Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Jim Powell

Make sure you tell all your friends to get out and vote on December 2nd, and support Jim Powell so Democrats will have at least one seat on the Public Service Commission. Otherwise, we will have only Republicans determining how much our utility bills will be. Can’t be a good thing.

Dave Southern

Democrats of Camden County

From: jim@list.jimpowellforgapsc.com [mailto:jim@list.jimpowellforgapsc.com] On
Subject: Watch Jim's Debate for Public Service Commission

Dear Friends,

Jim's debate will air on Georgia Public Broadcasting tonight at 7:00 pm.

--
Thanks,
George

George Preston Birchby
Campaign Manager
Jim Powell for Public Service Commission

172 Stonebrook Drive
Demorest, Georgia 30535
678.644.8355

Visit us at www.JimPowellforGAPSC.com

JUST VOTE JIM ON DECEMBER 2, 2008!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

FOLLOW-UP ARTICLE RE: SENATE RACE

Think maybe the NeoCons might be running scared?

Please check out the article I read at NewsMax.com:
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/chambliss_obama_georgia/2008/11/09/149440.html?s=al&promo_code=70D7-1

ELECT JIM MARTIN

The NeoCons just don’t get it that Americans are sick and tired of the slimy politics of the Bush administration, specifically, as laid out by Carl Rove and his henchmen. But then, since Saxby Chambliss was so tied to the administration, what could we expect except that he would follow their lead. Please read and watch the attached and get good and mad! Mad enough to go out and do whatever you can to get rid of Saxby and his ilk. They’re on the run, so let’s not let them regroup. Defeating Chambliss will go a long way toward giving President Obama the filibuster-proof Senate he needs to carry out the things that America has indicated it wants done. I am send along an article about how the other side sees the Georgia Senate race and how it scares them that Saxby is close to losing. Look for it.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County



Ps; Thanks to Reeney Adams for sending these articles along.
********************************************************************************

An interesting article in case you missed it:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/10/111652/51/486/658532

Hope you and Rick have a great Veteran's Day!
Best regards, Mike.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

DEMOCRACY FULFILLED!

Look at President-Elect Barack Obama and you see what democracy SHOULD look like. He is our next president because he came to us, the citizens of the United States and inspired us. He challenged us to confront the future and change this wonderful country for the better. He didn’t fill us with a puffed-up pride that translates to the big lie that says we’re better than anyone else simply because God gave us the gift of being born in the United States. He told us the truth about ourselves and our country; we are a great nation, but we have the potential to be even greater; we have warts, but we have the capacity to correct and overcome them; we have a divided nation, and we cannot unite until we learn how to love each other as ourselves.

I have been waiting for decades for a great leader to emerge and carry forward the dreams of all the great leaders of the past. HE IS HERE!

I have never been as emotionally spent as I was last night at our headquarters when the headline flashed on the CNN screen, BARACK OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES! The feeling is still hard to describe. But I think part of the feeling was because of the company I was keeping at the time. I looked around the room at all the people I have come to know over the past four years, many of whom I now consider some of my closest friends and confidants. But as emotional as it was for me, I knew full well I could not comprehend how it must have felt for my African-American friends. I only read about the struggles they went through over the years, while they lived it, and in many ways, are still living it. I think last night must have felt like a second emancipation experience to these dear friends. I looked around and I saw many tears, and I cried , too. The funny thing is, I felt like I was being freed as well, and I haven’t been able to quite figure that out yet. Maybe it has to do with being shackled with an administration that I felt couldn’t care less who I was or what I thought. Being ignored is kind of like being oppressed, isn’t it? Whatever the dynamics, I am now free of that bunch who would turn this country into a kind of dictatorship if they could. But they were stopped, at least for now, by the perceptiveness and the wisdom of the American people. The people said “ We see through your lies and deception, and we’re bringing this to a stop right now!”

But if there’s one thing we should have learned about the right wing of the Republican Party over the past 30 or 40 years, it is that they are persistent; they will regroup and they will reorganize, and they will return with new ways to try to undermine and alter our government. Today, I noticed FoxNews was on in the clubhouse at Osprey Cove, and the entire time I was there, the only people talking were Sarah Palin and Carl Rove. The day after the most historic election in history, and FoxNews devoted their air time to Palin and Rove. Unbelievable! So count on it – they are not about to change or quit.

And what about Georgia - Georgia, and especially Southeast Georgia, still doesn’t get it, and I’m not sure if the current generation here will ever get it! Like the sand gnats, Jack Kingston is still with us. But at least sand gnats are simply annoying. Jack Kingston is really annoying, but he’s also embarrassing and a hindrance to progress in the district he’s sworn to serve. For at least two more years, he will be one of the biggest impediments to the Obama administration.

So in the midst of our joy, we must come to realize that the election is really just a small first step. We have a monstrous amount of work to do. But the good news is, we’ve shown it can be done! I took today off, because I was just emotionally and physically drained. I would like to take the next week off, too, but there’s simply too much that HAS to happen:

- First, there’s a runoff between Jim Martin and Saxby Chambliss. We must recall all the troops and mobilize them to take advantage of this second chance to rid the Senate of one of George Bush’s biggest hacks.

- We need to take advantage of the momentum the Democratic Party gained over the past year or so. If we don’t capitalize on that right away, the momentum will dissipate and all those new, excited voters will disappear on us.

- We need to reorganize the party and bring in a new batch of leadership, so we are not starting from scratch every election cycle.

- We need to identify and cultivate candidates for every spot at every level.

- We need to elevate the status of the Democratic Party in Camden County, to prove that we are the party for the PEOPLE, not the people in power.

So tomorrow (Thursday) morning, I will be at the headquarters in Kingsland at 9:30am to meet with anyone who cares to show up, to begin planning for the runoff. That’s job one. We can also begin planning how we’re going to tackle the other issues I named above. I know we’re tired. I know we’ve done a great job on the election and we’d like to savor that for awhile, but reality just won’t allow it for now. Come on over and help us sustain the momentum.

Thank you all for all you have done and all you will do.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Thanks from Bill Gillespie

Bill Gillespie asked me to pass this along to all of you who helped in his campaign. Bill is an excellent candidate who I hope we can convince to take on Kingston one more time. There are so many things that need to be done in this district and it is so obvious that Bill has such a better grasp of what those are than does Kingston. There were also many conservatives who, when you spent time talking about it with them, agreed that Kingston really had not done that much for his constituents. We must continue to expose the sham that is the Kingston record, and Bill Gillespie is the best candidate we’ve yet seen to show the people what is really possible in coastal Georgia. This is a campaign that needs to continue non-stop.

Dave Southern
*******************************************************************************
From: Bill Gillespie [mailto:bill@billforgeorgia.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 1:15 PM
To: Dave Southern
Subject: Many thanks!
Importance: High

Please thank the Camden Co. Democratic Party for me for all the help! And to both of you -- many thanks again for all the support and encouragement! I have no regrets. I think we ran the best small campaign we could. The experiences, causes advanced and friends made were well worth it. We helped the Democratic Party in the 1st Congressional District continue its positive growth! It is now time to come together as Americans to fix these tough obstacles.

Thanks again for being a big part of our success! Hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

BILL

--------------------------------------------------------

Bill Gillespie

Bill For Georgia

P.O. Box 820

Tybee Island, GA 31328

www.BillForGeorgia.com

(912) 507-8278

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Run Through the Tape

We’re on the brink of an historic election, and most of you have been an integral part of making it happen. Just think of the history-making components of this election:

- Bobbie Kennedy prophesied in 1968 that we might see a black man as president in 40 years. Who really thought that could happen?

- A woman is on the ticket of the Republican Party. Not much of a candidate, but a woman nonetheless.

- A woman came within a whisper of being at the very top of the Democratic ticket.

- George Bush, after 8 years of neo-conservative recklessness, brought the country to economic ruin, destroyed the image of America abroad, tried to turn the country into a virtual dictatorship, trying to rule the United States instead of leading it, created the greatest divide between the super-rich and all others in the nation’s history, sold out our natural resources to the highest bidders or those to whom he owed the biggest political debts, and left almost 20% of homeowners with a mortgage higher than the value of the home itself. After all this, this very morning I read that the Bush administration is pushing to rush through a glut (over 90) of additional deregulation mandates and legislation that will take years to undo. And still, over 20% of Americans believe he’s doing a good job. The historical part of this is that Americans are again proving that, even if it takes them a while, they’ve seen through the screaming and railing of the neo-conservative hysteria, and are ready to take back the reins of government from a very dangerous political threat.

- The U.S. stands on the verge of becoming a three-party system; Democrats, True Republicans, and the Neo-conservatives.

- Bill Smith went down in flames, a remarkable achievement for Camdenn County, GA.

- Georgia is actually still very much in play for the presidency.

- Saxby Chambliss stands on the verge of defeat.

As little as one year ago, how many of these things would have been thinkable? If even one of them were so it would have been historic. Yet, here we are, one weekend away from the election, and all of these things have come to be, and there’s even more, too numerous to mention here.

But so what? Well, the job is still not finished. The black man still has to actually be elected, Georgia hasn’t yet actually turned blue, and Saxby Chambliss and Jack Kingston stand ready to obstruct anything Barack Obama proposes to rebuild the country. Many votes have been cast, but none have been counted yet. We can’t exhale for five more days, and then hopefully, we can sigh a breath of relief and get to work making it all happen with a Democratic administration and legislative branch to support it. There are still thousands of votes here in Camden County that have not yet been cast. There even some minds that have yet to change. And we only have five short day with which to work. These are probably the five most important days of the campaign, and then we can relax. So let’s not let down our guard; let’s, as they say in running track, run through the tape. Otherwise, we could get caught in the last two yards of the race.

We will be calling and walking right into Tuesday, and we need every body we can get on the phone or on the streets between now and then. If you still haven’t worked in the campaign, this is your chance to make that right. If you have, you’re especially important since you have the experience, and can help those who haven’t. But the bottom line is, we need you to step up NOW! This is the final stretch, your last chance to get our country back on track, and you can then say you helped make it happen!

One last thing - something I try to avoid bringing into the mix; go to church on Sunday and pray for your country.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Meet Jim Martin

MEET JIM MARTIN AND HELP SEND HIM TO THE SENATE

Georgia Democrats are fortunate to have a man of the stature of Jim Martin to put up against Saxby Chambliss in the race for the US Senate. Chambliss showed his colors in his disgusting campaign Max Cleland, when he stooped to questioning Max’s patriotism. He proved that despicable display was just part of his nature, when, once he got to Washington, voted almost in lock step with Mr. Bush’s dangerous administration.

Now we can replace Chambliss with a man of character, one of the truest gentlemen I have ever met in politics. Honest and accessible, Jim is exactly what we need to return the United States to respectability. Jim will be in Brunswick Wednesday, October 29 as part of his bus tour, and I understand Bill Gillespie, our candidate for Congress, will be with him. Join us as we form a carpool to meet and greet these two great representatives of the Democratic Party. We will meet at the Party headquarters at 500 West King Avenue in Kingsland at 6:00pm. We complain because southeast Georgia doesn’t get enough attention from major candidates, so here’s our chance to show our appreciation for them making the effort to come see us. Let’s turn out in big numbers and help send these guys to Washington!!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Monday, October 27, 2008

ONLY KINGSTON!



Just when you think Jack Kingston is as low and despicable as he can get, he outdoes himself! First, he cancels out of the debate scheduled for Savannah two weeks ago. Then he calls on Thursday or Friday to announce he has to cancel the Georgia Public TV debate scheduled for last night. But, guess what? When debate time comes, there’s Jack!! What a pleasant surprise! He found a way to break away from the demands of serving the people in his district and show up at the debate after all. What a wonderful public servant we have in Jack Kingston. Right? Well folks, I for one am not buyin’ it. I think the scam was in place the whole time!

Jack made another ass of himself in Brunswick a couple of weeks ago, and he didn’t want to risk another implosion on a state-wide broadcast. But he was getting so much flack about chickening out a second time that he had to show up. So how can we cut our losses, Jack asked himself. Well, we’ll just cut the viewership! We’ll say we’re not coming, people won’t plan on watching, watch parties will be cancelled, and we’ll show up unexpectedly, but the viewership will be a third or less than expected. What a concept! Let’s go with that!!

Spread the word to everyone you know, because that’s about the only way for it to get out, considering the politics of the news outlets in this district. But we can flood them with letters anyway, and see how many might slip through. It’ll be good for your mental health, too.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

From: christie@billforgeorgia.com [mailto:christie@billforgeorgia.com]
Subject: Atlanta Press Club Debate--Sunday

Please distribute this photograph from the Atlanta Press Club Debate. Bill Gillespie did a fabulous job representing THE PEOPLE against Jack Kingston!

-GETTING TO KINGSTON-

I got a lot of responses from my email asking everyone to write or call Jack Kingston demanding he step up to his responsibility to his constituents and take part in debates with Bill Gillespie. They all tried to email Kingston and were informed his email address has been “updated”. (Now, if we could just get Kingston updated) So you can still get to him via the internet in one of two ways; you can go to his website at http://kingston.house.gov and use the “contact Jack” tab, or, send it directly to http://kingston.house.gov/ContactForm

If he gets covered up in emails and phone calls, I really believe it can make a difference, even to this arrogant guy. It was a flood of protest that caused him to finally return the $17,000 he received from Jack Abramoff, remember? Also, contact all radio stations and newspapers to make sure the word is out on to the entire electorate. We have GOT to get this guy out of there!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

PS: Isn’t it odd that a congressman would have his email address changed in the middle of an election year?

Sunday, October 26, 2008

CAMDEN COUNTY DEMOCRATS - CONTACT JACK KINGSTON

CAMDEN COUNTY DEMOCRATS - CONTACT JACK KINGSTON

Since our embarrassment of a congressman made such a fool of himself in the “debate” at the Brunswick News, he has cancelled out of the rest of the scheduled debates against Bill Gillespie, who so obviously had a broader and more progressive view of the Georgia First Congressional District than the incumbent did. It is important that he not be allowed to just sweep it under the rug as he so often does when his foot fills his mouth. It is up to us and all non-rightwingnuts to inform all the voters in the First District that our village idiot refuses to face Bill, who he knows can whoop him if the word gets out across the District. Below are the key addresses of his offices and his email. Let’s fill up all his inboxes and demand that he account for his refusal to answer to his District’s voters for his actions, his inactions, and his childish behaviors over the past 14 years. Debates should be requirements for incumbents up for re-election and we need to let him know we demand his appearance or know the reason why not.


Kingston’s email:

Jack.kingston@mail.house.gov

Kingston’s addresses:

1 Diamond Causeway
Ste 7
Savannah, Georgia 31406
Phone – 912-352-0101


805 Gloucester St.
Room 304
Brunswick, Georgia 31520
Phone – 912-265-8010
Posted by DoCC at 8:26 PM

Cancelled Debate

Captain Courageous Kingston has again demonstrated his concern about debating Bill Gillespie in front of a large audience. This is the second consecutive debate he has cancelled out on. Every voter in this district should flood him with emails/letters to compel him to stand up like a man. Backing out on debates is the equivalent of simply not showing for a job interview. What a disgrace this clown is!!!!

Dave Southern

*************************************************************

From: Bill Gillespie [mailto:bill@billforgeorgia.com]

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Jack Kingston, Congressman, GA 1st CD -- Cancelled the Sunday, Oct 26th, Atlanta Press Club Debate, which was to air live on Georgia Public Television! This is so unfortunate given our National, State & District Issues. Where is the leadership? Kingston "the 16 year Incumbent" owes his constituents answers. This is totally unacceptable. We will try every major News outlet to rectify this cheapening of our democracy. I am willing to address the issues any time and any place. We need this prior to Nov 4th.

Jack also cancelled for the SSU Debate on Oct 17th. What is he afraid of -- his Destructive Record & Extreme Views, our National Deficit, the Financial Collapse, Lack of Economic Opportunity, a failed Educational System, an Un-popular War, Loss of Respect Internationally as an Nation, Erosion of the Middle-Class, Increased Un-Employment, Increased Poverty, Lack of Job Security, Lower Property Values, Jobs with no Benefits, Out-Sourcing of America etc..., etc....


We deserve better! It is our public duty to vote out this incumbent. You can still help to fund our commercials, advertising, and direct mail.

BILL GILLESPIE

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Help Barack in Florida This Weekend

Dear friends,

In Florida, it's already Election Day.

People are voting by mail and Early Voting began this week.

Florida is a crucial battleground state that could once again decide the outcome of this election.

That's why this weekend, Saturday, October 25th through Sunday, October 26th, Obama supporters from across the country are traveling to Florida to reach out to voters.

Will you Drive for Change and take a short trip to make a big difference?

http://my.barackobama.com/CometoFL

The Florida Campaign for Change is hard at work reaching out to undecided voters.

Polls show an incredibly close race here. But there are still far too many people who don't know enough about Barack -- who he is, where he stands on the issues that matter most, and his plan to fix the economy.

This country can't afford four or eight more years of George Bush's failed policies.

Since face-to-face contact is the most effective way to grow this movement for change, your work could mean the difference between winning and losing Florida -- and that could be the difference between winning and losing this election.

Sign up now to come to the Sunshine State this weekend, and invite your friends and family to come along:

http://my.barackobama.com/CometoFL

With two weeks until November 4th, we can't afford to sit on the sidelines.

We can't do this without you.

Thanks,

Florida Campaign for Change


Paid for by Campaign for Change, a project of the Florida Democratic Party (www.fladems.com), and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Buckley's Son: 'Sorry Dad, I'm Voting for Obama'

Camden Democrats;
Reeney Adams sent the attached article. Seems like the clearer thinkers among conservatives are abandoning the McCain bus, and unlike the rest of the right wingnuts, they can supply good reasons for their decisions.



Buckley's Son: 'Sorry Dad, I'm Voting for Obama'
The son of the late conservative thinker William F. Buckley is endorsing Barack Obama, though he still considers himself a conservative.

In an article entitled, "Sorry Dad, I'm Voting for Obama," on The Daily Beast, Christopher Buckley writes that Republican John McCain has betrayed his principals. McCain has changed positions on important issues, made promises he cannot keep, endorsed unworkable policies, and selected the inexperienced Sarah Palin as his running mate, Buckley writes.

The Arizona senator has lost his bearings, according to Buckley, while Obama has found his. Obama has demonstrated in the campaign that he has a "first-class temperament."

"I've read Obama's books, and they are first-rate," writes Buckley, a novelist and columnist for National Review, the conservative magazine his father founded. "He is that rara avis, the politician who writes his own books. Imagine.

"He is also a lefty. I am not,'' concedes Buckley. "I am a small-government conservative who clings tenaciously and old-fashionedly to the idea that one ought to have balanced budgets. On abortion, gay marriage, et al, I'm libertarian.

"But having a first-class temperament and a first-class intellect. Obama has in him, I think - despite his sometimes airy-fairy 'We are the people we have been waiting for' silly rhetoric - the potential to be a good, perhaps even great leader. He is, it seems clear enough, what the historical moment seems to be calling for."

What the moment is not calling for, according to Buckley, is the Alaska governor McCain has chosen as his replacement if he is incapacitated or dies in office. Buckley joins other conservatives - columnists Kathleen Parker and David Brooks - in harshly criticizing Palin over the last week. Brooks, a conservative columnist for The New York Times who was hired for his first job by Buckley's father at the National Review, has called Palin "a cancer on the Republican Party."

Buckley points out that he has written admirably about McCain and has known him since 1982. He has long thought that McCain would be great president. He also points out that McCain bravely supported the surge of U.S. troops in Iraq when Obama and other feckless politicians were "caterwauling."

"But that was - sigh - then. John McCain has changed," Buckley writes. "This campaign has changed John McCain. It has made him inauthentic. A once-first class temperament has become irascible and snarly; his positions change, and lack coherence; he makes unrealistic promises, such as balancing the federal budget 'by the end of my first term.' Who, really, believes that? Then there was the self-dramatizing and feckless suspension of his campaign over the financial crisis. His ninth-inning attack ads are mean-spirited and pointless. And finally, not to belabor it, there was the Palin nomination. What on earth can he have been thinking?"
© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

A Conservative for Obama

ATTENTION CAMDEN COUNTY DEMOCRATS!!!

The next time someone says to you that they’re going to vote for John McCain and Sorry Pallin’ because they’re good conservatives, show them this article by a True conservative leader. Since around the middle of Bush’s first term, I’ve been telling people that his crowd are not conservatives, they’re right wing ideologues, and there’s a huge difference. True conservatives have a positive slant to their beliefs and their messages. Ideologues always, always, bring a message of fear and intolerance. Now, even true conservatives have had enough of the drivel that spills out of the neocons of 2008. Wick Alison is not just any conservative. He is the editor in chief of the National Review, the leading conservative publication for many decades. So please read the editorial below, absorb its points, and carry the message to any friends you may have that claims to be a conservative.
Dave Southern
*******************************************************************************
Subject: The National Review's Editor Endorses Obama
A Conservative for Obama

My party has slipped its moorings. It's time for a true pragmatist to lead the country.
by Wick Allison, Editor In Chief, The National Review

THE MORE I LISTEN TO AND READ ABOUT "the most liberal member of the U.S.
Senate," the more I like him. Barack Obama strikes a chord with me like no
political figure since Ronald Reagan. To explain why, I need to explain why
I am a conservative and what it means to me.
In 1964, at the age of 16, I organized the Dallas County Youth for
Goldwater. My senior thesis at the University of Texas was on the
conservative intellectual revival in America. Twenty years later, I was
invited by William F. Buckley Jr. to join the board of National Review. I
later became its publisher.

Conservatism to me is less a political philosophy than a stance, a
recognition of the fallibility of man and of man's institutions.
Conservatives respect the past not for its antiquity but because it
represents, as G.K. Chesterton said, the democracy of the dead; it gives the
benefit of the doubt to customs and laws tried and tested in the crucible of
time. Conservatives are skeptical of abstract theories and utopian schemes,
doubtful that government is wiser than its citizens, and always ready to
test any political program against actual results.

Liberalism always seemed to me to be a system of "oughts." We ought to do
this or that because it's the right thing to do, regardless of whether it
works or not. It is a doctrine based on intentions, not results, on feeling
good rather than doing good.

But today it is so-called conservatives who are cemented to political
programs when they clearly don't work. The Bush tax cuts-a solution for
which there was no real problem and which he refused to end even when the
nation went to war-led to huge deficit spending and a $3 trillion growth in
the federal debt. Facing this, John McCain pumps his "conservative"
credentials by proposing even bigger tax cuts. Meanwhile, a movement that
once fought for limited government has presided over the greatest growth of
government in our history. That is not conservatism; it is profligacy using
conservatism as a mask.

Today it is conservatives, not liberals, who talk with alarming bellicosity
about making the world "safe for democracy." It is John McCain who says
America's job is to "defeat evil," a theological expansion of the nation's
mission that would make George Washington cough out his wooden teeth.

This kind of conservatism, which is not conservative at all, has produced
financial mismanagement, the waste of human lives, the loss of moral
authority, and the wreckage of our economy that McCain now threatens to make
worse.

Barack Obama is not my ideal candidate for president. (In fact, I made the
maximum donation to John McCain during the primaries, when there was still
hope he might come to his senses.) But I now see that Obama is almost the
ideal candidate for this moment in American history. I disagree with him on
many issues. But those don't matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a
deeply conservative view of the world. Nobody can read Obama's books (which,
it is worth noting, he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without
realizing that this is a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me
comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have
a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers.

Most important, Obama will be a realist. I doubt he will taunt Russia, as
McCain has, at the very moment when our national interest requires it as an
ally. The crucial distinction in my mind is that, unlike John McCain, I am
convinced he will not impulsively take us into another war unless American
national interests are directly threatened.

"Every great cause," Eric Hoffer wrote, "begins as a movement, becomes a
business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." As a cause,
conservatism may be dead. But as a stance, as a way of making judgments in a
complex and difficult world, I believe it is very much alive in the
instincts and predispositions of a liberal named Barack Obama.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Breakdown of Early Voters by Ethnicity and Gender

Camden Democrats,
We’ve been telling people to vote early, and these first returns from the past week gives us some big reasons why we should continue stressing this. Prior to the next early voting week of October 27, you can still request absentee ballots, and we need to encourage people to do that. In addition, and this is VERY important, we have done an incredible job of registering new voters, but many may not know all the rules about voting protocol. First, it is important they know where their voting precinct is located, and second, it is extremely important that they know NOT to show ANY campaign shirts, buttons, or other paraphernalia. If they have bumper stickers on their cars, they must park at least 150 feet from the polling place. If they violate any of these rules they will be turned away until they correct the violations. We know what will happen if they are turned away; they simply will not return to vote, and that is not what we want to happen. Things are looking very bright at the moment, so let’s do everything we can to ensure all our hard work to this point bears lots of fruit.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

*****************************************************************************
Breakdown of Early Voters by ethnicity and gender
Wednesday, October 1, 2008From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Political InsiderBy Jim Galloway

Has the Obama surge begun? Nearly 40 percent of early votes cast by African-Americans
As of Monday, 135,412 ballots had been cast in Georgia for the Nov. 4 general election, whether by absentee or early in-person voting.

Nearly 40 percent of those voters — 53,160 — have been African-American, according to the office of Secretary of State Karen Handel.

It is this kind of intensity, driven by the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, that has worried Georgia Republicans and stirred the hopes of Democrats in the state.
As of Aug. 31, African-Americans, the most reliable demographic in the Democratic base, made up 29 percent of those registered to vote. However, their participation rate in elections traditionally is several points lower.

After a full week of early voting statewide, the highest performing counties are: DeKalb, with 14,560 votes cast; Fulton, 10,599; Gwinnett, 7,952; Cobb, 7,021; Chatham, 4,771. All have significant minority populations.

Matt Carrothers, spokesman for Handel, said in addition to the 135,412 ballots already cast, another 105,526 have been mailed out but not returned.

Handel wants at least 1 million Georgia voters to cast early ballots, and it’s easy to see why. If, as expected, 85 percent of the state’s 5.5 million voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, Georgia’s 3,000 polling stations could be overwhelmed.

Granted, the math says that each station would only have to handle a little more than 1,500 over a 12-hour period, but people aren’t spread out like that.

Because Georgia is a state covered by the Voting Rights Act, with a history of racial discrimination, officials are required to take into account whether their actions affect the ballot rights of minorities.

To do that, the race and sex of all voters is requested upon registration, but giving it is not mandatory, according to Handel’s web site. This is the only demographic information obtained and, since voters aren’t required to register by party, the only clue that analysts have about who is voting.

Here’s the complete breakdown of advance voters offered by Handel’s office:
— Black female: 32,865;
— Black male: 20,295;
— White female: 40,860;
— White male: 36,958;
— Female Asian-Pacific island: 239;
— Male Asian-Pacific island: 188;
— Female Hispanic-Latino: 304;
— Male Hispanic-Latino: 253;
— Female Native American: 12;
— and Male Native American: 10.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

GET BILL GILLESPIE ELECTED TO CONGRESS!!

Many of you have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Lt. Col. Bill Gillespie, as he has spent an inordinate amount of time and attention here in Camden County since he began his campaign almost a year ago. Camden County is not the biggest county in Bill’s congressional district, but he has been here at least once a month, and in some instances, much more. He spent the entire Fourth of July weekend here, one of the busiest, and therefore, one of the most important weekends of a political campaign.

Bill recently spent a full day in Camden, meeting privately with leaders in government, education, business, and community/military partnerships. As a result, he has an excellent feel for the needs and opportunities that Camden County represents. Over and over, he heard a similar comment from practically every one of these leaders; because of its unique location, its unique transportation systems, its skilled labor force (especially true of naval retirees who decided to make Camden County their homes), and its wonderful year-round weather, Camden County should be attractive to a wide variety of companies looking to relocate. Yet, in spite of the boom in some other counties here in southeast Georgia and northern Florida, any increase we’ve seen in new businesses is primarily in the service sector. In fact, this sector is so overloaded, that restaurants must bring in workers from out of the county. During the course of these conversations with our leaders, several of them seemed to have an “Ah Ha” moment, as the focus always seemed to end up on lack of leadership by our senatorial and congressional representatives. Jack Kingston has been in Washington for over 14 years now, and other than a few new defense contractors based at Kings Bay, what significant new business has he landed for Camden County? Quick, quick, a show of hands! What? No hands? Well, no businesses either!

I think there’s two very simple reasons why this is so:
1) Jack Kingston is beholding to businesses that have no fit with the economy or the business environment of Camden County. Just check online and see who his big corporate contributors are, and ask yourself if they really are a fit with Camden County. So then why do they support Jack Kingston? Because he pays off for them with his efforts in Washington. It has nothing to do with what’s best for the First Congressional District of Georgia or Camden County, Georgia. It has everything to do with returning the investments his big, out-of-state contributors have made in keeping Jack Kingston working for them in Washington.

2) Jack Kingston hasn’t had an original or creative idea in the 14 years he’s been up there! He can’t see what new industries, what new technologies, and what new skill sets are going to make up the next-generation business giants. He’s too focused on what’s good for him now.

Bill Gillespie CAN see the future for Camden County and for all the other counties in the First District that have been declining or stagnant over the past decade. He sees what will be needed to attract the future to Camden County. He knows what we have to offer, and how to connect those attributes to the companies that are looking for precisely those attributes. Bill realizes that the economy of a county in southeast Georgia usually revolves around one, or maybe two major employers. Bill also knows who the companies are that are looking for what southeast Georgia has to offer. His success in the U.S. Army has honed the leadership skills he can bring to make these connections happen. Bill Gillespie is the leader we’ve been looking for in southeast Georgia, and we need to work as hard as is required to make him our congressman!

Tomorrow night many of us will be gathering at our headquarters at 500 West King Avenue in Kingsland to watch the first Presidential debate. I am asking every person who attends to take at least one Bill Gillespie yard sign and as many Bill Gillespie bumper stickers they can carry as they leave to go home. These yard signs are particularly impactful, and generally, we’ve done an OK job of getting them out in the neighborhoods. What I’m asking for now is to make sure the signs are placed along major thoroughfares like route 40. Find a high-visibility location and make sure it is not violating any ordinances about right of ways, and if it’s on private property, that the owner gives permission. With the number of members we now have, we should somehow be connected to every property owner along route 40, so let’s get it done! We should have enough bumper stickers to be on every Democrat’s car in Camden County, too. Let’s get them on!

We have rented a 50” Zenith TV for the headquarters so we can watch the debate, which will help Barack Obama get elected president. But that’s only part of the job. We also must give Barack the Senate and Congress he needs to get his progressive programs enacted. Bill Gillespie will be a great asset to Barack Obama. Make next week GET EXCITED ABOUT BILL GILLESPIE WEEK by getting up the signs!

Be at the headquarters no later than 8:40pm tomorrow night so everyone will be in their seats when the debate begins. Bring your favorite folding chair, a beverage or two of your choice, a snack, and get ready to cheer on Obama.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Monday, September 22, 2008

Jim Powell Endorsed by PSC Incumbent Angela Speir

HIAWASSEE, Ga. - Jim Powell, Democratic nominee for Georgia Public Service Commission, District 4, has received the endorsement of the current holder of that office, Commissioner Angela Speir.

Speir, a Republican, said she wholeheartedly supports Powell’s candidacy because of his superior qualifications and commitment to stand up for Georgia consumers, which she said are more important than political party affiliation.

“I endorse Jim Powell for the Public Service Commission because he is the best person for the job,” Speir said. “Jim is knowledgeable and ethical. He understands that public service is about serving the people and making honest, fair decisions on their behalf. I have worked tirelessly on the Commission for the betterment of our state. I am proud to support Jim because I know he will do the same.”

Powell said, “I am deeply honored to receive the endorsement of Commissioner Angela Speir. During her service on the PSC, she has made the interest of consumers her top priority and has taken a stand on numerous occasions for open government and ethical conduct on the part of the commission. I also intend to follow Commissioner Speir’s example by earning Georgia voters’ support in this election against a career politician who is beholden to the special interests and lobbyists who are financing his campaign.”

Powell, a first-time candidate for office, retired in February 2007 after 35 years of public service. He served as a Senior Executive with the U. S. Department of Energy, managing a number of initiatives and a budget of over $300 million, and as the Southeast Regional Director, based in Georgia. Jim and Karen, his wife of 37 years, live in Hiawassee. They have two adult sons and two adorable granddaughters.

On July 15, Powell received 85 percent of the statewide primary vote to earn the Democratic nomination.

For more information, visit http://www.jimpowellforgapsc.com/.

DEBATE WATCH PARTY

Camden Democrats;
The first of the three presidential debates will be held Friday evening, September 26. At this time, I do not know the time for the debate, but there will be plenty of advertising between now and Friday. The Democrats of Camden County will have a debate watch party at the party headquarters at 500 West King Ave. in Kingsland. We want a big crowd there to watch Barack Obama in his first opportunity for the American voters to have a face-to-face comparison between him and John McCain. These debates will probably decide the issue for anyone who has yet to make up their minds, so we Democrats are extremely confident about our candidate’s chances.

Please come out and watch with fellow Democrats, bring a folding chair just in case, a snack or two, and something to quench your thirst. We’ll have ice on hand. This is going to be an exciting event, and one in which we can take a lot of pride. Watch for the time, and then be sure to be at least twenty minutes early so we can get everyone seated and still for the beginning of the broadcast.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Democrats not motivated by race at festival

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Michele Marano's letter of Sept. 10 describing the local (Barack) Obama campaign as a "racial campaign."Allow me to share the facts with you. Marchers in the Catfish Festival Parade were Camden Democrats. The campaigners in the parade said, "Democrats of Camden County." If someone along the parade route reached out for a flyer or asked for one, they were given a flyer.

The flyers were from the Democratic Party of Camden County with a stamped message regarding the grand opening of our headquarters. The Democratic flyers, not Obama flyers, were given to anyone who showed an interest in receiving a flyer.Democratic campaigners and marchers have been treated disrespectfully in past parades by some citizens watching the parade. For example, they have been called vulgar and obscene names, spat upon, and some parents have told their children not to take beads and pulled their children away from campaigners simply because they were Democrats.Every effort was made to ensure the campaigners did not experience "some of the same." The actions of the campaigners were in no way racial actions. I would like to invite you to visit the Democratic Party Headquarters, Highway 40 near Dollar General in Kingsland, and witness racial diversity first hand.Information regarding Obama and our local Democratic Party has been mailed to Ms. Michele Marano.


Reeney Adams

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Game On!!

Camden County Democrats;
Labor Day is traditionally the official kickoff of the general election campaign, and the Democrats of Camden County did it in style! We had a great turnout of marchers in the parade in Kingsland, and an even greater turnout for the official opening of the Democratic headquarters at 500 West King Street in Kingsland. During the day, close to 200 people came by to meet other Democrats, have some good eats, and sign up to volunteer their time. Congressional candidate Bill Gillespie, Mayor Kenneth Smith of Kingsland, and our own Kelvin Blue, candidate for Tax Commissioner, were some of the dignitaries who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

I want to thank all the people who made this day possible, like Dawn and John Bowen, John King, Robert Cummings, Nelson Cummings, MacArthur Hill, Searcy and Kelvin Blue, Ed Sprouhl, and Richard Hellesto. This event showed just what Democrats can do when they get excited and get involved. Stay tuned for more events coming up. We will be discussing these at the next monthly meeting on September 9th at 7:00pm, at our regular meeting in the annex building next to the county library. Bill Gillespie and Tony Harrison, candidate for Superior Court Judge, will be our special guests.

I saved the best for last. Many of you know how hard our very special friend and guide from the Obama organization, Sonia Hinson, has been working for us and with us here in Camden County. She has been the manager of, and the inspiration behind the voter registration drive in our county. Sonia and her volunteers brought in 30 new registrations yesterday alone, so our total so far has now topped 400! That is phenomenal! BUT SONIA IS NOT HAPPY!! She has established a goal of 800 before October 6th, and will not be satisfied until we get there. We have only 33 days, including 5 weekends, to make Sonia happy. LET’S MAKE SONIA HAPPY! Volunteer for one of Sonia’s registration teams and help put us over 800. You will find it to be one of the most gratifying things you will ever do. Call Sonia at 404-66-6693, or the party phone at 912-882-7840, or me at 912-882-1313, and help make Sonia happy!

It’s a special time to be a Democrat in Camden County! Thank you for making it so.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Sunday, August 31, 2008

FIRED UP!

Camden County Democrats;
Judy and I got back a little past midnight on Wednesday night after two weeks in the beautiful state of Oregon, and was it wonderful to be home!! We wanted to take a couple of weeks to get a respite from the August heat of south Georgia, yet, when we got off the plane in Portland, it was 101 degrees, and stayed that way for four days! So much for good planning.

But it IS good to be back, especially to be part of the best, most exciting, and most uplifting political convention in U.S. history! I don’t see how anyone can dispute that. One of my friends asked, “How can anyone vote against this ticket?”, and I agree with her. But, unfortunately, there will be people voting against the ticket, and it could even be close. And that is why we have to take the energy from the convention and turn it into the most powerful campaign in U.S. history. In track terms, we must run through the tape. We have many opportunities for you and every other Democrat in Camden County to work off the energy of the convention, and they start this weekend. Our primary focus is still on getting every Democrat in Camden County over the age of eighteen registered to vote. If we do that, we will actually WIN Camden County!!! That will be historic, and you can be part of that!! If you have still not participated in one of the registration events, all you have to do is show up at the party headquarters at 500 w. King Street in Kingsland on Saturday morning after 9:00am, and you will be shown what to do and where to go. It’s that simple! You don’t have to be an orator as gifted as Barack Obama to do this. You don’t have to be as politically savvy as Joe Biden to do it. All you need is commitment, and you can do it!

Then, on Monday morning (Labor Day), show up at the headquarters any time after 10:00am to meet and greet visitors, and then celebrate with everyone else at the official ribbon-cutting at 2:00pm. Take this opportunity to let us know what you want to do during the rest of the campaign. Do just one thing, and I guarantee you’ll catch the bug, and you won’t be able to get enough. This is exciting stuff!! It’s always exciting to be part of history!!

Now, if the convention still wasn’t enough to get you motivated to do something, I have some required reading for you. Some of you may already be familiar with a writer named Thomas Frank. I discovered him while in Oregon, and couldn’t put him down. His first book I read was published in 2003-4 and is titled “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”. It is a chronicle of how the conservatives took over the Republican Party in the State of Kansas. The book connected so many dots for me that I got his book titled “The Wrecking Crew”, which describes how conservatives use their power once in office. It is a very scary book, and one which should spur you to do something to ensure they will never again have the opportunity they have had for the past seven and a half years. The disaster that is the Bush Years is just an inkling of what they are capable of doing, and the really scary part is, they know exactly what they’re doing; it’s part of their strategy. But they can be stopped, and you, yes you, have the power to do it. But you have to show up!

YES WE CAN! This is not just a campaign slogan; it is REAL!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Monday, July 28, 2008

Obama Doesn't Sweat. He should.

Camden Democrats,
Everything points to an Obama victory this November, and maybe not just a victory, but a landslide. There’s only one thing that can stop this, and the link that Jim Norris has passed to us deals with the reality of Republican voter suppression. Think it won’t happen? Think Florida ’00. Think Florida & Ohio ’04. Then read the series of articles by Greg Palast.
http://www.gregpalast.com/obama-doesn%e2%80%99t-sweat-he-should/

We will win this election hands down if we get out and register new voters and voters who have become disillusioned and allowed their registration to lapse for whatever reason. The Republican Party, that bastion of democracy, can only win if they can prevent people from voting! Now that’s democracy in action isn’t it? When we are conducting our registration drives, we must remember to do it by the book, but first make sure it’s not the Republican book. Also, when someone tells you they were unable to register for whatever reason, make sure they do not take it lying down, and make sure it is publicized! We can only win this election if it is conducted in a fair and legal manner. Stay alert, do it right, and make sure everyone else is doing it right. Republicans don’t try to eliminate just certain voters; they try to reject huge blocs of voters, so if they can find just one or two discrepancies, they’ll go after an entire bloc that’s similar in any way. They have disqualified huge numbers simply because people had the same name as a felon. Keep your eyes open, and don’t let them get away with it this time! This is OUR time!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Final totals

Camden Democrats,
Click this link http://camdendemocrats.org/Primary%202008%201st%20CD%20100%25.doc to view the final totals of the primary votes for the 1st District Congressional seat currently held by that embarrassment, Jack Kingston. I liken Kingston to the sheriff, Bill Smith, because they both make Camden County look like the southern stereotypes in The Dukes of Hazzard and Smokey and the Bandit. This part of the country will never fulfill its potential until and unless we get rid of that image. So, Democrats of Camden County, our focus is clear; if we can be instrumental in getting rid of Bill Smith, and with the momentum building from the primary, then we surely should be able to send Bill Gillespie off to Washington and put Kingston back in Savannah, even though he doesn’t fit in there anymore either.

Look over the final numbers from the primary and take ten seconds to gloat because we’ve not seen Democratic numbers like this for many, many years here in the 1st District. Know that the spread could have been much larger if not for the cross-over votes in Camden, Glynn, and Ware Counties. All this is good news, and we’ve not even begun to kick in the impact from voter registration drives. This should give us the motivation to get off our duffs, get out the vote, and get Bill Gillespie to Washington!

Joanne Reich has stepped up to the plate again, and will be hosting another Meet and Greet for Bill in September. The one she hosted in the Spring was the most-attended event Bill has had yet, and this one will be even bigger. I will keep you well-informed as more details are firmed up.
Get involved in Reeney Adams’ voter registration drives, and volunteer for the various committees already gearing up for the final sprint to the White House and congressional and Senate wins. What a celebration we’re going to have on November 5th!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Bill Gillespie's Campaign votes = 32,733 -- Beats Jack's

Camden Democrats;
What a great primary day Democrats had in Camden County, the First Congressional District, and the entire state of Georgia. When was the last time we were able to say that!!!!

We all know there was a huge cross-over vote here because of the Sheriff’s race, but some real good came out of that. First and foremost, we now have a real sheriff in town, and I think that Sheriff TOMMY GREGORY is well aware that Democrats played a very big part in his victory. Tommy is very open about his ties to the Democratic Party, and he knows he has many friends within this party. In fact, on a proportional basis, he has more friends within the Democratic Party than he has within the Republican Party. Looking at it another way, he has many more political enemies within the Republican Party than the Democratic Party. But come November, all those Democrats who crossed over to ensure his victory now can come home.

Another interesting race determined by cross-over’s was won by Jeff Chapman in the state senate. The Jekyll Island issue determined the line in the sand, but it was cross-over Democrats who tipped the scales in Chapman’s favor. Preserving Jekyl is the big plus here, but keeping another negative, mean-spirited right winger out of the senate was just as important in the long run. I hope Terry Carter ran out of money conducting one of the meanest campaigns I have seen in a while. He accused Chapman of “voting with the Democrats”, as if that is a bad thing. Instead, it was not alienating the Democrats which helped Chapman win the day.

As a result, Democrats have some political capital in two important positions.

As you can see from the notice below, some of the biggest news comes out of the 1st Congressional District vote, where our good friend Bill Gillespie actually drew more total votes in the primary than our embarrassment of a congressman, Jack Kingston. Now consider that two of the most important counties in the district had the huge cross-over votes just talked about. I think I heard there was also some cross-over issues in Ware County. All those cross-overs will be solidly back in the Dem column where they belong come November. Plus, we still have a huge registration drive to come over the summer. All this adds up to the potential for one incredible Democratic victory up and down the ballot in November!

For those of you who haven’t heard, Vernon Jones and Jim Martin will face off in a run off to be held on August 5th to determine who will be the candidate to take Saxby Chamlisss’ seat in the US Senate. More to come on that.

This is all great stuff, and we need to carefully and thoughtfully digest it to see how we use it to our best advantage. We took last Saturday off as a reward for our hard work over the Fourth of July, but this Saturday we need to get down to some real planning so we can build on Barack Obama’s momentum, and the great strides made yesterday. Everyone is welcome beginning at 9:00am at the Kingsland Democratic office in the Dollar General shopping center, on Route 40, .7 of a mile west of the intersection with Route 17. Stop at the Taro Coffehouse at the red light on your way and pick up some coffee and goodies and support our good fellow Democrat, Judith Holmes.

Whew!
Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

************************************************************************************
From: Bill Gillespie [mailto:bill@billforgeorgia.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 2:45


Ladies & Gentlemen, Many thanks for your donations, support, encouragement, friendship and votes! We can not be happier. This will send shock-waves (already started). We will have National support! The votes clearly show that people want leadership, vision and results. Jack hasn't earned the opportunity again. The real fight begins today. We can do better and deserve better!

Again, my sincere thanks!

BILL.

Results below -- by county and party.

http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_0715/

Monday, July 7, 2008

Why Are You Voting Democrat?

Dear Young Democrat,

On this Fourth of July, whether you are a student a month into a much needed summer with no classes, a young worker excited to have a long weekend to celebrate with friends, or a young family looking forward to fireworks with the kids, you might notice that this year's patriotic celebrations have a little extra hope and optimism attached to them. You see, this year the Fourth of July falls exactly four months before Election Day 2008.

Already, 2008 has proven to be the year of the young voter as a Young Voter Revolution sweeps the country. During many of the primaries and caucuses young voter turnout doubled, tripled - and in some cases - quadrupled compared to the numbers we saw in 2004. Even in deep red states like Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee, more young voters cast ballots for Democrats than Republicans.

Why are you voting for Democrats this November?Tell your story at www.whYDA.org.

The opportunity our generation has to sweep Democrats into office up and down the ballot in every state in the nation is unprecedented. Turning this opportunity into a reality, however, will take a lot of hard work. We need to do everything we can to convince our friends and family to vote for Democrats come November. With everyone gathering together to celebrate our nation's independence, I can't think of a better weekend to get started.

That is why YDA picked this holiday weekend to unveil our newest project. A web site designed to encourage a community of young voters to share why they are voting for Democrats and why they think others should as well. We call it whYDA.org (get it?), and in order for this to be an effective community building and persuasion tool, we need you to visit and tell your story.

Why are you voting for Democrats this November?Tell your story at www.whYDA.org.

At whYDA.org you can submit videos and written testimonials and share them with your friends. We are going to do everything we can to publicize submissions, and the best of the bunch will be used as a part of our large scale paid campaign operations to convince undecided young voters to cast their ballots for Democrats.

To introduce whYDA.org, we've put together a short launch video. Check it out below, spend some time on whYDA.org, and start putting together your submissions.
http://www.whyda.org/whyda-vids.html?task=videodirectlink&id=4

Now it's your turn. Get involved. Submit a video and tell your story.
Rest up and enjoy the fireworks; the next four months are going to be exciting!

Sincerely,
David Hardt
President,Young Democrats of America


Regularly Scheduled Monthly Meeting

Democrats;
Just a reminder that Tuesday, July 8 at 7:00pm is our regularly scheduled monthly meeting. We will be reviewing our very successful July 4th weekend. As usual, The meeting will be in the annex building next to the county library at Gross Road and SR40 in Kingsland.

We have a lot of GOOD news with you. I expect to see a lot of new faces at the meeting as a result of our activities on Friday and Saturday. We will also be looking to fill key spots on the upcoming campaign team. Please give some thought to any tasks you are excited about, and what you have skills for. I always considered the July 4th holiday as the real kickoff to a campaign, and this year seems that is especially so. Please join us on Tuesday evening and meet all your new friends.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

4th of July

Democrats,
Everything is falling into place! Polls are showing a widening gap between Obama and Bush McCain. We have such a story for the voters this Fall, but we need YOU to help tell it. The biggest opportunity for us to tell our story is always the 4th of July celebration, and we have planned events to give us the platforms we will need to appeal to huge groups of voters in Camden County:

First – July 3rd the Democrats are sponsoring the “Decorate Your Bike” contest to begin at 9:00am on the lawn of the First Presbyterian Church at Conyers and Osborne streets in St. Marys. The contest is open to kids from 6 to 16. They will bring their bikes and materials and decorate the bikes around the theme of “The Stars and Stripes”. Judging will take place at 1:00pm, and then the bikes will be stored in the Fellowship Hall of the church. At 9:00am on the 4th, the kids will collect their bikes and walk them to the staging area for the parade. The prize winners in each of the six age groups, along with the Mayor’s Trophy winner, and the Grand Prize winner, will march with their bikes in the first contingent of the parade. All other entries will also march in the Democrats contingent. We will encourage every entry to be accompanied in the parade by their parent(s). Immediately after the parade, the winners will be recognized from the reviewing stand by the mayor.

This event is planned as the first of an annual contest, so we want to bring out as many kids as we can. We need YOU to talk it up, and make sure every kid you know has been encouraged to enter their bike. Please help us out with this!!

Second – July 4th is the day we put those smug, smirking Republicans on notice that this year, they have a battle of their hands. Our goal is to have a minimum of 50 marchers in the Democratic contingent, but there’s room for plenty more, and that means YOU! Our Democratic candidates will be with us, including Bill Gillespie, Democratic candidate for the US congress. Bill has identified Camden as one of the key counties for his election bid, so he has spent an inordinate amount of time and resources here, and we need to show him we appreciate his efforts on our behalf. If you’ve never marched with us, you have no idea how much fun we have. You also cannot appreciate how the tide has turned over the past couple of years in terms of our reception from the crowds. People are sick of the right-wing gang running the country into the ground; they want CHANGE, and they’ve been very vocal about it. Come out and enjoy the sound.

The Democratic booth on Osborne Street will be number 77. Almost our total emphasis will be on registering people so they can vote in November. It has been apparent over the past couple of election cycles that many voters have become so disenfranchised by the hi-jacking of our constitution by the right-wingers that they just gave up on the system. Barack Obama has re-energized millions of these people, and added millions more from the younger set and those who never were interested in politics. We MUST get these millions back on the rolls, and back in the voting booth. We will be working the crowd, enrolling as many new voters as possible. We have a huge stack of registration forms which we will assist people in filling out, and if necessary, we will accompany them to the mail drop in front of the newspaper. The 4th of July celebration gives us access to the largest crowds we will see before the election, so we must take advantage of it. We are well aware the Republicans want just the opposite; restrict and reduce voter registrations, particularly new registrants. We have to make sure we do everything by the book, and we will train you how to comply. This has the potential to be an historic day in St. Marys, Georgia, and you should be part of it!

Third – July 5th, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, is your opportunity to meet the Democratic candidates up close and personal. We are having a BBQ and Social at the River Walk park in Woodbine, featuring Robert Cumming’s own famous barbeque. If you choose to indulge in the pork or chicken BBQ, tickets will be available at the booth on the 4th for $10 each or 2 for $15. Tickets are also available from most Democrats at the same discount. At the door on the 5th, tickets will be $15 each. Candidates will be explaining why we must put Democrats in leadership positions and listening to what you expect from them after they’re in office. Come out, meet the candidates, meet many new fellow Democrats, and bring as many friends and neighbors as you can.

As you can see, this weekend is chock full of ways for you to participate in the greatest resurgence for Democrats ever seen in this area. And, as you are aware, it doesn’t stop in Camden County. Just a year ago, who would have dreamed that Georgia would be considered a battleground state in July of 2008? But it is! But we need YOU to come out, to be seen and heard, and pitch in. You will not be disappointed!.

Sorry for such a long message, but these are extraordinary times, and we must keep ourselves well informed. Thank you for supporting the Democrats of Camden County!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Strategy briefing for you

We're trying something new today.

To bring you an important briefing on our general election strategy, I shot a short video on a laptop in my office. Our team added in some detailed slides with all of the relevant information.

It's important that you're fully briefed on the opportunities and challenges ahead, and this video details how we're going to put together the organization to win in November.

You've gotten us here, and I hope you'll take a minute to see what your commitment so far has made possible.

Watch the strategy briefing now, and please make a donation of $25 to help us execute this plan:
https://donate.barackobama.com/strategy

Thank you,
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

It's Okay to Embrace Change!!!

Democrats,

Kelvin Blue, the Democratic candidate for tax commissioner of Camden County, is the first to step up to the plate and sponsor a “Unite for Change” party to help Barack Obama get elected president. Please read all the details of Kelvin’s party, then let him know how many people t]you will be bringing with you next Saturday. Come out and get excited!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Kelvin's Party Details

The Next Big Challenge

Are you ready for the next big challenge of this campaign?

On Saturday, June 28th, more than a thousand supporters like you are hosting Unite for Change house meetings all across the country.

Ordinary people will be opening their homes and inviting friends and neighbors to come together and talk about our common cause of change.

See what Barack has to say about these Unite for Change events and sign up to host one in your community:

http://my.barackobama.com/uniteforchange

The goal of Unite for Change is to bring together people who supported all of the Democratic candidates, as well as Independents and even some Republicans. We want to reach out to anyone who is tired of the politics of the past and looking for new solutions to the challenges we're facing.

We'll talk about the common values we share and our strategy for bringing more people into the political process than ever before.

Hosting a Unite For Change house meeting will be easy and fun. Whether you are a seasoned campaign veteran or a first time volunteer, our staff will be there to help you every step of the way.

Sign up now to host a Unite For Change event on June 28th:
http://my.barackobama.com/uniteforchange

Since last February, we have worked to build a grassroots movement that will enable us to compete in all 50 states in the general election.

It's going to take all of us working together to bring about the change our country needs.
Help us grow this movement and Unite For Change:
http://my.barackobama.com/uniteforchange

Thanks,

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

"Can Georgia Be Obama's Ohio?"

Democrats,
We can be part of history! After being doormats for the right-wingers for several election cycles, Georgia can prove to be one of the most historic swings in American political. history. After our last DoCC monthly meeting with the largest turnout we have ever seen, and after hearing Bill Gillespie’s comments on the percentage of black voters turning out over the past couple of cycles (8-12%), the article in Time magazine begins to ring true. Turnout is the key, and that is something we can and must impact. Here in Camden County, we have already put the wheels in motion to make sure the general election reflects the greatest turnout in Georgia history. Please read the email from Matt and the article in Time, and then help us make this historic shift a reality. There are great opportunities between now and the fourth of July to be part of history. This Saturday is the National Bake Sale for Obama at Route 17 and SR40 in Kingsland. Bring a baked good, buy some baked goods, and get to know some wonderful people who think like you do. I have a couple more emails going out today about the bake sale and other events.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Dear Dave,
I wanted to share Monday's article from Time Magazine with you. On February 5th, we saw huge voter turnout in Georgia with more than 1 million voters casting a Democratic ballot. That was almost as many people as voted for John Kerry in the 2004 general election. Today we have a historic opportunity to turn Georgia blue, not in 2010 or 2012, but this November. Here's a sample from the Time Magazine article of the attention national Democrats are putting on Georgia:
"In briefings last week with former Hillary Clinton supporters, Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, said he is focusing on Georgia and Virginia as potential swing states and, depending on the outcomes of voter registration drives, he's also keeping an eye on Mississippi and Louisiana. In Georgia, the Obama campaign has wasted no time, launching massive voter registration drives before he the primaries had even ended."

Read the full article here.

The article went on to quote our Chair, Jane Kidd, "'By some estimates we have about 600,000 African Americans in Georgia are eligible but unregistered. I think that number is a little high, but we will be working very hard to register as many voters as we can before the election,' said Jane Kidd, chairwoman of the Georgia Democratic Party. 'Georgia is one of the most progressive southern states. There are a lot of people moving in, there's a lot of transition, a lot of progressives.'"

Read the full article here.

Over the past 17 months, we have worked hard to lay the groundwork for a strong Democratic campaign this fall. For the first time, the Democratic Party of Georgia has field offices open in Middle and South Georgia. We've expanded our volunteer base and built a strong grassroots infrastructure to take on the Republicans this fall. Stay tuned for an email from our Vice Chair, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, early next week outlining the ways you can get involved with the DPG's 2008 election efforts.

In the meantime, we need your financial support to keep our momentum going. Please consider a contribution of $250, $100, $50, or whatever you can give to support all of our Democratic candidates this November.

Thank you for all you do, and expect to hear more from us over the coming months as campaign season swings into full gear.

Sincerely,

Matt Weyandt
Executive Director
Democratic Party of Georgia

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Dumb as We Wanna Be

Dumb as We Wanna Be
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
It is great to see that we finally have some national unity on energy policy. Unfortunately, the unifying idea is so ridiculous, so unworthy of the people aspiring to lead our nation, it takes your breath away. Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer’s travel season. This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country.

When the summer is over, we will have increased our debt to China, increased our transfer of wealth to Saudi Arabia and increased our contribution to global warming for our kids to inherit.
No, no, no, we’ll just get the money by taxing Big Oil, says Mrs. Clinton. Even if you could do that, what a terrible way to spend precious tax dollars — burning it up on the way to the beach rather than on innovation?

The McCain-Clinton gas holiday proposal is a perfect example of what energy expert Peter Schwartz of Global Business Network describes as the true American energy policy today: “Maximize demand, minimize supply and buy the rest from the people who hate us the most.”
Good for Barack Obama for resisting this shameful pandering.

But here’s what’s scary: our problem is so much worse than you think. We have no energy strategy. If you are going to use tax policy to shape energy strategy then you want to raise taxes on the things you want to discourage — gasoline consumption and gas-guzzling cars — and you want to lower taxes on the things you want to encourage — new, renewable energy technologies. We are doing just the opposite.

Are you sitting down?

Few Americans know it, but for almost a year now, Congress has been bickering over whether and how to renew the investment tax credit to stimulate investment in solar energy and the production tax credit to encourage investment in wind energy. The bickering has been so poisonous that when Congress passed the 2007 energy bill last December, it failed to extend any stimulus for wind and solar energy production. Oil and gas kept all their credits, but those for wind and solar have been left to expire this December. I am not making this up. At a time when we should be throwing everything into clean power innovation, we are squabbling over pennies.
These credits are critical because they ensure that if oil prices slip back down again — which often happens — investments in wind and solar would still be profitable. That’s how you launch a new energy technology and help it achieve scale, so it can compete without subsidies.
The Democrats wanted the wind and solar credits to be paid for by taking away tax credits from the oil industry. President Bush said he would veto that. Neither side would back down, and Mr. Bush — showing not one iota of leadership — refused to get all the adults together in a room and work out a compromise. Stalemate. Meanwhile, Germany has a 20-year solar incentive program; Japan 12 years. Ours, at best, run two years.

“It’s a disaster,” says Michael Polsky, founder of Invenergy, one of the biggest wind-power developers in America. “Wind is a very capital-intensive industry, and financial institutions are not ready to take ‘Congressional risk.’ They say if you don’t get the [production tax credit] we will not lend you the money to buy more turbines and build projects.”

It is also alarming, says Rhone Resch, the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, that the U.S. has reached a point “where the priorities of Congress could become so distorted by politics” that it would turn its back on the next great global industry — clean power — “but that’s exactly what is happening.” If the wind and solar credits expire, said Resch, the impact in just 2009 would be more than 100,000 jobs either lost or not created in these industries, and $20 billion worth of investments that won’t be made.

While all the presidential candidates were railing about lost manufacturing jobs in Ohio, no one noticed that America’s premier solar company, First Solar, from Toledo, Ohio, was opening its newest factory in the former East Germany — 540 high-paying engineering jobs — because Germany has created a booming solar market and America has not.

In 1997, said Resch, America was the leader in solar energy technology, with 40 percent of global solar production. “Last year, we were less than 8 percent, and even most of that was manufacturing for overseas markets.”

The McCain-Clinton proposal is a reminder to me that the biggest energy crisis we have in our country today is the energy to be serious — the energy to do big things in a sustained, focused and intelligent way. We are in the midst of a national political brownout.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Mending Fences

Democrats,
On Saturday, May 10th, you can help prove that Democrats in Camden County care more about serving the public good than do the Republicans. The Party will be out in force in a campaign called “Mending Fences”. Sponsored by the City of St. Marys and the Orange Hall Foundation, we will be participating with other civic-minded organizations and individuals to repair and paint the fence around Orange Hall. The work is well within the capabilities of most anyone, and there will be plenty of workers, so no one will get stuck with an unfair share. I heard a rumor that there will be food involved as well.

It’s important that we make a big showing at this project for a couple of reasons: One, it’s a good thing for the community. Two, the Democratic Party was the first organization that was asked to participate. Three, the Republicans were asked at the same time we were, but took several months to even reply, and when they did, they said no. Obviously, they’re much better at slinging mud than cleaning it up. Rumor has it that they were afraid the Democrats were “up to something”. I guess when your mind gets frozen in a certain way you assume everyone else thinks like you do.

We will get started at 9:00am on the 10th, so come on out and help us set the record straight about which party is the more positive, and contributes more to the community. Richard Hellesto and John Myers are our point people on this project as I will be out of the country. Rich can be reached at 576-8698, and John at 882-2332.

We had a great day at the Crawfish Festival in Woodbine last Saturday. John King and his events committee did the best job we’ve ever seen at the booth. It was very professional in appearance, and we had lots of Democratic “stuff” to sell, and it DID sell. We met a lot of new people, with several commitments to help with the campaign. Lots of people from Glynn County come to the festival, so next year we’re going to talk to our counterparts up there about sharing a booth so we can get even more of a presence. Bill Gillespie joined us in the parade and the booth, and was well received when people realized he was running against Jack Kingston. Next up, the BIG July fourth extravaganza in downtown St. Marys. More on that as planning continues.

Upcoming Events:
May 10 – We will combine socializing and brainstorming with the fence mending project in place of our regularly schedule Saturday coffee gathering.

May 13 – The regularly-scheduled monthly meeting of the DoCC. John Myers will officiate.

May 24 – Saturday coffee planning and brainstorming gathering at the Local 576 Union Hall behind the St. Marys police station off Point Peter Road.

Today’s Bushism:
“I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what’s moving. I rarely read the stories, and I get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves.” - Washington, D.C., Sptember 21, 2003.

Sounds to me that George Bush meets the perfect intellectual level of the people that Rush Limbaugh had in mind when he told his listeners, “Don’t bother to read the papers. I’ll read them and tell you what they said.”

Today’s commercial:
Get your own “Proud to be a Democrat” t-shirt, now on sale at the special price of $12.00 for members of the DoCC.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

1st Congressional District Caucus

Democrats,
Our own Reeney Adams ran a great campaign to represent us in Denver this summer, but in the end ran into some very high-powered completion from larger population centers. Although we’re disappointed, the good news is, we have some excellent people representing the 1st Congressional District at the convention. I’m sending you the report hoping you will begin catching the excitement as we get into the thick of the election season.

This Saturday we will be marching and exhibiting in the great Woodbine Crawfish Festival. We will be stepping out at 10:00am, so plan on being in the staging area around 9:00. We have lots of exciting new items that we’ll be selling to raise funds for the campaign, so please plan on attending, and while you’re there, spend an hour or two with us in the booth, meeting and greeting folks. When you listen to what people are saying about Democrats and who they’ll be voting for, you’ll be PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT!
Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County
************************************************************************
1st Congressional District Caucus

1st Congressional District Democrats:“WOW! Just WOW!” Danita Knowles writes. “I have not seen so many people at a delegate selection caucus in this district since 1988 - literally.” It was great to see so many south Georgia Democrats turn out to elect delegates to represent the 1st Congressional District.

Congratulations to the winners: Beverly Leaphart, delegate pledged to Hillary Clinton; Rep. Al Williams, delegate pledged to Barack Obama; Laverne Gaskins, delegate pledged to Barack Obama; Dennis Marks, alternate delegate pledged to Barack Obama.

And a big Thank You to all of the other candiates who ran: Amy Terrell, Reeney Adams, Karen Arms, Joyce Evans, Miguel Camacho, and Brian Peterson. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to the Democratic Party.

A big Thank You also to Danita Knowles for running the Clinton caucus and to Jerome Tucker for running the Obama caucus. And to Martin Mehaney for providing staff support from the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Martin writes “I wanted to once again thank you, as well as your army of volunteers, for a great caucus Saturday. I think everything ran smoothly, and I've been bragging on District 1 all weekend. Thanks again for all of your hard work and a wonderful event!” Thank you, volunteers, from around the District! And I am really proud of the Ware County Democrats for being such good hosts!!

One more thing – I saw lots of folks taking pictures. Please send pictures to me for posting on the Ware County Democratic Party website. You can reach me by email at jakij480@wmconnect.com or by phone at 912-285-8396 (home) or 912-282-6552 (cell).

Thanks again to everyone who made the 1st Congressional District Caucus such a success,
Jaki Johnson, 1st Congressional District Representative

Monday, April 21, 2008

Reeney's Thoughts

I did not get selected to be a delegate for the Democratic Convention.

I am a little disappointed, but received so many kind words from supporters and other Democrats that I am feeling very good about myself.

The person who won had great credentials and a huge following from a county that has a larger population than Camden County. As always, it is about the numbers and she had more people at the caucus than I did.

I was very proud of the Camden County Democrats that drove to Waycross to support me. A huge thank you for getting up early on Saturday morning to go and vote for me. A special thanks to Linda Victory and Ronna Nelson who have worked with me through the entire election process.

It truly is a great time to be a Democrat. The entire election process and the support of that process is an inspiration to work even harder for the Democratic Party. The courtroom was filled, standing room only, with Democrats that are eager to work diligently to ensure we win in November at the state level and national level.

I have decided not to pursue being a delegate by running at-large on the state level. I am going to save my energy for the election in November. I will be calling on all of my friends to help ensure we have a landslide victory in the Fall.

Together we can make a difference.

Reeney

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Letter to the Editor AJC - Jane Kidd

Camden Democrats,

Please take the time to read the entire letter to the editor from Jane Kidd, Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party. Jane Kidd's Editorial

I’ve been saying for a couple of years now that sometimes it’s not the policies and philosophies of Republicans (especially the right wingers) it’s their NATURE that makes them the wrong people to be in leadership positions. Jane’s letter makes this so apparent that any level headed citizen should be able to see it. But as we all know, it ain’t that easy. We will have to go out and explain it to folks who should know better. And in order to do that, we have to arm ourselves with information and facts like we find in Jane’s letter.

Read it over and over again so you can quote the points she makes, so you can then answer even the most obnoxious and uninformed winger, not so you can convert them, because they’re hopeless, but so you can show any swing voter who might be listening just who makes more sense. We have until November to work on those in the middle, so let’s not waste any time.

Dave Southern

News from Dave - 04/04/08

Democrats;
Come out for our next two get togethers;

Saturday, 4/5 at the Transportation Union Hall off Industrial Parkway behind the St. Marys police station. We’ll be finalizing our plans for the Crawfish Festival in Woodbine 4/25 – 26. As always, we’ll be in the parade, we’ll have a booth, and pull off some new surprises. Also at the meeting tomorrow, we will put the finishing touches on a new pamphlet the John King and his group have been working hard to have ready for the Crawfish Festival. In just three or four pages, we’ll be able to summarize what Democrats in Camden County stand for and believe in. Anyone who comes to the meeting tomorrow will have an opportunity to be heard before we get the pamphlet printed.

Tuesday, April 8, is our regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the annex building beside the county library on Gross Road. Our special guest speaker will be Angela Chasebi. Angela will be travelling from Macon to speak to us about how the DNC is preparing for the upcoming election campaign. She is a kind of liaison between the DNC and this part of Georgia. Angela will also be speaking about the Neighborhood Leaders program which we need all Democrats to be familiar with and participate in. I’m assuming that anyone who says they’re a Democrat is looking forward to helping with the campaign in some way. This discussion will give you a good start on what you can do.

Don’t forget to sign up to go to Waycross and vote for our own Reeney Adams to be one of the 1st Congressional District’s delegates to the national convention in Denver. That will be Saturday, April 19th. Call Reeney at 729-2888, or Linda Victory at 882-8655 to make arrangements to carpool to Waycross.

Have you been following all the trash the right wing is already throwing around about Barack Obama? And the official campaign hasn’t even begun, yet. Sometimes I don’t even think about differences in policies, philosophies, and programs when I listen to people like Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Coulter, Jack Kingston and our own Bert Guy. I just ask myself if these are the kinds of people we want representing us in Washington and presenting America’s image to the rest of the world. Often, it’s not what they say they stand for, it’s their very nature that tells me, NO WAY! They can call themselves Americans, but they sure don’t represent the kind of America I believe in! They’ve got to go, and you must help. Come out and help us.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Reeney’s Road to the 2008 Democratic National Convention

Democrats,
It is not often we get an opportunity to support one of our own for an elected position, but now we do. Our immediate past-chairperson, Reeney Adams, is working to be a delegate representing the 1st Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado this summer. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have representing Camden County at the convention, primarily because of Reeney’s dedication to the Democratic Party, and the enthusiasm she brings to any position she takes on. Please read her resume and her reasons why she feels she is so well suited to be a delegate. She has agreed that when she is elected, she will be our eyes and ears in Denver through her blog she will operate through the www.CamdenDemocrats.org website. The most pressing need she has is for as many Camden Dems as possible to accompany her to Waycross for the District election on April 19. Call Reeney or her campaign manager, Linda Victory, to let them know you are ready to support Reeney in this wonderful endeavor. They will include you in the carpooling arrangements and tell you all you need to know about what will go on at the election.

Let’s really get behind Reeney and send her to Colorado for the convention! It looks like this will be a lot more important than any of us could have imagined just a few short weeks ago. Call her right now!!

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Senator McCain Gets a Zero -- Tell Your Newspaper

Democrats,
You need to go to the website of the League of Conservation Voters for all the scores of Senators and Congressmen and see how all our representatives come out on environmental issues. As you would expect, our esteemed Mr. Kingston also received a “0” on his scorecard, but at least he’d show up for a vote on the issues once in awhile. Senator McCain, on the other hand, touts himself as pro-environment, but just never showed up when those votes were taken. What should we make of this?

Look through the records of other prominent representatives as well.

Dave Southern
Chairman, Democrats of Camden County


Two weeks ago John McCain was the only Senator to duck a crucial vote on the future of clean energy in America -- dooming to failure the measure that would have helped make renewable energy more affordable and accessible. Now it turns out this missed vote is part of a pattern.

Last week, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the 2007 National Environmental Scorecard giving Senator McCain a score of ZERO. According to the scorecard, McCain was the only member of Congress to skip all 15 crucial environmental votes scored by LCV.

Can you help spread the word about McCain's 0% environmental voting record and write a letter to the editor? The opinion page is widely read in most communities -- and a well-placed letter can reach a broad audience. We've included sample text to get you started.

McCain's LCV score exposes the real record behind the rhetoric -- a lifetime LCV score of 24, a history of siding with the polluters and special interests, and a consistent pattern of ducking important environmental votes.

Let's place thousands of letters in papers around the country. Click here to let us know you're writing a letter.
Thanks for taking action.
Sincerely,
Carl PopeExecutive DirectorThe Sierra Club