-- The Talking Stick --

06/29/08 - June 29 - Updats- Events
Georgia Primary July 15 See Secty. of StateList of who qualified Here Check the Polls Here Democr...

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For news updates see link to Latest News upper portion of right column.

Campaigns Tooling Up

I just posted in Late News -- upper left -- notices of gatherings of interest to North Georgia political types.

Bill Shipp seems to have written off the Georgia Democrats.
Read yesterday's column Here Post an opinion by selecting "comments" below.

Posted by Lorraine Watkins at 05:23 PM on 06/26/08
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News June 15

Love and support to Francine and Ed who inspire us as they courageously prevail through the challenges of illness.

http://talkingstick.gamountains.net/news.html

When I first registered to vote in Georgia I was directed to read a section of the Georgia Constitution and explain its meaning.. As I began to read to myself, the registrar reminded me I must speak the words aloud to prove my literacy. Extending back years, these maneuvers and other impediments were at that time resulting in the disenfranchisement of some70% of the adult population of Georgia.

As early as 1945 Georgia began to let go of the times when the Talmadges purported to speak for the people of Georgia. Link Here Curious about Eugene Talmadge? Link Here

Then came the movements embodied in King, the Kennedy s and Johnson.   By the sixties there was change and there was hope.

Then the killings began.

"June 8, 1968, is a day I will never forget. On that day I made a spur-of-the moment decision to go to a gravesite service 600 miles from home....." begins Alma Bowen in her   beautifully written column: RFK would smile at Obama-Clinton race,   in the Gainesville Times   She recalls so many feelings familiar to that time and before and echoes today. Pause for inspiration. Here

This splendid young man the Democrats have chosen is so aware and so optimistic and does bring hope to this old curmudgeon.

And none too soon!

However Knowing Georgia as I think I do, I suspect for many Georgia voters it will take some time to let go of 40 years of conservative domination. But I trust we are ready and can embrace a more humane and progressive philosophy of governing.--- one which makes room for safety nets for victims of free trade speculation, just plain bad luck and as well our too prevalent but human bad judgment.

An excellent and factual article which is in my view of interest to those who like to read history, or just figure out "how we got here;"   The Fall of Conservatism Have the Republicans run out of ideas?      by George Packer May 26, 2008

So good to see some of our area Democratic Parties taking the first steps toward the elections. There have been and hopefully will be some good forums and opportunities to see first hand the Democratic candidates who hope to oppose Saxby Chambliss. (Republicans call him their "firewall.") Don't forget the primary is July 15.

Lorraine's Rant:
The media pundits obsess the Democrats' winning is dependent on their ability to attract the votes of so called working class white male voters. Chris Matthews talks about "the regular people". who must be attracted. Frankly in my view right wing divisiveness pandering to the fears and prejudices of media defined identity groups, got us into this mess.

We all dread the right wing machine of personal destruction. Limbaugh continues to repeat the Conservative intent must be to, not just defeat, but to destroy.

Hope and prosperity for the human community lies in embracing and conversion through respect and reason, not   pandering, .nor inflaming resentments

A beginning is to challenge the think of Matthews and his ilk. I say we are all "regular people," Women, Protestants, black and brown people-- even educated intellectuals.

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Posted by Lorraine Watkins at 11:34 AM on 06/15/08
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Memorial Day

Memorial Day Blog (http://talkingsticklog.com) this year finds me sorting through my varried and conflicting feelings surrounding our passed and present "warriors." I love and mourn the dreamers and their dreams cut short in the violence of war. But, try as I have, I cannot avoid a knowledge of over 70 years that it is sensless to seek conflict resolution in violence, whether as a nation state or an individual. While noble motivations must be honored, in my view there is no nobility in blood sacrifice.

I am reminded of Julia Ward Howe's Appeal to Womanhood http://talkingstick.gamountains.net/hippocrates.html##howe .

(In this political season I must comment that feminists of the 19th century such as Howe and Stanton inform my concept of feminism; decidedly no woman who would place a "nuclear umbrella over the Middle East" and threaten unruly nations with obliteration.)

Then I think of Buffy Sainte Marie's Universal Soldier http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Donovan/Universal-Soldier.html
"But without him,
How would Hitler have condemned him at Labau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone,
He's the one who gives his body
As a weapon of the war,
And without him all this killing can't go on."

I am unable to cite the source but in my reading of the past few days I came upon a reminder that the Japan has now lived in peace for over 60 years. This was achieved simply by writing a prohibition to conducting war into their Constitution, at the behest of the United States. Why can't we just pass a law?

During the Viet Nam War it was a revelation for me when the signs "Hell No. We Won't Go!" began to appear . Why can't our young folks today just say "No?"

The militarists learned well. There is no draft in today's United States. Instead poverty and cost of education, particularly in my area of the world, exert pressure on the ambitious to "volunteer." Indeed. George Bush and John McCain just voted "nay" for the Senate bill funding more generous veterans' benefits for education. Opposing Republicans have been open in expressing their fiears it would discourage re-enlistments.

Then I recall high school student Jacqueline J. Mashburn's Winning Essay for The Dawson County Democratic Party Scholarship and know that the day is coming when the young folks say "No" the law gets written. Read the essay here.

Posted by Lorraine Watkins at 09:02 PM on 05/23/08
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What's a Democrat?

Well! I had just worked through personal issues of anger sufficient to begin from a positive perspective and to note some particularly affirming and inspiring events around the area.

Then comes the scurrilous comments made by President Bush, and to the Israeli Knesset for goodness sake! Look Here

So first, to get the complete history; It was the Republican Senator Borah who felt so personally attached to Hitler he regretted not having been able to speak with him before the decision to invade Poland. This was after Munich and the Anschluss. Many Republicans of the day, including Andrew Mellon, Hoover's Secretary of the Treasury, were openly acknowledged admirers of fascism and the fascist dictators.

These are also the folks who not only created the Great Depression but continued to believe that more of the same middle class kneecapping policies were called for. The "Economic Conservatives" of today, Republican and Democrat alike hold to the same theories and policies.. In fact, such spokesmen as Robert Novak, Grover Norquist and Stephen Moore claim had the Republicans continued in power the Great Depression would have cleansed the nation and the world would be better off now.
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Now that candidates defining themselves as Democrats have qualified to run for office and are beginning their campaigns. the time is good to determine their philosophies of government, economics and war. Here in the south this is in my view especially critical for two reasons.

The first reason is that it is urgent that the Conservative and Republican created income inequality and inflation that is kneecapping the poor and the middle class be reversed,.

The second reason is the significant numbers of southern Conservatives calling themselves Democrats already in Congress who are seriously hindering Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic majority in fulfilling their promise.

I admit to harboring the suspicion that now that the GOP "brand" is so tarnished, more hopeful southern politicians (noted for the proclivity for political cross-dressing) intend to simply pin a donkey on their lapel and preserve the compassionless greed that has come to typify the Conservative mindset..

I am in particular concerned that so many Georgia Democrats so far are silent not only as to defining core values but are also failing to make clear distinctions from the Republicans.as to positions on the vital issues we are facing as a nation as well as locally.

Certainly potential voters deserve to be informed as to solutions proposed for the escalating inflation, regulation and taxation of a freewheeling business community, the hemorrhage of human and material treasure into the wars, the neglect of infrastructure, both material and human services .... and so much more.

Of advanced age, I find myself still hopelessly attached to my idealism and optimism rooted in belief in the good sense of the people. And on whole i find reason for optimism.

But the stakes are so high I hope those who have read this far will forgive this old depression baby Liberal for fearing that voting Democratic is not sufficient and counseling all to demand facts before casting the precious vote.

For more information, links and events http://talkingstick.gamountains.net/news.html

Posted by Lorraine Watkins at 04:41 PM on 05/15/08
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Is Joe Scarborough correct?

I have to confess. I am becoming habituated to MSNBC's Morning Joe. This began as a result of frequent flights from C-SPAN's increasingly inane morning call in questions and also deck stacking with "expert" guests culled from right wing think tanks. The state of U.S. education according to The American Enterprise Institute? Give us a break!

Joe contends that the Conservatives have won the culture wars, Whoa! I don't think so. Their Politics of Mean may have won the battles for political power. However that is a far cry from transforming human nature. There is no denying the failure Right Wing "culturally" driven policies; from Abstinence Only to YOYO Economics to Diplomacy by Shunning.

Distracting the seriously religious and humane with a bone of "cultural dominance" is the distraction that Candidate Obama was addressing in the now famous "bitter" commentary. The need for Joe in a knee jerk ape Eugene Talmadge makes a statement as to how close to the truth it came.

My chosen candidate flounders to find language that will empower those intuitively drawn to his promise of an end to government by fear and pessimism. Whether he finds the words or not, the optimism of the young will have its day.

The tyrant's greatest enemy, the people connecting and organizing, is happening. To my reading the most striking demographic in the Presidential races is age. 45 and under is the most connected group ever. The "Deaniacs" were the harbingers and now the group is huge and growing.

I think what we need is to nurture the organizing The Movement. It seems terribly important to challenge the pessimistic Conservative world view that nothing can change. "The poor we will have with us always." "there will always be wars" "We have to bribe business so they will give us jobs' etc. etc.

I personally have transited back to a more non-partisan non-affiliated position. As I said to someone the other day, I am more of a movement person. I now believe the party of nomination by political operatives and as well as the other party require pressure from the uncommitted to do the morally and socially conscious right things.

Never ashamed to take someone else's words --
"Finally, this reminds us of the need for progressives to focus on building a social movement, rather than exclusively on winning elections. Democrats are effectively saying that no matter how many elections are won, they will not move forward on the most pressing domestic issue. That's because there isn't yet a powerful social movement putting constant pressure on both parties - and instilling fear in both parties. The infrastructure that has been built in recent years is largely partisan rather than movement-oriented - that is, aimed at buttressing the Democratic Party, regardless of what it does. If we are to get health care reform, it will require a movement - not a party." David Sirota on Huffington Post - Full article here.

I include in these mailing information about local programs because they are inspiring and also because we can get ideas from each other.   Included today is information regarding no better example than Glynn Peace's programs and activities, faithfully pursued for many years. Another of many, The Grannies in Atlanta last month. See Don't Piss Off Granny. They also made a powerful statement about the immorality of war. It did not go unnoticed. What mother or grandmother would intentionally offer up her child/grandchild for death in her interest? (I sadly may have missed my last chance to get arrested when I was unable to join then.)

In my county I would love to challenge the local government to enact a local minimum wage..... No better way to solve the "immigration problem." .... or enact light pollution laws .. saves energy and restores stars along Georgia 400. How about a truly fair taxes? ...... increase property taxes on half million and more dollar homes and decrease the sales taxes.- wlw

Check out coming events in News (upper right )

Follow up on Grandmother's for Peace. Charges were dismissed but even so they got some good media coverage in the lead up. And they aren't done yet. More info at www.talkingsticklog.com and www.georgiapeace.org

Joan King's most recent column. Here. As always, food for thought.

Bill Shipp has some interesting commentary for Democrats in his Friday Column. Here

Web addresses of all the Georgia Candidates for the U.S. Senate can be found at www.dawsondemocrats.org

Check "Web Links" www.talkingsticklog.com    for Web addresses of interest to Progressives

Copies of this news and more may be found at http://talkingstick.gamountains.net/news.html and

Posted by Lorraine Watkins at 12:54 PM on 04/27/08
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