"I feel your pain."

Thanks for signing in. Now you can comment. (sign out)