Comments for Blog for Democracy

Comment on It’s your party. by Gerald

Gerald — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:50:32 +0000

If that comment had been from absolutely anyone other than Jeff Anderson it would have been a good one.

But since Jeff Anderson is a con and a joke, the comment loses its luster.

Comment on It’s your party. by Bob Peckerwood

Bob Peckerwood — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:26:10 +0000

Jeff, you’re a Democrat now….. how interesting

Comment on It’s your party. by Jeff Anderson

Jeff Anderson — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:31:54 +0000

In the ideal, our Democratic Party exists to help make real, policy, law and programs that many people see as in the American model and good for all people. A Party that cannot or does not do that is not just a failure, but an obstruction to those goals. Such is the state of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

With very few operational people and no appreciable assets, the DPG is really just an identity, not an effective political or governing instrument. In its current state, it actually contributes to our downward governing spiral. By not producing (indeed dissuading) viable candidacies and successful Democratic elections, it chokes off our own policy hopes and allows an unchallenged Georgia GOP to veer farther off the American middle and not have to produce good public servants of its own.

Despite their demonstrated skill for gaining and holding Party office and maintaining some image of Party existence, the operational fact of the matter is that the current DPG leadership is a source – not the victim – of our current condition. The personal and professional challenges and questions around DPG Chairman Berlon and Political Director Richey are not merely unfortunate coincidences, but symptoms of strategic inability to successfully guide the Party.

Given the down-pressure and brand damage Georgia Democratic candidate hopefuls and rank-and-file citizens are getting out of both this and current White House issues, we are left with three choices: To simply quit, to feign a change of image, or to truly reform and revitalize.

Fractionalization and pursuit of alternative PACs and organizations is not the answer. I urge my fellow state Democrats to genuinely pursue internal change, including personnel changes, immediately and earnestly. Let’s not devolve into “now is MY chance to be the big shot”, but instead gather to identify and prioritize our regional Democratic goals and build an organization to honestly and effectively pursue those ends.

Jeff

Comment on It’s your party. by Jack

Jack — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:35:34 +0000

The money is not even the biggest concern. I much more troubled by the news of the law stuff.

Comment on Monday Open Thread by JMPrince

JMPrince — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:45:14 +0000

And please don’t screw around with the ‘full faith & credit’ of the US Debt. It’s a fairly serious issue that few understand, and fewer evidently care to get right:

“Fiscal prioritisation: Lessons from three wars” Via VoxEu.org

George Hall, Thomas J. Sargent, 19 May 2013

http://www.voxeu.org/article/fiscal-prioritisation-lessons-three-wars

Some international comparisons & considerations here:
http://www.econbrowser.com/archives/2013/05/sovereign_debt.html

JMP

Comment on It’s your party. by Gunner

Gunner — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:55:42 +0000

@bob I would love to see your last name on a yard sign!

Comment on It’s your party. by Bob Peckerwood

Bob Peckerwood — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:17:18 +0000

Donna,

Welcome to the land of lost causes. Your comments are spot on, except we don’t seem to have anyone left to coordinate those activities.

DPG is letting staff go and the donors are taking a wait and see approach to continuing to fund the party.

Numerous other political groups are stepping forward in targeted ways to move ahead of the significantly sidelined party.

I’d look around and see what groups are active in your area, local county party, League of Women Voters, city council and mayoral candidates. From these places new stars will be nurtured. They won’t just ride up on white horses for us, we need to stop that top down mentality, it doesn’t work see 2010′s results.

Comment on It’s your party. by Donna Williams

Donna Williams — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:14:36 +0000

As a relatively newly minted member of the state democratic party, but a lifetime Democratic voter, I realized a couple of years ago that the Democratic party has to be rebuilt from the ground up. I ‘ve been impressed by Mike Berlon and Rashad Richey (sp?) at the meetings I’ve attended here in Macon.

I’m also NOT surprised that state Dem party funds are miniscule compared to the state GOP. After all, we don’t have any state wide elected Democrats. Zilcho. It’s up to us to get in there and contribute where we can. It wouldn’t hurt if the DNC,the DGA, the DSCC, and DCCC, also recognized that Georgia is trending purpose and they can help spur that trend if they contribute funds judiciously.

The first thing is for us to find a truly viable Senatorial Candidate. John Barrow was never gonna be that candidate, imo. They actually need to go for a good Democrat with progressive inclinations. Forget the name recognition;we no longer have someone to fill that bill.