Ballot Blogs

By Bill Mack

November 8, 2006 7:24 AM | Link to this

Is the subject of this blog “Where does Georgia go” or “Where do Georgia Democrats Go.” It’s stated both ways in different places, and they’re two dramatically different questions calling for two dramatically different answers.

It appears to me that the Democratic Party continues on a force march to completely self destruct shouting obscenities and tossing verbal handgrenades all the way. There is every reason to think, however, that the reasonable and civil people of Georgia of all persuasons and ethnic backgrounds can take the state forward. We can only hope that they will stand up and cast out the irratonal radicals that have major influence in both major political parties.

By David

November 8, 2006 7:52 AM | Link to this

Where do the GA dems go? Nowhere. They just have to sit tight for two years. With the balance of power in the hands of the democrats, Georgia residents will watch the torrent of pork they have seen rushing into the state for the past 12 years turn into a trickle. The only remedy is to put the state back into the democrat caucus.

By Ken Shigley

November 8, 2006 8:29 AM | Link to this

In the past few years a “perfect storm” of demographic changes, redistricting problems, and negative public perceptions of the old Democratic Party governanace swept over Georgia Democrats.

However, a healthy, functioning two-party system is important, even if only because “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The Republicans in power must know that an effective Democratic Party is looking over its shoulders, ready to take advantage of its shortcomings. It is inevitable that the Republicans now possessing nearly absolute power at the state level, being human, will have their share of scandals. The Democrats must be prepared to offer an alternative when that happens.

In order to come back, the Democrats must go through a transformation in both reality and public perception. In doing so, they must study how the Republicans came out of the political wilderness to gain power in Georgia.

Democrats must get away from any appearance of being dominated by interests that the majority of Georgia voters find troubling. Democrats must make it clear that God is not a member of any political party, and that Democrats represent values at least as compatible with traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs as do Republicans. If that means sacrificing the support of some who have attached themselves to the party, such as advocates of same-sex marriage, so be it.

While minorities are a key component of the Democratic constituency, it must not be seen as just a “black party.” In order to regain an electoral majority, it must be a party than includes everyone and does not appear to exclude the average middle class white voter.

Democrats must recruit and support candidates who truly fit the cultural expectations of mainstream suburban and rural Georgia voters. That means candidates who are solid, churchgoing, middle class family people. That is an essential part of making it socially acceptable for culturally conservative middle class suburban and rural voters to identify themselves as Democrats. The difficulty of candidate recruitment cannot be underestimated, as many who would be excellent do not want to subject themselves, their families, and their non-political careers to the nastiness of political campaigns, particularly if there is not an effective party organization to support them.

Democrats must adopt more of the organizational structure that the Republicans have proven effective. That includes candidate recruitment, effective organization from the state level to the precinct level, sophiticated targeting of communications to voters, etc.

However, in doing so, the Democrats must retain the best of what distinguishes them from the party of Karl Rove. They should hone their message, recuit clean and attractive candidates, organize, and come back to offer a strong and attractive alternative in future elections.

By Carol

November 8, 2006 8:42 AM | Link to this

Democrats need to have the courage of their convictions and stop trying to appeal to everyone by sticking to the middle of the road; it makes them look like wishy-washy jerks who don’t believe in anything. Dems should speak up strongly for the issues that matter to people who aren’t rich—such as increasing the minimum wage, universal health care, saving Social Security, etc.

By Jerrell

November 8, 2006 8:56 AM | Link to this

Look, it is time for Democrats and I mean this in a regional sense to stand up and just speak clearly. Howard Dean and Rahm Emanuel have laid out the playbook… Don’t run from your values! Most Georgian would never have had affordable consumer electrical power, regional hospitals, or gotten a free public education if had not been for Democratic progressives. I was never a fan of “The Fiefdom of Leadership” that was the 20th Century GA Democratic Party. Still be under no allusion of propaganda of leadership that members of the “new” Republicans put out there daily in their rhetoric, the face paint is fresh, but Sonny Perdue and his ilk are no better than Joe Frank Harris. They talk, walk, and never make a society better place for those who come after them. Let’s just be objective for a moment, when one looks back at the past 3 legislatures, what have they done that is truly going to make anyones life better?

Look, we have candidates: Sanford Bishop, Jim Marshall, Shirley Franklin and some really strong young local faces in areas throughout the State… Still we have rebuild the State party. Even the best built ship without proper leadership will run aground. We need for party regulars to step aside and let the party grow and be reborn.

To my fellow Georgians who I disagree with and are now Republicans. Congratulations on your victory. But, I looked outside and the sun came up, now the countdown to reclaiming the “true soul of Georgia” can now commence. For all of your talk of the 140 years of Democratic power, we all know that house was doomed to fail because it was built on corrupt ideals. The fabric was sewn with weak thread (racism and cronyism). So the Nixon Southern strategy finally penetrated the Statehouse, but as history has shown, regardless of national region, power entrusted to Republicans corrupts very quickly.

Democrats must go forth in a modern world and reconnectwith those people… Whether they be poor or rich, successful or failure, and do it in a respectful manner…

By Rickster

November 8, 2006 9:11 AM | Link to this

Short and seetIf the Democrats can figure out that the 2 main issues regarding liberalism is what’s cracking the egg, then I think they would have an excellent chance at taking back this state and the White House in ‘08. All other issues are basically the same things that most middle-class Americans want, Republican, Libertarian or whatever. Affordable Health-care, fair and equal opportunites in jobs, wages, minimizing taxes, etc….. Oh, and by the way, those two main isues: Homosexuality and Abortion

By Craig

November 8, 2006 9:19 AM | Link to this

Good post Jerrell

I don’t think people really rejected Dems, else why would Irvin and Baker and all the Congressional candidates win? Instead, they rejected Mark Taylor and his boring Republican lite campaign. As Carol said, we should speak up for our values, and stop apologizing for them, as Taylor seemed to do.

By ConservativeDem

November 8, 2006 9:20 AM | Link to this

All of you have very good points! However, the one that touched a nerve for me was: “If that means sacrificing the support of some who have attached themselves to the party, such as advocates of same-sex marriage, so be it.” The Dems have to get out of the liberal mode and return to its grass roots. We are a nation of Judea-Christian values and the Ga. Dems must be for Georgia not California or any other aberrant state. Of course most of our elected officials are not borne in our state nor were they reared in Ga. and that is a huge problem for Ga. Dems.

By Richard

November 8, 2006 9:27 AM | Link to this

The Democrat Party of Georgia, must be pro-active on things that concern the people of Georgia. Those items are education, crime, jobs and health care. Also, I think the next candidate for Gov. must be able to connect with people in South and Middle Georgia. They must start now and always take the high road when campaigning. They must look in the eyes of the people of Georgia and tell there story. Do not allow the Republicans to define who you are. Always continue to work hard everyday to move Georgia Forward.

Keep Hope Alive.

By Barry

November 8, 2006 9:39 AM | Link to this

Hey Yall:

The direction that the Democratice Party in Georgia should go from here are many. First, they better get that voting machine problem corrected wherein voters can get a receipt after they vote to determine their vote was correctly tabulated. We did not lose the election. It was stolen via inaccurate voting tabullation. How can we check it? We can’t. That’s the problem. Second, Democratic candidates must take an oath of some sort stating they wouls support one another when they lose to each other in competition. This thing with Cathy Cox being angry because of political rheoric expoused my Mark Taylor during their campaigning. Hey, don’t take this personal, this is politics. It happens and you know it. To give the appearance that the party is divided because you lost is selfish. Then to not support the winning candidate of your party is absurd. What was done or said was not that bad for a political campaign. We need more mature candidates and officials in the party. Not selfish cry babies who then have their folks side with the opposition like Zell Miller did. Third, and I believe this is the hardest because it is reflective of the racial attitude of our nation and shows that we may be going backward in race relations. White Americans, and others of the same persuasion, must realize that they must not be afraid to interact with highly, intelligent blacks or others in the party. The party represents the true idea of what America is about. It has people of every nationality and should expoused equal rights and equality for all. We know the other party doesn’t. It wraps itself in the American flag and religion and does not expose one iota a wanting to achieve America true mission and purpose. Thos whites and others in the party who belive this must stick by their guns and nit be ashamed of wanting this for our country. It appears many whites from the other Party are exposing Ku Klux Klan ideology and wrap it into a legal polital party in diguise. Just because it looks good and organized does not mean it is right and righteous. Don’t be fooled and switch parties because many of the same color as you are on that side of the turf. Remember Hitler and the Nazi’s were the same. Who will be the RIGHTEOUS for it. Last, but not least, the party must remain as vocal as ever, at every level, politically, socially, and economically in sharing democratice ideals and fighting those who are contrary to those ideals. We are the moral fabric of this state and country. An this country has always been better for it in the eyes of the WORLD. That is why in the past we have always been respected and reverend in the WORLD. Not like it is TODAY!!! We must keep up the work. We are our countries only HOPE.

God Bless,

Ringold

By Democratic Plan

November 8, 2006 9:45 AM | Link to this

The election cycles of 2008, 2010, and 2012 must now be the Democrats’ singular focus.

Georgia Democrats must focus on winning the first US Senate seat to be lost to a Republican: Saxby Chambliss. This seat is up for grabs in 2008.

Democrats MUST find a suitable candidate and groom him or her. They also must begin NOW to raise a war chest that can compete with their opponents.

This will NOT be a time for symbolic and unseasoned candidates like Denise Majette, who had a Congressional seat given to her. Only to abandon it after one term and now has become a professional ‘losing’ candidate.

The Republicans like Perdue and Cagle in the old South would have been Dixiecrats and their politics is testimony to this. Progressives must begin now to strategize and get the funding to make Georgia competitive again for Democrats.

There is no where for Democrats to go, but up!