Oh I got that We the people youtube from...

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Headed out...

I'm on my way (kind of late out the door) to a meeting with the new chair of the Field Committee for Henry County Democrats.

My first words of advice: run for the hills....

If she sticks around i'm going to say: Thank you, you have my gratitude.

 

Field is the name of the game.  Elections are 50% + 1 of the vote.  Its not all neat and pretty like some of my Political Theorist/revolutionary/idealists/man on the street  friends like to believe it is.

 

This ain't a game... its a war of attrition.  Field is the chess board.

Posted via web from jimnichols's posterous

From the outgoing chair I want to wish congrats to Robert...

For Immediate Release: Henry County Democrats elect Chairman

Henry County resident Robert Abercrombie was elected last night as the next chairman of the Henry County Democratic Committee.
Jan-26-2009


For Immediate Release: January 26, 2009
Contact: Jim Nichols
770-312-6736
Jim.Nichols@gmail.com

Henry County resident Robert Abercrombie was elected Chairman of the Henry County Democratic Party. “We have so much to do,” Robert stated upon his election, “and I look forward to working to build a Democratic Henry.”

Robert has been employed by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office for the last 17 years and is the father of two children. Robert joined the committee last year and has been working as chair of the candidate recruitment committee.

“I became involved in politics a few years ago, but really began to take an active role in the past two years. I assisted the Obama team with canvassing and voter registration drives. I truly believe that we can make Henry County and the state of Georgia a better place.”

Robert is joined on the executive committee by Vice chair Cristie J. Baptiste, 2nd vice chair Jarrett Bell, Secretary Cara Richardson, and Treasurer Edith Gonsal. The Henry County Democrats meet the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Henry County Government Annex. Their website is www.henrydems.com.

Second verse (Obama), same as the first (Clinton)

Lei-off: Obama snubs Dean

I'm hearing the 50 state stratedgy is dead... Obama machine,doesn't want or need true grassroots...

Ah yes, the sorry state of the Democratic Party--why i'm not running for Chair in Henry County again; its not worth my time.

I found this comment post very to the point

Obama is a creature of the Village -- Dean never was, and it was his 50 State strategy that made him persona non grata for Emmanuel and the rest of the corrupt Democratic establishment.
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Keep in mind that the political media is concentrated in DC, and Dean's strategy was all about returning power, money, and influence to state and local party organizations. And since KT and her "political reporter" ilk need the DC establishment for their sources, influence peddlers like Rahm and Schumer received far more favorable media treatment than did Dean.
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But ultimately, Dean really has no one but himself to blame for this -- he threw his private support behind Obama in a manner that guaranteed Obama the nomination, and did so to advance his own agenda . Dean wanted to piggyback his 50 State Strategy on Obama's grassroots organization, and fell out of favor because he wanted to continue to empower state and local party organizations, while Obama wants to centralize power in his hands and use the Democratic Party for his own personal benefit and self-aggrandizement. Dean found out too late that Obama's organizational efforts were designed to advance only one thing -- Barack Obama's personal power.
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So instead of genuine grass-roots organizing, and listening to what Democrats across the country have to say, we now have the astroturf of Change.gov, in which Obama sets the agenda for the grassroots, ignores their concerns when they conflict with his personal empowerment agenda, and co-opts grassroots concerns when they can be folded into the overall strategy of Obama self-aggrandizement.

Since the 2002 education funding cuts by Republican Govenor Sunny Perdue Henry County has lost 28 million dollars.

Go read more on the downturn in SPLOST revenues.

local press on the run-off election

under the name of reason in the local papers
Georgians vote in pivotal run-off election

By Johnny Jackson

jjackson@henryherald.com

Thousands have already voted early for the Dec. 2 run-off election, which will determine -- among other things -- who will represent the state of Georgia in the United States Senate.

Area residents are increasingly aware of the importance of this year's senate election, between incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin.

Early voters have been turning out in droves, compared to previous election years. Clayton County, for instance, has already voted roughly 12,500 people, and Henry County has surpassed 10,000 voters in total early votes.

So far, Henry has voted about 10 percent of its registered votes, with more than 8 percent turning out early in Clayton. Elections officials expect as much as a 15-20 percent voter turnout.

"It has been very unpredictable," said Janet Shellnut, director of Henry County Elections and Registration. "We mailed out almost 5,000 absentee ballots in seven days."

Shellnut said voting in Henry may be similar to voting during the November general election, when some 60 percent of likely voters turned out early. A small percentage of other eligible voters turned out on election day for a combine 75 percent voter turnout.

"I hope we get good support on [run-off] election day," Shellnut added. "It's nice to see a runoff with more than 5-7 percent coming out."

Voters appear to be more attuned to the politics, particular given the delicate balance that exists in the U.S. Senate between Democrats and Republicans.

"This run-off election is critical, given the incoming administration and the current balance of power in the Senate," said Chambliss. "Georgia is a conservative state, and we need someone who will stand up to President-elect Obama when his policies are not in line with Georgia's values. I will be that person."

Earlier this fall, Chambliss made stops in Jonesboro and McDonough to drum up local support for what would be a close and pivotal Nov. 4 general election. The Senate run-off election that has followed has garnered national attention.

"It's very important that Sen. Chambliss gets re-elected," said Jeremy Betts, chairman of the Clayton County Republican Party. "If not, there would be no checks on what power they [Democrats] would have in the United States Senate. ... When he wins on Tuesday, it will mean that Democrats will not have a filibuster-proof Senate."

Betts said he believes there were "a series of unfortunate events" that led up to today's run-off election between Chambliss and Martin.

"Sen. Obama [now President-elect Barack Obama] had a good showing in Georgia," he said. "And the economy specifically shocked a lot of people's confidence ... in the Republican Party. It was kind of a perfect storm of events."

"The Republican Party is really taking a hard look at itself," Betts said. "The last thing we need is for a party to fall into oblivion."

If Jim Martin wins the run-off election, it would mean that Democrats would have a so-called super-majority in the Senate, as well as a majority in the House of Representatives and control of the executive branch.

"This is certainly a huge runoff," said Jim Nichols, chairman of the Henry County Democratic Committee. "This is really a continuation of the election."

A Martin supporter, Nichols said the winner of the run-off election will likely be decided by the number of motivated voters who turnout. He said he believes that a Chambliss election would only serve to further divide the Senate, blocking bipartisan ideas and legislation.

"People are looking for leadership," Nichols said. "They want a senator that's going to work with the president. We need to come together right now and create some legislation for citizens that are hurting."

Jim Martin's Campaign Spokeswoman Kate Hansen agreed. "We feel great headed into Tuesday," Hansen said. "As Jim Martin travels all over the state talking to Georgians, voters are clear. They're looking for a senator who will work with President-elect Obama to get the economy working for the middle class again. That's why they'll head to the polls to elect Jim Martin ... "

In Clayton County, voters will also have to decide on who will take two vacant seats on the nine-member Clayton County Board of Education. Pam Adamson and Cleopatra Ballantyne are competing for the District 1 seat, while Charlton Bivins and Irene Lewis vie for the Board's District 9 seat.

Voters in both Henry and Clayton counties will also be asked to choose a public service commissioner, between Republican Lauren McDonald and Democrat Jim Powell. There is also a runoff, between Sara Doyle and Mike Sheffield, to determine who will succeed Judge John Ruffin on Georgia's Appeals Court.

Voting begins today at 7 a.m., at all regular voting precincts in Henry and Clayton.

Why do I use my blog title as the token for the word Jim Nichols? Crazy modern world some of you must be shrugging...

Henry County... help Martin win on the 2nd! Come out and canvass

Kevin Waller is doing a great job of keeping people in the loop...
From his email today:

Team,

We are doing canvassing to support the Jim Martin Campaign for US Senate both Saturday and Sunday. The election runoff is in just 11 days. It is a close race. The victory will be to the one whose team makes the most calls and knocks on the most doors. People are registered, we just need to get them back out to the polls.

Ms Cathryn Chatters (985) 703-0164 and Mike Burns have taken the lead on this initiative.

If you want to participate and help put someone in the Senate that is going to help President Elect Obama make a difference: come on down.

Days and Times:

Sat from 10 am - 6:00 pm (two hour increments)
Sunday from 2 pm -6:00pm (two hour increments)

Rally Point: At the Sands Bar and Grill, #38 Macon Road, McDonough, GA (just off the square).