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Friday, December 1, 2006
Sam the Zam sides with the guy from New Mexico
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re picking up that state Sen. Sam Zamarripa (D-Atlanta), who’s exiting the state Legislature, will keep his hand in the game by working here for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who’s expected to make an ‘08 bid for the White House.
The two share a deep interest in immigration issues.
While Democratic candidates are dropping in and out of the presidential contest like houseflies — just as Republicans are doing — don’t be surprised if more Georgians make the same choice that Zamarripa has.
The pols won’t change, but their staffs will
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
‘Tis the season for staff changes.
Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the departure of his chief of staff and press secretary last week. On Friday, House Speaker Glenn Richardson announced that his chief of staff, Jay Walker, is departing to take a private sector job.
Walker will continue to work as a consultant until a new CoS is named, according to a press release.
Pick your poison: A statewide sales tax increase, or a regional one
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the biggest fights of next year’s legislative session began taking shape today, in the posh confines of the Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga.
We’re told that top legislative leaders — House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Lt. Gov.-elect Casey Cagle, various committee chairmen, state DOT officials, plus U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg) — were there listening to a pitch from Georgians For Better Transportation, the road-building interest group headed by Mike Kenn.
Two competing proposals for addressing the state’s transportation woes have surfaced. GBT is pushing a statewide, one-cent increase in the state sales tax. We’re told they’ve committed to raising millions for a campaign, should the issue come to a referendum.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, is behind a regional SPLOST for roads and other transportation needs.
Full story is here.
Says Butler: Let’s make it safe for Democrats to exit the closet
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In anticipation of upcoming elections within the state Democratic party, Columbus attorney Jim Butler has sent out a letter to state committee letters warning that it’s make-or-break time for the party — that unless certain, unnamed people get serious, certain other unnamed people may get tired of playing Sisyphus.
“If Democrats can win in Montana, Democrats can win anywhere, including in Georgia,” begins Butler, who has spent much effort and treasure on party causes. January will see an election for a new party chairman, but Butler says he’s not angling for the job.
The entire letter can be found at blogfordemocracy.org, but here’s the gist of it:
The truth is that in most suburban and rural areas, it is ‘socially unacceptable’ to profess oneself as a Democrat. In most PTAs and Sunday schools in this state, folks won’t admit they are Democrats, even if they are.
In most deer hunting camps, bass fishing tournaments, and NASCAR races, admitted Democrats are rare as hen’s teeth. For a clear majority of Georgians, voting Democratic is something they mostly keep quiet about, if they do it at all.
That’s the truth. That’s our problem. Everything we do should be calculated to solve that problem. We cannot afford any longer to let the Republicans choose the battlefields and define the terms of engagement. We have to reach out, and by so doing, empower ourselves to ‘rebrand’ ourselves.
Now is the time to do some dramatic things, some symbolic things, to prove to all Georgians that the Republican caricature of Georgia Democrats is false.
I am not a candidate for party chair and will neither run nor serve. But I do know we need change. All i can do as a Democrat is urge you not to vote for anyone who fails to address the core problem confronting us but who, instead, ignores it. If the state committee continues the course of the past, you will lose a lot of people who want to help in the future.
We confront a great opportunity. Mostly what we have to do is quit helping the Republicans characterize what Democrats are all about and are for. The ‘flip side’ of that great opportunity is this: If we choose to ignore the chance, a lot of folks who have worked hard feeling they were pushing a heavy weight uphill may give up.
