Could Macon Democrats Randall & Paris be facing possible Primary Challengers in July?

As the legislative session winds down, all eyes will turn to the 2012 elections & who will challenge who.

In Bibb County, Democrats Nikki Randall & Miriam Paris both could have challengers for their perspective seats in this upcoming July Primary.

Randall, who is the leader of the Bibb County Delegation haven't had a serious challenger for that seat in years & Paris, who won the seat after the late Robert Brown resigned to run for Macon Mayor could possibly;y get another challenge from her last opponent David Lucas in a district that now includes Washington & Hancock Counties.

The one issue that may very well spur challengers for their seats is the proposed Macon-Bibb County Consolidation Plan, depending on who you ask is good or bad for the City & County.

Randall will be a tough out for any potential challenger & Paris, although she enjoyed plenty of crossover support in the special election maybe the easier target given that she only been in office for a few months.

Now I'm not that well informed when it comes to Macon Politics, but the chances are better that 50/50 that both women will receive challengers for their positions in the July Democratic Primary.

The question is who will run against them? Could David Lucas make another run for the State Senate? Could some darkhorse come out of no where & challenge Randall? What about C. Jack Ellis? Ooh so many possibilities!

To win, Georgia Democrats must look to the Center/Right

State Progressives Complain, but the party can't achieve gains without attracting or regaining Centrists & Conservative Democrats

Right now, Georgia Democrats need to focus on how they can win consistently, and that requires engaging the party's moderates & conservatives (Yes there are still conservatives in the party). It does not mean abandoning core beliefs or giving up on efforts to influence opinion. But it's easier to influence opinion when you WIN, let me repeat, WIN elections.

Democrats can embrace the middle and win, but if Republicans push too hard to embrace the middle, they will lose too many of their activists and non-activists. The key, in my opinion to victory for Georgia Democrats is to force Republicans to fight for the middle, it's a win-win strategy for Democrats, as they attempt to grow their coalition and divide the already strong, steady Republicans.

The Republican coalition is smaller, but it's uniformly conservative. But there remains a divide between Democratic activists and non-activists. Non-activists are very moderate and include quite a few conservatives. Furthermore, non-activists make up the vast majority of the party and are ideologically situated right between the liberal and conservative "peaks" of each party's activist base. Republicans can win by attracting those moderate and conservative Democrats; in fact, the GOP is sunk without them. (Remember, many of these republicans nowadays used to be Moderate/ Conservative Democrats). If Democrats can bring them securely into the fold, they are unbeatable.

If Bob Kerry can do it, why not Sam Nunn (for Governor in'14?)

Why Not?


If you haven't heard but former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerry will run for the seat being vacated by Conservative Democrat Ben Nelson (D-NE) in November, which was seen as a likely republican pickup in its attempt to regain control of the senate. Kerry, 68 will be making a political comeback for his old senate seat. The political environment is different now thatn it as when Kerrey left the senate, but he is still held in high regard all across Nebraska, which is a solid Red State.


Remember St. Louis Rams Head Coach Dick Vermeil, who came out of a 15 year retirement at age 61, only to lead the Ram to a Super Bowl Victory in 1999.


So I ask the question, if Bob Kerrey can do it for the U.S. Senate, Dick Vermeil can do it in the NFL, then why not Sam Nunn, no not for the U.S. Senate, but for Governor in 2014?


Yes I know Nunn would be 76 in 2014, but remember John McCain almost became president at age 72, shoot, Ron Reagan was 68 when he took the W.H. in 1980, so being president & governor are two different things.

Look, the democrats really don't have anywhere else to turn. Their bench of prospective candidates is as thin as a thread. There are only 4 candidates that could REALLY make a run at the mansion & win it: Jim Marshall, John Barrow, Michael Thurmond & Sam Nunn.

But Nunn out of all the canddiates would probably be the strongest because of his statewide electoral success. Yes Georgia has changed since 1996 & yes it has gone from being a democratic control to a GOP controlled state, but he would do well where democrats haven't done well at all here in over 12 years..Independent-Conservative, small town voters & he would do well among suburban swing voters also.


I know its a 50 to 1 odds that Nunn would even entertain the thought of coming out of retirement to run for governor, since he is the CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, which is a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. But if he were to he'll be the shot in the arm Georgia Democrats need in order to get moving once again, just like Bob Kerrey who gave Nebraska Dems their shot in the arm in trying to retaining the Senate seat in November.

Bible Verses for the Day

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”"

Hebrews 13:5

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2–4

Berlon in Hot Water, Push for Him to Resign Immediately!

Over at the Liberal Blog, Blog for Democracy Democratic Activist Catherine Smith laid out what appears to be a letter asking for Mike Berlon to resign as chair of the Georgia Democratic Party.

Read Below:

TO: DPG State Committee Members

Since his election 14 months ago, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon has violated multiple sections of the DPG Charter and By-Laws, circumvented the the authority of the State and Executive Committees, and put our Party in serious financial peril.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

The State Chair has failed to provide a budget to the State or Executive Committees during his 14 months as Chair.

The State Chair has failed to take the necessary steps to raise sufficient funds for ongoing activities (call time, one on one donor contact, etc) despite the strong recommendations of the Executive Director and Party employees.

The State Chair made hiring and compensation decisions, a responsibility granted only to the Executive Director, without the authorization or approval of the State or Executive Committees (BL1.6.4 , BL1.6.5).

On Monday, February 27, the State Chair fired two Party employees, a responsibility granted only to the Executive Director, without the authorization or approval of the State and Executive Committees. These employees were fundraising staff (BL1.6.4 , BL1.6.5).

The State Chair denied, from the outset of her employment, the Executive Director’s enumerated responsibility of “hiring of qualified staff members for all budgeted and other approved or temporary positions and institute dismissal or other disciplinary actions as necessary against such employees”, severely restricting her ability to successfully perform her role as Executive Director. (BL1.6.2 ).

The State Chair brought disgrace upon the party by discussing internal Party matters with the media and jeopardizing the fundraising apparatus of the Party (BL2.8.2 ).

The State Chair has threatened (with lawsuits, and other repercussions) multiple members of the State and Executive Committees merely for speaking out against him in legitimately called meetings and in email exchanges, bringing disrepute upon the Party (BL2.8.2 ).

Mike Berlon has forgotten that the ultimate authority in our Party belongs to the State Committee, not the Chair.

Well it appears that the honeymoon is over at the Georgia Democratic Party.

Berlon became chairman after besting Darryl Hicks, (who I supported) for the position. Think Hicks would want the job now? H.E.L.L. NO!

State Senator Greg Goggins (R-Douglas) to retire, not run for re-election

The Blackshear Times:

State Senator Dr. Greg Goggans today announced he will not seek re-election for the Seventh Senatorial District seat. Senator Goggans is presently serving his fourth term.

"It was a difficult decision to make," said Goggans, who has served South Georgia causes in the state legislature for the past eight years.

Goggans said in his statement he "believes it is time to return my attention to my expanding orthodontic practice I share with business partner," Dr. Dana Fender.

After his current term is completed, he plans to return to join Dr. Fender full time in their orthodontics practices.

“My business partner, Dr. Dana Fender and I, have been extremely blessed in our orthodontic practice. Dr. Fender has always been very supportive of me serving in the Georgia State Senate. Every year he graciously allows me to be away from the practice for three to four months while the Georgia Legislature is in session.

“We opened our fourth orthodontic office in September of last year. The growing demands of our practice convinced me I need to devote more time to the business and patient care.

“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to serve the people of the Seventh Senatorial District. This has given me the opportunity to meet, to serve and to work with so many wonderful people. I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for their friendship and support. It has been a very rewarding and humbling experience.”

Goggans says he decided to announce his decision now so potential candidates will have time to prepare for the election.

“Others have begun to announce their decisions not to seek re-election and more will follow as the session comes to a close within the next six weeks.

“For me it is about the people of my district. Qualifying takes place in about 90 days. I could wait until the last minute and announce my decision not to seek re-election, but that would leave the people of my district scrambling to find candidates to run. By giving three months’ notice it will give people time to really think about what it takes to serve your district as a state senator before qualifying.

“This is a very important decision for someone running in the Seventh Senatorial District. It is the largest district in the state covering 4,500 square miles. To serve this district requires a tremendous amount of time away from family and from business. It requires a lot of travel. The expenses are beyond what the $17,000 a year salary covers.

“By announcing my decision now, it will give potential candidates the time to discuss this important decision with their families and to examine their abilities to make it work.

**Kudos to Senator Goggins for making this decision right now instead of doing like Richard Royal (R-Camilla) did in 2006 when he waited until the last day to announce he was retiring & basically had former Camilla Mayor Jay Powell win that seat unopposed.

Rural America's Fiscal Challenge

Daily Yonder has this Great Pice on the Fiscal Challenges of Rural America: Rural America's Fiscal Challenge