Mike Thurmond? Are you kidding...

I like Mike, I've voted for Mike.. but I have to say isn't the "jobthingy" called Labor Commissioner like a serious full time gig? Don't we all agree that the new DPG officers have lots of work cut out for them? Does he plan on sleeping?

I'm barely lukewarm to the idea of elected officials in the first place. I signed Doug's petition even though I still don't think it's a great idea for elected officials, but heck he knows what kind of time he has after the 40 day session but THE LABOR Commissioner!

Sheesh, don't we need full time attention to the fact we have folks who need JOBS!

OyVey..

This is just a bad idea, sorry Mike, this isn't the way to get to be Gov. or to get work done for unemployeed Georgians with a hostile Republican legislature as a consitutional officer of the Democratic party either.

Someone please tell me why this is a good idea.. Please..

oh snap, no Rev. Jim!! I wonder what happened!

I just thought y'all might like to know that state Sen. Gloria Butler's health hasn't been 100% as of late (I received an e-mail last week that stated that Sen. Butler had gone under the knife for heart surgery), and that she's rumored to be considering witdrawing from the First Vice Chair race.

If she does indeed withdraw her candidacy, and Mike Berlon is elected Chair, then the only female candidate for First Vice Chair left in that race would be Angela Moore; and the DNC requires that the Chair & First Vice Chair be of the opposite sex.

Just something to think about.

Andre...
The post is 4 years, and hopefully she will recover by the summer... But heck if she decides to withdrawn...

Angela is Mike's gal on the ticket I guess... I'm just saying.

Senator Butler has no plans to withdraw from the race.

Angela and Mike sitting in a tree...first come the DPG then the DNC.

just being silly cause what else can you do right about now...

Smitty, I breathlessly await Pootah's take on your nursery rhyme.

Her damn site is down so we can't even enjoy the "rap" again...

And I just got that freaking thing out of my head too..

man I LOVE politics..

It sounds like you might love rap.

Nope, I just love it when rap and politics intersect!

Yo they are mocking us over at PP... I'm just saying.. Their GOP Chair candidate tread has over 200 comments.. hell people pick it up for cripes sake

I did not realize that one ran for Congressional District Chair as well as the other offices. Any comments on that list?

yardman, we are the big tent group such that one could actually run for every seat if they so desired. Big tent!!

Good question, Yardman. I think it would be tricky to hold both seats - chair of the state party and congressional district chair. Looks like a hedging of bets, to me.

As for the list overall. I think we have some great candidates and the potential for a terrific Executive Team. I am opposed to elected officials holding positions on the Exec Committee - they have enough obligations. Additionally, we need to groom party leadership for the future. So, I'll be voting accordingly...

yardman, we are the big tent group such that one could actually run for every seat if they so desired. Big tent!!

Is Rev. Jim in or out? Can I get some confirmation on this?

I really don't like the whole gender balance thing here. Does anyone else feel the same way?

It's contested races with a caveat, how is that Democratic?

This could cause people to vote for someone they really don't like in one race to ensure someone they want wins in a down-ticket race. Or, worse than that, someone wins by default strictly because of their gender.

Ok, I'm going to duck now : )

sndeak I agree with you. And I'm going to vote for who is the most qualified, not by boy/girl/boy/girl stats.

Some of ya'll "I'm not voting for elected officials cause they should concentrate on serving all Georgians" are going to be in a pickle if Berlon or Nelson wins. I'm just sayin'...

Gender is only mandatory in the Chair and 1st Vice Chair race. Take it up with the DNC.

Nice non-alphabetized list of candidates. Biased '08.

MEM, take it up with Bernita's secretary.

Catherine---I agree that elected officials should not hold party leadership positions. Afterall, we have a primary system to identify the candidate we choose to support as a party. While not a conflict of interest, it is certainly a chilling effect on elections. We had this particular problem in our county, though, truthfully, finding candidates was more our problem.

Well, I was going to complain about how this is looking like yet another spin on the Georgia Democratic Clown Car, but after the last election, I'm cool with as many alternatives to the current leadership as possible. Even if certain of them (*cough* Michael Thurmond? WTF *ahem*) really are sub-optimal candidates. That's not singling out anyone particular currently in leadership, that's just saying that they ought to be prepared to fight for their positions by proving they're ready to fix what's broken (everything).

I guess the old guard got what they wanted -- way to believe in grassroots.

Who would y'all consider old guard in the list of candidates...just curious.

My "old guard" picks..

Hattie -low/no technology- Grassroots ??? (Zero communication so far from her)
Carol J(but only softcore)
Mike T-hardcore Old Guard, no belief in grassroots ( zero communication from him so far)
Doug S-some support for grassroots, when it benefits him.
Sen. Butler
Winfred Dukes

Note the fact 99% of the names are elected/previously elected officials.. Hummmm and we wonder why we get our asses kicked.

Conflict of interest much?

Like Catherine, I will be voting accordingly.

~I can't put Miss Angela in any category.

Can a losing candidate for chair run for Vice Chair?

I don't think so...Maybe Chris or Andre can weigh in on that.

The losing candidate can lobby for ED if they want... I'm just saying...

Previously of Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership fame, Hattie was known as an advocate for affordable and mixed-income housing. Later she became one of Wayne Mason's hired guns to advocate for the Piedmont Park condo towers.

Not that I'm really against the towers -- just the way they were proposed.

To say Hattie represents the future of the GA Democratic Party is like saying interstate highways through urban neighborhoods are good for cities.

I wonder how Mike Thurmond is going to feel after losing. Why would he put his name into this race? Does he really think that the all the State Committee members will vote for him just because he is a constitutional officer? His ego is beyond inflated and warped.

I can't wait to hear his "vision" for moving Georgia Democrats forward. I don't think he has a "vision" for Georgia Democrats. I think he has a vision for only 1 Democrat - himself. There is no added value to the Party for having a constitutional officer as the 1st Vice Chair.

I really did not know that Mike Thurmond was such an egomaniac. What a loser!

Mike Thurmond is the old guard.

I'm just kind of a dilletante at this stuff, but that might be a bit harsh on Mike T. I mean, here's an opportunity to get up close and personal with perhaps the most influential group of Dems in the state, so he throws his hat in. Even if he is not sincerely committed to winning the position, how is it harmful to create an opportunity to reach out? Is he taking up ballot space? Should everyone who "shouldn't" have the position not run? Are we afraid he might actually win and do a lousy job?

Actually, dilletante isn't the right word. In fact, it's not even the right spelling. Let's just say "not as wonky as some".

Mike Thurmond will do a lousy job when he gets this position. When will he have the time to perform the expecte duties. The Party does not need another 1st Vice Chair who fails to make State Committee meetings, fails to communicate with State Committee members, and who fails in general with assisting the Party move forward.

If Mike Thurmond wanted to be the "man" then why didn't he run for Chair? He ran for 1st Vice Chair because he saw that it was an easy and relaxed job based on the performance of the current 1st Vice Chair.

He wants this position to only elevate himself. He is sad and pathetic.

You know, we are helping to organize this Metro DPG Candidate Forum on the 20th and have signed on as a co-host, so it would be really nice if you guys could keep the candidate bashing to a minimum until at least after Saturday.

It's bad enough that we have to read a bunch of misinformation and hateful spew about our candidates over at Peach Pundit.

So would that thought process would go something like this:

Desiring to elevate himself (presumably to higher office?) he sees an influential group he can ingratiate himself with, and a position which requires little effort on his part? So he must think that this is essentially an honorary position and that the (influential) members won't remember or be upset if he doesn't really do anything?

Come to think of it, that's probably what "old guard" means to some folks!

The question was asked:

"Can a losing candidate for chair run for Vice Chair?"

The answer: Yes if he or she filed intent to run.

Ok, before this post gets closed... I have a couple questions.

By default, as Labor Commissioner Mike T is already elevated to a consitutional officer, so why can't he work along side the rest of the officers who win on the 28th, if the desire to serve is so strong?

Why does he or anyone else for that matter who are in leadership need to occupy yet another role? He has one, and well...can't he serve effectively from that spot? This is what I ask.

Ms. Melly,

Is that open question directed at you over on PeachPundit?

Are you going to answer it?

I read the tripe at PP and I like the sound of "Give 'em hell, Mel!"

I think we should have a button bee and make some that say that.

For the love of God, can Jim Butler please just send us his slate card of DPG candidates to vote for? My head hurts trying to decipher his emails regarding who State Committee members should vote for on Jan. 27th.

Check your email boxes -- he has sent another email.

That Berlon team has the communications thing working out for them. As soon as State Committee members get one email saying that a candidate's proposal is "very unwise and counter-productive", they bust out a support letter from a State Representative.

I can't hate on their mad communication skills.

It's getting hot in here.

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