Oconee County, GA Politics

By Ruth Bracewell June 1, 2006 Anybody remember the “Contract With America”? This was the brainchild political strategy engineered in 1994 by Newt Gingrich which resulted in the Republican takeover of the U. S. House of Representatives. Over 300 Republican congressmen or congressional candidates, including our congressman, Charlie Norwood, signed this “contract” with the American public, promising what they would do if they were elected. One important section was entitled the Citizen Legislature Act, which stated that all congressmen would serve a maximum of 12 years in Congress and then return home to allow other “citizen” legislators to take their places, thereby ridding Congress of what appeared to be “lifetime appoint-ments” for career politicians. Those 12 years expire this year. According to the contract which all those Republicans literally signed in 1994, we should be seeing a mass retirement of Republican congress-men this year, with hundreds of new names and faces run-ning t...

Herman Cain exemplifies the septic partisan infection that is resulting in the slow decay of all that is civil about our society. Herman Cain is disingenuous. Herman Cain, the former CEO of a deflated pizza company that is now only a shadow of the business it once was, referred to members of the Democratic Party as “Hezbocrats” in his last column. The basis for this childish name-calling is simply because he disagrees with their policies and approaches. In Herman Cain’s mind, those who disagree with his views are relegated to the ranks of terrorists. It’s no wonder that he is a “former” CEO of a corporation, as well as a failed politician and statesman. Herman Cain should step up the podium and acknowledge the real reasoning behind his attack on Democratic Party members. While Herman Cain attempted to chastise some Democrats for their criticism of Wal-Mart and its employment practices, he should have acknowledged his own role in this debate. Herman Cain is a member of a hired a...

Goergia Republican Congressman Charlie Norwood told an audience at the Greene County Farm Bureau meeting last week that "Democrats should be taken out behind the barn and shot." Norwood's statement concerns me on any number of levels, the least of which is his sanity or why he is not immediately incarcerated (or at least indicted). This type of dangerous and reckless statement deserves censure on the floor of the US House of Representatives. Norwood not only does'ot deserve re-election, but he needs to be servesd scorn and ridicule on every measure, Republican and Democrat. Let's see how big a media storm this comment can cause, because surely in this day and age advocating political assasination is still a crime and evidence of a cruel and despicable despot in Congress. The dentist needs to be retired. Let's elect someone we can be proud of in R. Terry Holley.

Congressional candidate R. Terry Holley will be attending the regularly scheduled monthly Oconee County Democratic committee meeting 7 pm Thursday, September 7 in the Board of Commissioners chambers of the Oconee County Courthouse at 23 N. Main Street in Watkinsville, offering positive alternatives for Northeast Georgia from the usual Republican negativity, cronyism, corruption and balderdash. 23-year-old Georgia Democratic Party committee members Tahir Duckett will be attending as well, as will State Senate candidate Jane Kidd and State Representative candidate Becky Vaughn. All are welcome to attend regardless of affiliation or geographic residency. For more information, please contact Dan Matthews at 706-769-1131 or check out http://www.oconeedemocrats.org

Contact: Martin Matheny 706-461-0439 press@macrawson.com Rawson to hold campaign rally and barbecue Barnes to join State Senate Candidate in Winterville Winterville, GA – Mac Rawson, Democratic candidate for State Senate in the 47th District will be hosting an “ol’ Fashioned Rally and Barbecue” at Pittard Park, near the Winterville depot on Thursday, September 14. Rawson will be joined by former Governor Roy Barnes and other local and state political figures. The rally and barbecue begins at 6:00 pm and features food from Zeb’s barbecue in Madison County. The event will be family friendly, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Admission is $10.00, which includes the barbecue. “This is a great opportunity to get out and take my message directly to the voters,” Rawson said. “I think we’re all going to have a great time, and I promise that we’ll keep the speeches short.” For more information, contact the Rawson for State Senate campaign at 706-543-...

Founders James Carville DEMOCRACY CORPS CARVILLE ♦ GREENBERG 10 G STREET, NE ♦ SUITE 400 ♦ WASHINGTON, DC 20002 202-478-8330 (TEL) ♦ 202-289-8648 (FAX) WWW.DEMOCRACYCORPS.COM Date: August 10, 2006 To: Friends of Democracy Corps From: Stan Greenberg James Carville Amy Gershkoff RE: BATTLING FOR WHITE RURAL AMERICA Denying Republicans Their Base A recent Democracy Corps poll1 shows that white rural America—one of the cornerstones of the Republican base—is up for grabs. Disenchanted with Bush, squeezed by rising costs and stagnant incomes, and embittered by the on-going conflict in Iraq, white rural voters are ready to vote for change. Democrats poll even with or ahead of Republicans in key swing districts and states, and the Republican thermometer reading continues to fall. Democrats are in a position to make big strides in the American heartland if they define the election principally in terms of showing their commitment to family and a new direction in Iraq. Thus a candidate who pledge...

Borrowed from another blog: Athens Banner-Herald 7-13-03 …….A public hearing Monday on the environmental impacts of a proposed passenger rail line between Athens and Atlanta might seem like an empty exercise, now that Gov. Sonny Perdue has axed funding for it…. The contents of the Perdue ads are no better than the messenger. Trying to tap into the National frustration with Immigration by saying “Sonny did…” something about it was just too much overreaching and I tuned it out after the first one. The “bragging” about improvements to education just antagonizes teachers and others who know the real facts. Moving from 50th on SAT scores to 46th is noteworthy but hardly anything giving any special credit to Sonny Perdue. Perdue has come to Oconee County several times and that is good. However, his spokesman was Jim Ivey of the Veterans Funds notoriety. This year, I tried to find a contact for the Perdue Campaign and was directed to Perdue Campaign Oconee County Chairman Tom Littl...

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Following is the text of an e mail follow up by Lee Becker, Friends of Barber Creek with additional information about the Rocky Branch/Barber Creek waste water treatment plant. If you have not done so already Please follow up with a letter to the Georgia EPD requesting a public hearing. Charles Baugh President Dear Friends, We still need letters sent to the state Environment Protection Division if we are going to get a public hearing on the County's request to begin dumping treated wastewater from the Rocky Branch Waste Treatment Plant into Barber Creek. Here's another reason to want that hearing: The Rocky Branch Waste Treatment Plant will treat INDUSTRIAL waste as well as residential waste. In July the pharmaceutical company Novartis announced that it was bypassing Georgia and building its influenza vaccine plant in North Carolina instead. The Georgia location that Novartis was considering was at G...

So Tom Chasteen wants to kick everyone out of the bars at precisely 2 am. I guess old Tom has not seen the situation at that hour every night. People need time to sober up or arrange rides if they are too drunk to drive. Forcing them out the door, or suggesting that they do, might force Tom Chasteen out of a runoff election between incumbent Heidi Davison and quasi-Republican non-stealth candidate Charlie Maddox. I wish Andy Rusk would make this race more interesting with a concrete platform of reform and change. Does anyone know if there were any non-incumbent filings of candidacies in the Watkinsville city council race?

The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack. Donald H. Rumsfeld is not a prophet. Mr. Rumsfeld’s remarkable speech to the American Legion yesterday demands the deep analysis—and the sober contemplation—of every American. For it did not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence -- indeed, the loyalty -- of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land. Worse, still, it credits those same transient occupants -- our employees -- with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration’s track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve. Dissent and disagreement with government is the life’s blood of human freedom; and not merely because it is the first roadblock against the kind of tyranny the men Mr. Rumsfeld likes to think of as “his” troops still fight, this very evening, in Iraq. It is also essential. Because ju...

Perdue invests close to home Governor appears to ignore his rationale in Florida deal By JAMES SALZER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/02/06 Gov. Sonny Perdue bought about 100 acres next to his Houston County home in 2004 even though he has since expressed reluctance about buying land in Georgia while in office because critics would assail him over potential conflicts of interest. Perdue said last month that he bought $2 million of Florida land near Disney World in late 2004 after concluding that it wouldn't be a good idea for him to buy land in Georgia because critics would question any political decisions that could be seen as enhancing the value of any land he owned. Gov. Sonny Perdue paid $2 million for about 20 acres of wooded and swampy land south of Orlando. The land is just outside Reunion Resort & Club, which is still being developed. "If I bought land within 100 miles of a new road construction, I'd be accused by the other side of influenc...

C'mon folks, we have some books to send to the kids in New Orleans. Democrats.org has a post called " CDF Katrina Project Needs Books " that's worth checking out... The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Katrina Project partners with community based organizations, service agencies and universities in the Cleveland, Columbia and Jackson, MS areas to provide after-school programming each day public schools are in session for children in families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

I can not think of a better way to commemorate the anniversary of Katrina by battling against Republican corruption, cronyism and incompetence. State Representative Bob Smith is already playing the gay card in trying scare up redneck homophobic frenzy and furor against Becky Vaughn. Instead, go check out her new website http://www.beckyvaughn.org or go to this meeting or perhaps the Doug McKillip fundraiser at the Taylor-Grady House 5 to 7 Tuesday evening featuring former Governor Roy Barnes. Your Organizer, Jacob Cole, sent the following message to the members of The Athens Democratic Party Meetup Group: I'd just like to remind everyone that the first meeting of the Athens Democratic Party Meetup Group is tomorrow, 7:30 PM at Borders Books & Music on Alps Rd. If you can make it, we'd love to see you there. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To visit The Athens Democratic Party Meetup Group, go here: http://democrat.meetup.com/1015/ Just a qui...

Dear Friends, We are out of the gate and working hard to offer a real choice in District 113 and make a change to representation that matches the values of this great community! To those of you who have already offered support--both financial and emotional, I am honored to have your confidence. For those of you I haven't heard from or spoken with, it's never too late.... Mark your calendar and come by to help us celebrate a Vaughn Voice for District 113. Sunday, August 27 from 6:00-8:00 pm 1030 Meriweather Drive--Jennings Mill, turn in off Jimmy Daniel Rd. between Atlanta Highway (Sam's) and Hwy 316. We are the second house on the right. Think of it as a "Campaign Fair". Socialize and network with others who want to see a positive change in our representation. Look over the opportunities to be involved and find the perfect fit for you and your time. Sign up to * be listed on the Committee to Elect Becky Vaughn * host or find hosts for a neighborhood p...

The recent passing of a pouring license in Watkinsville will not have as adverse effect on the county seat of Oconee as some may lead you to believe. I think it will help the business of Gautreau's, Maison Bleu and Girasoles, but I wonder about next year's concert series at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast. They will not fall into a lot of the criteria needed to serve beer and wine, at least not as it is presently written. Maybe Jim, Dave and Mario do not want to have that in effect there. We shall see

This one is not co-sponsored by the Oconee County Democratic Committee, but City Council member Brian Brodrick asked me to post this, so I did: Dan: There is a Harris Shoals park clean up Saturday morning from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Can you send out to your lists? Brian

I was not at the party where Oconee County's former information technology person allegedly assaulted another person , but I do know this. She had the crap beat out her by this person and he is guilty of stupidity if nothing else (for returning to the party without his wife shows a certain degree of premeditation). The victim in this case does not even prefer the male gender as her primary preference. This does not automatically mean he is guilty, but at least he is no longer employed by Oconee County.

Hey! The campaign continues to move forward at a great pace, but we still have a lot of work to do! We need your help! We have great opportunities coming up, so please look at the message below and then call or email us back so we can sign you up... Saturday Morning Canvass Door-to-Door Meet at Publix - Butler Crossing Parking Lot near the Cingular Wireless store 2061 Experiment Station Road Watkinsville, GA 30677 9:30am-12:00pm We have had a lot of success going door-to-door delivering our message to the voters and we are making a big impact. However, the more volunteers we get out into the community the faster our message spreads and the bigger the impact. Also, we need help in the office Monday through Friday with our phone banks. We have six phone lines set and ready to be used every day and tomorrow (Friday) as well as all next week we will be calling and Identifying voters in all three counties, and especially IDing voters who pulled democratic ballots in the primary. Cal...

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Following is a message from Lee Becker, Friends of Barber Creek with information on the County's application to dump treated waste water into Barber Creek. It will be important that a public hearing be held on the application to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to learn more about this and to ensure that the county government hears citizen concerns. Citizens will be in a better position to hold the Board responsible when the time comes. Charles Baugh President Dear Friends, The Oconee County request to be allowed to dump 1.0 Million Gallons Per Day of treated wastewater from an expanded Rocky Branch Waste Treatment Plant into Barber Creek is now up for review before the state Environment Protection Division. Please write to the EPD and ask for a hearing. Reference Permit No. GA0038806. Here is the address: Linda MacGregor, Branch Chief Water Protection Branch Georgia Department of Natura...