Oconee County, GA Politics

I voted second in the county today during the start of the early voting period for the general election, coming in just behind the former Watkinsville City Council member John Hanely (father of G.O.P. chair Jay Hanley), and spotted one tiny misspelling on the ballot of one of the last names of the unopposed candidates for the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. John Daniell's last name was misspelled "Daniel" and I doubt this will stop anyone for voting for or against him. The advanced voting is adjacent (immediately south) to the Courthouse in the small building where zoning matters were once taken care of. Nearby neighbor "Cokey" Elder is once again in violation of having both too big a signs with the large Paul Broun sign on Water Street and being too close to a polling place for his abundance of signs. I have no problem with his right to display signs, just wonder if he could do so in a legal manner. I wish someone had the gall to remove or at least en...

Friend -- It's been a powerful week for OFA. On Monday, the President called on us to help build this movement for the final weeks of the 2010 election. Tens of thousands of supporters answered that call -- matching another grassroots donation and doubling their impact on this movement. And the growth has been exponential -- with one supporter inspiring another, who in turn inspires two more to take that next step and chip in. This is how we will build the organization we need to win close elections across the country this fall. There are still 2,677 supporters across the country who made a promise to match a grassroots donation -- and they're counting on you to take that next step. Make a $5 donation -- and get it doubled -- today. I know from experience how inspiring it is to get that note of encouragement and thanks from a fellow supporter who matched your donation. It's then that you feel the power of this movement. You see people coming together be...

Advance Voting Information Oconee County advanced voting begins today, as does Clarke County - GO VOTE!

GOP nomination loser endorses Democratic nominee in Georgia JB Powell picks up endorsement | The Augusta Chronicle

The person on Oconee County Land Use and Transportation Committee who somehow suggested the Bike Athens has infiltrated this organization is an embittered, angry old man and now an ex member of the citizens committee. The people on this new Oconee County Cycling Organization run - or pedal -  the gamut from extremely conservative to rather progressive and represent a good cross section of Oconee County bicyclists. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: tonyglenn@gmail.com To: tonyglenn@gmail.com Dear Friends, I'm finally getting a chance to write and update everyone on the OCCO meeting held this past Monday.  It's been a busy week! My thanks to all who attended.  It was a great meeting!  Around 25 people were able to attend, which is a great turnout considering this was our first official member meeting. We presented to the members an overview of our OCCO accomplishments to-date.  I've attached that presentation as a PDF for all to see...

Sounds like Watkinsville's Zach Mettenberger may get to come back between the hedges after all, just wearing purple and gold instead of red and black. Ten@10: Tuitt-to-Notre Dame hurts but all not lost for Georgia Tech | AJC College Sports Recruiting

I have not been making as many original posts recently because I am coaching my son Lowell's under 12 soccer team in the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department. Some soccer god has a sick sense of humor since their team nickname is the Grizzlies, which I guess makes me a papa Grizzly and somewhere Sarah Palin is smiling. Anyhow after the first game, a hard fought 1-0 loss to the Panthers, a few quick observations and suggestions: Have recycling bins/cans on the soccer pitch. Most of these kids are drinking Gatorade, Powerade and what not, and they can be easily recycled. Curbside of Bogart might even do it for free if we give them the free publicity, but I cannot speak for them. Coaches get real tired of schlepping used drink containers to trash cans after hard fought losses.  Have the Oconee County Sheriff's Department (or some other civilian or police force) keeping traffic on Highway 53/Hog Mountain Road coming out of Oconee Veterans Park and the across the stre...

So the Republican nominee for Governor is more than $5 million in debt? How can anyone - Republican, Democratic or otherwise - support him at all now? I suppose if all the people in debt in Georgia vote for him, he might have a chance. Now we at least have a slightly better clue as to why he was not so forthcoming with his tax returns. Forget political party affiliation, this is humiliating and completely embarrassing to our state. Sue Everhart, the chair of the Georgia GOP is in Oconee County tonight, and I think I would ask her about how to go about getting a new nominee at this late stage. I would imagine Karen Handel is telling anyone within reach: "I told you so." Nathan Deal acknowledges more debt, but says he won't release more financial data | Political Insider

Subject: Oconee Farmers Market To: oconeefm@yahoo.com This week t here will be homemade cakes and assorted homemade baked bread, including  Cinnamon Rolls, Crackers, Granola & Biscotti. The Young Female Farmers will have Muffins as well as Fresh Pecan Pie . Sandra Bowden will have her wonderful variety of fresh pound cakes ! There will also be locally harvested honey-Sourwood, Blackberry & Wildflower , as well as honey lip balm . Don't forget Joy's Gorgeous Gourds!! Amy Shane our resident "pie lady" will have Chocolate Chess Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Fresh Apple & Fresh Peach Pie, Apple-Pecan Muffins and her famous Whoopie Pies !! We will have fresh locally grown herbs, eggplant, okra, peaches , apples, purple hull peas, bell peppers , jalapeno peppers , various sweet and hot peppers, figs and basil . Sammy Hansford will have his famous fresh pork skins, fried or boiled peanuts and homemade beef and chicken jerky. Hollowed Hawk Farms will...

I would strongly urge all motorists to avoid downtown Watkinsville this evening during the Oconee County High School homecoming parade. The exact time eludes me but I would wager it shall be difficult to traverse Barnett Shoals or Main Street from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm or thereabouts.

Even more debt? How can anyone with any business acumen even consider voting for Deal? Nathan Deal acknowledges more debt, but says he won't release more financial data | Political Insider

Thank God! UGA: Reports of gunman a false alarm  | ajc.com

How do you think we can make Georgia work (better)? Roy Barnes 2010 - Share Your Idea to Make Georgia Work

Friend -- The special interests in Washington are not happy, and it's because of something you did. Since President Obama moved into the White House, this movement has stripped them of their influence, proving we could take on the lobbyists and corporate cash with good, old-fashioned organizing. Now these groups are vowing to get payback in the fall elections -- and they have put all their chips on one man: Congressman John Boehner. Third-party organizations have already spent millions to help Republicans take over the House and make him Speaker -- and you can bet there are millions more to come in the form of nasty TV ads and shadowy robo-calls before November. Here's how we fight back: the largest-scale voter turnout effort this party has ever assembled in an election like this. Another grassroots supporter has promised to match, dollar for dollar, whatever you can chip in today. These matched donations add up fast -- and right now there are 3,211 donations ac...

Oconee County Observations: Oconee County Land Use Committee Delays Decision o... : "Fear of Athens Bike Invasion The Oconee County Cycling Organization was sent home tonight without its Share the Road signs when the Land Use..."

If we need another reason to NOT vote for Nathan Deal, I think this is emblematic of what is wrong with the Republican party as a whole, over extending our credit, getting into debt and not realizing we sometimes have to say no even to our family. Deal could face financial insolvency after backing family business  | ajc.com

Well written story by Erin Rossiter about painter Philip Juras and his depiction of naturalist William Bartram Painter emulates naturalist's prose || OnlineAthens.com

As first reported a week ago on this blog, good follow up story by the lanky Ms. France Watkinsville may rethink ordinance || OnlineAthens.com

I like to think of Zaxby's as an Oconee based franchise, but I will not quibble Athens-based Zaxby's marks 20 years as sales bounce back  | ajc.com

Friend -- When Michelle and I decided that I would run for President, it was because of a shared belief in the power of community and connection, a commitment to the idea that we are our brothers' keepers. With your help, that is how I have tried to govern. Now -- with just 50 days until the November elections -- the progress we have achieved together is under attack. But I have seen what you can do when the stakes are high, and I have never been more confident in your ability to deliver. Today, I am asking you to take the next step in your support for Organizing for America. Because this moment is so critical, another supporter has pledged to match any donation you make right now. A $5 donation will become $10. Will you make a donation today and answer your fellow supporter's pledge to match whatever you can give? Here's how it works: -- You choose the amount you are able to give -- and it will be doubled by someone willing to match that amount. -- Y...

Conservative author and historian Andrew Bacevich teaches at Boston University where my sister Emily is taking advanced Italian. A reminder that you do not have to live in Oconee, or be a Democratic supporter, to be in the book group, but it could not hurt if you were. Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:05:49 -0400 Subject: [oconee] September book discussion   The book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats is discussing " The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism " for our September book. Please join us! It's a rather quick read and a New York Times bestseller. The author, the well-regarded conservative historian Andrew Bacevich, is a professor at Boston University, where he teaches history and international relations. In the book, Bacevich takes up problems with the American military, the nation's political system, and what he describes as an unchecked "profligacy" in the culture. The Washington Post argued that Bac...

Analysis: Tables turn on Ga. GOP | The Augusta Chronicle

Thanks to some of my favorites folks from Bishop for turning me on to this article Why N.C. swung to Obama - Best of the Weekend - NewsObserver.com

Friend -- Over the next two months, Organizing for America volunteers like you will talk to millions of voters about what's at stake this fall. Our Vote 2010 goals are ambitious -- but meeting them is the only way President Obama will be able to continue moving our country forward with strong allies in Congress. We know these one-on-one conversations are incredibly effective. In 2008, volunteers like you turned out millions of voters -- many for the first time. And in our increasingly fractured digital environment -- when so much competes for our time and attention -- conversations between friends, family members, and neighbors remain the most trusted and impactful method of political persuasion. I have a tremendous amount of confidence in this strategy -- and you -- because I saw how it changed politics in 2008. You connected personally with more voters than any campaign in history -- and we won. This year, the strategy is the same. That's why we've put t...