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| Friend -- Yesterday, the President announced the framework of a bipartisan agreement to extend a set of tax cuts that were set to expire, restore unemployment benefits for millions of Americans, and pass additional measures to help middle-class families and create jobs. Now, he's recorded a video to speak directly to OFA supporters about the deal. Watch it here -- and leave a note with your thoughts.  This agreement, while not perfect, is vital to millions of Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own -- as well as millions of middle-class families, students, parents, and small businesses. Take a minute to watch his message -- and then let us know what you think: http://my.barackobama.com/TaxCutsVideo Thanks, Mitch Mitch Stewart Director Organizing for America P.S. -- The President will be talking with OFA supporters live tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time -- sign up here for a reminder and instructions on how to listen in to the call. |
| Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to: oconeedemo.crats@blogger.com |
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Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Tax cuts
Jane Kidd's farewell salute to Doug McKillip
DPG Chair Jane Kidd Statement Regarding Athens Representative Doug McKillip Becoming The Most Recent Turncoat In Georgia
Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd, a resident and former office-holder of State House District 115, released the following statement regarding Rep. Doug McKillip’s turncoating to the Republican Party:
"I'm extremely disappointed in Doug’s betrayal. Doug has turned his back on the voters that elected him. I’ve received multiple calls from his outraged constituents who have worked and voted for a progressive voice to represent them in Atlanta.
“It is dishonest to say that he can't get anything done within the minority party. For Doug to assume that he can best serve the University of Georgia as a Republican is disingenuous. Leaders of both parties have faithfully advanced this flagship institution since its inception.
“His donors deserve a refund; his voters deserve a recall.”
# # #
Traitor: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty.
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd, a resident and former office-holder of State House District 115, released the following statement regarding Rep. Doug McKillip’s turncoating to the Republican Party:
"I'm extremely disappointed in Doug’s betrayal. Doug has turned his back on the voters that elected him. I’ve received multiple calls from his outraged constituents who have worked and voted for a progressive voice to represent them in Atlanta.
“It is dishonest to say that he can't get anything done within the minority party. For Doug to assume that he can best serve the University of Georgia as a Republican is disingenuous. Leaders of both parties have faithfully advanced this flagship institution since its inception.
“His donors deserve a refund; his voters deserve a recall.”
# # #
Traitor: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty.
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Athens legislator jumps to GOP || OnlineAthens.com
Poor Doug McKillip, he jumps after all the good leadership slots have been taken
Athens legislator jumps to GOP || OnlineAthens.com
Athens legislator jumps to GOP || OnlineAthens.com
Jane Kidd decides not to seek another term as state Democratic chair
Subject: From Jane Kidd, DPG Chair
Dear Friends,
I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election as Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia when the State Committee convenes on January 29, 2011.
Over the past four years as Chair, I have been honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in me to lead our efforts to empower the grassroots and build a lasting infrastructure for our party.
Working together, we have upgraded our technology, modernized our strategies, and begun cultivating a new generation of Democratic leaders. We have worked to register new Democratic voters and worked to build and invigorate our county parties. Our investments in building and sustaining our Voter File have allowed us to accurately target and actively engage voters across Georgia.
We have built a successful new media communications program, which allows us to regularly communicate with hundreds of thousands of Georgians through email to recruit volunteers and fundraise online. And I am especially proud that our full-time Canvass and Calling Center took us from a few thousand donors in 2007 to over 25,000 contributors to the Democratic Party of Georgia since I became Chair. Many of these donations were grassroots contributions of $250 or less.
I also believe we have the best professional staff of any Democratic State Party in the nation and I would like to personally thank them for their tireless work and selfless dedication to our party. Providing the guidance and leadership for our staff, as well as helping them accomplish many of the goals we set, has been the most rewarding part of my tenure as Chair. I hope you will continue showing our staff the same respect and level of support that you have provided over the past many years.
While we did not reach all of our goals over the last four years, we can be proud of what we accomplished together. In 2008 we turned 18 red Georgia counties to blue. Our most recent Coordinated Campaign exceeded our goal in GOTV results and was lauded by the DCCC as the most organized operation with whom they worked in the 2010 cycle. Though it wasn’t enough to carry our statewide candidates over the top to victory, we could not have accomplished all that we have without your support.
In the coming months I look forward to not only spending more time with my family, but also continuing to serve the Democratic Party of Georgia. I pledge to do everything in my power to help ensure that the Chair we elect in January has a seamless transition and is ready to succeed in the role.
I would like to thank each of you for your work on behalf of the Democratic Party of Georgia, and most importantly for your continued friendship. There is still much work to be done as we continue fighting for our values, for Democratic solutions to the problems facing Georgia, and for the leaders we need to move our state forward.
Sincerely,
Jane Kidd
Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia
Dear Friends,
I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election as Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia when the State Committee convenes on January 29, 2011.
Over the past four years as Chair, I have been honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in me to lead our efforts to empower the grassroots and build a lasting infrastructure for our party.
Working together, we have upgraded our technology, modernized our strategies, and begun cultivating a new generation of Democratic leaders. We have worked to register new Democratic voters and worked to build and invigorate our county parties. Our investments in building and sustaining our Voter File have allowed us to accurately target and actively engage voters across Georgia.
We have built a successful new media communications program, which allows us to regularly communicate with hundreds of thousands of Georgians through email to recruit volunteers and fundraise online. And I am especially proud that our full-time Canvass and Calling Center took us from a few thousand donors in 2007 to over 25,000 contributors to the Democratic Party of Georgia since I became Chair. Many of these donations were grassroots contributions of $250 or less.
I also believe we have the best professional staff of any Democratic State Party in the nation and I would like to personally thank them for their tireless work and selfless dedication to our party. Providing the guidance and leadership for our staff, as well as helping them accomplish many of the goals we set, has been the most rewarding part of my tenure as Chair. I hope you will continue showing our staff the same respect and level of support that you have provided over the past many years.
While we did not reach all of our goals over the last four years, we can be proud of what we accomplished together. In 2008 we turned 18 red Georgia counties to blue. Our most recent Coordinated Campaign exceeded our goal in GOTV results and was lauded by the DCCC as the most organized operation with whom they worked in the 2010 cycle. Though it wasn’t enough to carry our statewide candidates over the top to victory, we could not have accomplished all that we have without your support.
In the coming months I look forward to not only spending more time with my family, but also continuing to serve the Democratic Party of Georgia. I pledge to do everything in my power to help ensure that the Chair we elect in January has a seamless transition and is ready to succeed in the role.
I would like to thank each of you for your work on behalf of the Democratic Party of Georgia, and most importantly for your continued friendship. There is still much work to be done as we continue fighting for our values, for Democratic solutions to the problems facing Georgia, and for the leaders we need to move our state forward.
Sincerely,
Jane Kidd
Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia
Monday, December 06, 2010
Final post from my pops
Daniel Johnson Matthews, proud scion of several pre-revolution pioneer Georgia families (Johnson, Medlock, Chandler on his mother’s side and Blackshear, Hamilton, Floyd on his father’s) left this world November 29,2001 hoping for an all time great family reunion with those foregone folks.
Fifth generation to live on the family’s Druid Hills acreage he was probably the county’s oldest to dwell in one spot – certainly Druid Hills which the family preceded by several generations and helped bring about by sale of some of the original farm (bought from a Revolutionary war widow named Cosby).
Dan’s mother, Antoinette Johnson Matthews, was Georgia’s first independent nursery school/kindergarten operator and taught many of Atlanta’s elite along with her son. He went from her Out-of-Doors school on Oakdale to Druid Hills, then WW-II years in uniform (Charlottesville grey, not khakis) at GMC in Milledgeville. Entering Emory University at 16, it didn’t take long for both sides to see they weren’t a match. Several years in the Dublin Georgia area ensued where he developed a lifetime of sales skills selling Chappell’s Mill cornmeal to stores in Central Georgia.
A friend of George Sparks and Georgia Press chief Stan Smith, Dan returned to college at what was then Atlanta Division, UGA on what was then Ivy Street., He was editor of the College’s Signal newspaper for a record five quarters. From there he moved to Athens, necessary to get his journalism degree. His proudest achievement there was helping Earl Varner of Swainsboro establish the Emanuel County Pine tree Festival.
This led to his being invited to join Meredith Corp’s executive training program, Des Moines, which he did immediately after graduation (Turning down a $35 a week spot at the AJC for twice that in Iowa!). Having spent many fruitful summers at camps in NC Dan used knowledge of trees and plants gained at Transylvania, Sequoyah, and Blue Star to land an assistant editors job in the Garden Department of Better Homes and Gardens under the legendary Fleeta Brownell Woodruffe who termed Dan the best plant I ever raised.
As BH&G’s top “idea guy” Dan moved through Garden, Handyman, Architecture and Newsstand Annuals departments into advertising where he excelled in Chicago and led the Detroit office to record sales. Moving from Michigan back to Iowa, Dan joined the Citizen Cowles', now Neuharth's Des Moines Register and Tribune where he put his upbringing to work as Southeastern manager for the R&T Syndicate. His big achievement there was putting an old UGA buddy, Lewis Grizzard, into his first 100 newspapers (beyond AJC). To this day AJC readers enjoy such folks as Kenny Wagham, Eunice Farmer, the Kovels and Solunar Tables courtesy of his erstwhile efforts.
In the 80’s Dan moved from Iowa back to his ancestral acres on Oakdale Road to oversee the real estate and his aging mother who died in 1989 at 95 and was eulogized by Sam Massell (former student), Franklin Garrett (fellow historian) and other Atlanta leaders.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Why my father might not wanted a service
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| Daniel Johnson Matthews Senior 1930 - 2010 |
While no one except my bosses of work have really asked, he did not want a ceremony or memorial service, and I have pondered his reasons both requests the weeks before and the week after his passing this last Monday in November on the hilltop in his Druid Hills family homestead that once stretched from the current location of Callanwolde to that where Scott Boulevard and North Decatur bisect in Decatur.
If you would like to read about the street called Oakdale Road
, there remains an e-book version of that which my grandmother wrote in the 1970s The last names of our forebearers Medlock, Johnson, Harris, Blackshear and Matthews offer a glimpse into Atlanta's recent and distant past, as well as the State of Georgia. He counted among his many distinguished ancestors the author Joel Chandler Harris and General David Blackshear. I recall many trips to south Georgia as a youth to uncover our past to Cordele and points south. I am very proud of my Georgia heritage. The answer would be a lack of practicality and possibility of putting together such a service for a man who led as a vast, far flung and enriching life as he did.
The nearly foot long column inch tribute in the papers will take some time to digest but I would suggest it for anyone who is curious about from whence I came and evolved. But essentially, any service would have to be multiple places with multiple churches and cemeteries with almost insurmountable musical accompaniment.
Any ceremony for my father would have to take place at churches including Plymouth Congregational in Des Moines and Rock Spring Presbyterian in Atlanta. He would have to be interred next to his mother in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, and next to his father in Tennile, Georgia. He actually asked to have a little bit of his ashes scattered many different places including Bayfield, Ontario and Tama, Iowa, where his first wife Norma is buried with two headstones.
Music would have to include a tattoo of bagpipers, Randy Newman, and Ramsey Lewis at the very least. Probably throw in Illinois Jacquet, Willie Nelson and Oscar Peterson, too. The lyrics to the song "Birmingham," an obscure Newman tune never destined for airplay, kind of sum up my father's duality.
Got a big black dog
And his name is Dan
Who lives in my backyard in Birmingham
He is the meanest dog in Alabam'
Get 'em Dan
Combine that with those of "Rednecks," and you get a picture of a man who would love to bring African-Americans home from a night on the town to crank the quadrophonic stereo we had with the rather off-color lyrics
We talk real funny down here
We drink too much and we laugh too loud
We're too dumb to make it in no Northern town
And we're keepin' the n______ down
Keep in mind this is a man whose middle daughter dated African Americans at Roosevelt High School, where she was the President of the Senior Class and the Afro-American club.
His wife Norma regularly worked to get candidates like former Polk County Board of Education chair Nolden Gentry elected to offices that no black man had run for, yet alone won. This wife Norma also decided to bring the Iowa Caucuses to the first in line, helping George McGovern convert a third place finish into a nomination in 1972.
I appreciate all the Facebook and other greetings and kind words people have heaped on his grieving family. People who think of me as being some bleeding heart liberal would be correct, but recall that my father's only real request from beyond the (lack of) grave is to contribute to Georga Military College's Prep School in Milledgeville, Georgia, where he was the only member of his brigade to vote for Harry S Truman in 1948. The rest were split between Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond and a few for Thomas Dewey.
Growing up in Iowa I can remember at our house on 44th Street such people as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Fred Harris, Gary Hart, Morris Udall and a few other fairly famous Democratic Presidential timber coming to our house or even spending the night in our sister Sarah's bedroom (she would share Emily's ample mattress in the room across the hall). My mom was a political hired gun who managed campaigns locally and nationally for the likes of McGovern and Udall.
We had musicians perform in our living room on a baby Grand piano built for an opera singer out of Athens, Georgia. Dartanyan Brown and Susie Miget come to mind and Mark Jung and other piano players such as my sisters Sarah and Emily played that piano quite well.
Most of the Republican we knew well were from Roosevelt or Plymouth, with Emily friends with the Vickie Ray, the Governor for life of Iowa (or so it seemed) of Robert Ray, who was supposedly Nixon's other choice to succeed Spiro Agnew as his Vice President in 1972.
My dad worked at Meredith Publishing and worked in a burgeoning world of Special Interest Publications, that would soon be the norm in the magazine world. He always wanted me to follow in his footsteps in advertising, and except for maybe five rare instances in my journalism career. Apartment Life and Better Homes and Gardens were the main publications I remember regularly in the house.
My dad sold cases of Coca-Cola individually allegedly for a nickel eacgh to get enough money to attend Atlanta Crackers baseball games down the street when he was a boy. He loved traveling off to new adventures like the Cleveland Air Shows as a tribute to his railroad working father William Collins Matthews. I remember watching the 1972 World Series with my grandfather and falling in love with the style and grace of Roberto Clemente. Grandpa Billy wanted the Orioles, but he did teach me the names of the three rivers of Three Rivers stadium. He would also make sweet pickles and send them up by the carton full from his Dublin home later in his life. He died right before the Presidential election in 1972 and I remember my dad telling my McGovern had no chance to win well in advance of the actual landslide won by Nixon.
He served some federal time for something about a mule and some untaxed liquor over the hills of north Georgia but those records are long expunged. This was never talked about at the dinner table very much. Nor was the fight that resulted with his front bridge of his upper teeth being replaced after some fracas at a nearby cinema as a youth.
Apparently my Dad was somewhat of a hellraiser and got shipped off to Military School to straighten up. Milledgeville did this to him and more. He made lifelong friends. But he also saw through the Military where they flash you top secret papers that say the enemy is bad and expect you to follow. Still he wants you to contribute to them here.
And yes if you click on any of the preceding Amazon links I get a few cents if you buy anything.
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Saturday, December 04, 2010
Friday, December 03, 2010
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Medlock side of the family comments on my dad Dan Matthews, Sr. died Monday
Cousins Wade and Eden have lengthy Atlanta media historiesFrom: Wade Medlock ;medlock107@comcast.net
Subject: Re: Dan Matthews died Monday
Thank you for the notice, Eden. I'm sure all the Medlocks extend their thoughts and prayers to Evanlee, Dan, Sarah and Emily. We'll watch for the obit next Sunday.
Archibald Daniel Johnson Matthews, born February 14, 1930, was the first child of Antoinette Mary Medlock Johnson Matthews, known affectionately as "Auntie" and "Maidee." Antoinette was the 3rd and youngest child of William Parks Medlock and Vilenah Antoinette Mason Medlock.
Dan came to the Medlock reunions several times recently, but was too ill to make it this year. We were glad, however, to see his wife, Evanlee, and cousin Jean Johnson Givens at the 2010 reunion and we wish Evanlee a speedy recovery.
Wade Medlock
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eden & Rob Landow" <atlandows@gmail.com>
To: "Wade Medlock" <medlock107@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 2, 2010 12:03:37 PM
Subject: Dan Matthews died Monday
Hi Wade,Dan died Monday. His obit will be in Sunday's paper. His wife, Evanlee, is in DeKalb Medical Center with collapsed lung. I'm busy with kids and scrounging around trying to make money, so if you could let the kinfolks on our side know, that would be great. Daughter Sarah asked me to pass along when she called yesterday. Dan had 3 kids: Dan who lives in metro Athens, GA, daughter Sarah who lives on a boat and, I believe, Emily, who lives somewhere in the northeast.Hope you are well and that we get together soon.Eden
Tea Party Caucus Takes $1 Billion in Earmarks
Can anyone whistle a tune called "Hypocrisy?"
Tea Party Caucus Takes $1 Billion in Earmarks
Tea Party Caucus Takes $1 Billion in Earmarks
25,000 Georgians stand to lose jobless benefits | AccessNorthGa
Santa Claus is not a Republican, at least not this year. The G.O.P. stands for "Grinch's Old Party."
25,000 Georgians stand to lose jobless benefits | AccessNorthGa
25,000 Georgians stand to lose jobless benefits | AccessNorthGa
Oconee County Tourism Department needs your help with making Watkinsville an arts destination
Please help Watkinsville get selected as a write-in town for this American Style magazine poll/contest.
Oconee County Tourism Department needs your help
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 08:36:33 -0500
From: BBrodrick@jacksonspalding.com
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Oconee County Tourism Department needs your help
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 08:36:33 -0500
From: BBrodrick@jacksonspalding.com
Please take a moment to vote for Watkinsville (instructions below) and encourage others to do so. Takes about two minutes.
Brian
From: Peggy Holcomb [mailto:pholcomb@oconee.ga.us]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 5:06 PM
To: Peggy Holcomb
Subject: FW: Oconee County Tourism Department needs your help
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 5:06 PM
To: Peggy Holcomb
Subject: FW: Oconee County Tourism Department needs your help
Hello Everyone,
The Oconee County Tourism Department needs your help!
We are currently pursuing the opportunity to be recognized as a Top 25 Arts Destination in America. The American Style Magazine is offering the chance to win $500 after placing your vote. There are three categories for cities: Large, Mid-size, and Small. If you would like to help us out, take a few minutes and follow the steps below and vote for Watkinsville, Ga. as your favorite SMALL city for contemporary art!
Check out the link below, which will take you to the American Style Magazine homepage. Here, you'll see the ad for "VOTE for your favorite arts destination and win $500!) on the right hand side. 'Click' the ad and begin to place your vote. Once at the voting screen, scroll down until you see "Please select up to 3 of your favorite SMALL cities for contemporary art:" You'll have to manually click the box for 'other (please specify)' and type Watkinsville, Ga in the space below, along with the 'description' and 'contact information'.
Watkinsville is known as the Artland of Georgia, and I think it's time to let the world know!
**Description Example: Known as the "Art-land of Georgia", Watkinsville offers a variety of artist's workshops and galleries that range from pottery and painting to hand blown glass. Watkinsville offers insightful art tours through galleries, as well as, behind the scenes looks at local artist's studios for visitors. With over 500 artists in the community, it is home to more artists per capita than any other community in Georgia. Just drive through Watkinsville and you will quickly see artist's works highlighted along streetscapes, and in shops and galleries.
Also, please forward this message to anyone/everyone you know who would be interested in supporting us and/or the chance to win $500!
Oconee County Observations: Oconee County Board of Commissioners Gives Nod to ...
Oconee County Observations: Oconee County Board of Commissioners Gives Nod to ...: "93/100 The Oconee County Board of Commissioners gave tentative approval last night to two new sewer projects that include an upgrade to the ..."
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Oconee County Observations: Provost Clip
Wayne Provost showing how out of touch he is with Oconee County, Georgia cyclists
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