January 16, 2022 / Newsletter 258 |
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RUN FOR OFFICE!
You can help Dems up & down ballot by being a candidate.
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SAVE THE DATE
Next meeting of the Hall County Dems:
When: Monday, February 14, 2022
Watch Blue Notes & News for more details in the coming weeks.
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Update on MLK Day
Due to COVID, the Martin Luther King Day parade has been cancelled for this year. That means we won't be serving hot chocolate during the event. If you volunteered, thank you! We will have other opportunities as in-person events become less risky. See below for virtual events planned for the holiday commemoration.
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Newtown Florist Club Sharing Community News
2022 King Holiday Observance Activity Schedule
About King Day
On Monday, January 17th, 2022, 10am-the King Day Observance Program will be VIRTUAL (NFC Facebook page) including the Drum Major for Justice Awards, Youth Program and King Day March.
The Keynote Speaker this year is Oscar Fortson, Jr., a young, talented home-grown civil engineer who has an incredible story to share about living and growing up in Gainesville and the impact this village had on his life.
Our aim is to focus attention on emerging and next generation young leaders who are already making a difference in community life.
Rev. Rose Johnson
Executive Director
Newtown Florist Club Inc
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Upcoming key election dates:
First day to qualify to run for office: 9 AM March 7
Last day to qualify to run for office: NOON March 11
First day to request absentee ballot for May primary: March 11 (mailing out begins April 5)
Last day to register to vote in May primary: April 25
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Here are some actions to take:
- Run for office. Check out all the local seats up for election this year in our Chairman's message and decide to RUN!
- If you know someone who would be a good candidate, contact us! We're ready to provide training and resources to help Democratic candidates for office.
- Sign up to be a poll worker. (Link below i Blue To Do).
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Sign up to be a poll watcher. email: hallcountydemocrat@gmail.com
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Register to vote and be sure your registration is current and active (check on My Voter Page)
- Vote in every election
- For contested primary races, learn about the candidates to make your decision before you vote
- In the general election, vote for every Democrat ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT
- Support Democrats through donations, campaign work, and get out the vote activities
- Donate to the Hall County Democratic Party
- Attend a local city council, county commission, elections board or school board meeting.
- Pick at least one thing from our Blue To Do lists and DO IT
Get involved!
We need every single one of you to help us elect Democrats in 2022.
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Apply to be a poll watcher |
Hall - WorkElections
Apply online by clicking on the "Apply Now!" button above. Hall County also has a downloadable PDF application, available here. Poll workers should plan to vote before Election Day unless they are assigned to their own polling place. Citizens who ...
Read more
workelections.com
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Make Calls for GA Dems · Democratic Party of Georgia
2022 is a big year in Georgia and we need all the help we can to make sure Democrats have what they need in advance to turn out to the polls! Now is better than ever to get a head start on turning out as many voters as possible!
Read more
www.mobilize.us
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Join the HCDP Letters to the Editor Project |
Hall County Democrats are Fired Up and we hope you will join us. Here's something we discussed at our January meeting that you can easily help with.
If you read the local paper, you'll see a lot of right-wing views, and letters to the editor that imply that white fundamentalist Christians are the only true Americans.
We are working to flood the Gainesville Times with editorials supporting Democratic causes like voting rights, education based in fact, & climate change, and Democratic values like tolerance, truth, justice, equaiity, & inclusivity. Don't worry, you don't have to write them. We have several people that can write an editorial or two a day, but they can only get one printed in the Gainesville Times once a month.
We are looking for 12 to 20 people who are willing to send in a pre-written editorial once a month. Do you want to write some yourself? Great! Join our writing staff.
Please let us know if you are willing to send in an editorial once a month. Let's see twelve to twenty editorials in the paper each month with a Democratic slant to them.
If we want to turn Georgia Blue, we need to start now.
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Weekly Thoughts from the Chair:
Let's Get Real
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Let’s deal with reality. The only way to preserve our democracy is to elect more Democrats. Deny that at the peril of our democracy. Our pent up fury is only useful if it drives us to take action! Voting rights is dead in the Senate. No rescue is coming from Washington. To make any change, Democrats have to win elections. Hall County elections are important to that end. Democrats must run for every office!
Republicans hold every elected seat in Hall County. This year, County Commission seats are up in District 1 and 3. This year, Board of Elections seats are up at Post 2 and at large. This year, Representative seats are up in the 27th, 29th, 30th, and 103rd This year, Senate seats are up or open in the 49th and the 50th. Democrats must run in each. Qualifying fees are very small. If you won’t run, who will?
County Commissioners would control the Election Board. School Board members have to deal with CRT nonsense, book bans and other threats. The State Senate and State House gave us SB 202 and the Heartbeat bill. It’s about POWER. Republicans have the power and we can only take it away by beating them at the polls. Period.
Change is simple: GET DEMOCRATS ELECTED. It will be a cold day in Hell when Democrats get elected in Hall County? Lets make Hell freeze over! Hall is 1 of 159 Counties. Make Republicans spend resources and money defending Hall County seats – they will have less to spend in others. Where are all those major Democratic donors? We need a lot of money. If you know donors – make contact and get donations!
We can turn the local issues against the Republicans. They are ill prepared to defend their records. They will run on being “Trumpian.” Make them regret that choice.
Let’s be the hammers, not the nails! Decide to run. We can help. Or become a dedicated volunteer, calling and knocking on doors to get our Democrats elected. Figure out how to get those seniors with no ID cards registered to vote. Figure out how to get those high school seniors registered to vote if they will turn 18 by election day. Figure out how to get those without cars to the polls or ensure that they have those absentee ballots and know how to return them. After 41 years, the Dawgs won – so can we!
Mike
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Georgia & the Fight to Protect Voting Rights
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It seems crazy to be able say this, but we in Georgia are fortunate that we have 2 US Senators who are fighting for voting rights. For too long, the GOP in Georgia made sure that our state was represented by those in the pockets of big money. But on January 5, 2021, Georgians elected 2 Democrats to the Senate.
This wasn't easy. It took a lot of time, effort and money. Because we had a runoff in January after shocking the nation by voting for Biden in November, the national spotlight was focused on the Georgia Senate races. People from across the country came to help canvass to get out the vote, made thousands of phone calls, donated tens of thousands of dollars. The press highlighted the empty podium when Jon Ossoff showed up to debate the missing David Perdue. They were there when Kelly Loeffler rallied with Trump and Marjorie Greene. Trump himself undermined GOP turnout by focussing on his losing campaign and may have deterred his most extreme followers from voting at all.
We won't have that perfect storm again in 2022. With every seat in the US House and 1/3 of the Senate seats up for election--not to mention a number of gubernatorial races--money, volunteers, and media coverage will be spread thin across the country. We in Georgia will have to do the work if we want to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. If we want to put Stacey Abrams in the governor's mansion, it's up to us. If we want Raphael Warnock to retain his seat in the Senate, it's up to us.
If we want to stop the GOP at both the national and state level from obstructing voting rights, it's up to us to field candidates, to get Democrats to the polls, and to elect Democrats to represent us at the federal, state and local level. We need a governor who will veto further efforts to undermine fair elections. We need a secretary of state who will stand up to intimidation when Republicans who lost claim victory. We need an attorney general who will uphold the law and not be afraid to bring the powerful to account.
But we also need a county commission that includes members who refuse to politicize Hall County elections. We need school board members who will stand up to efforts to whitewash the curriculum by eliminating the facts taught in history classes, who will call out efforts to remove books by Black, Muslim, immigrant or LBGTQ authors from the schools. That means we need candidates to run for these offices.
So yes, we have Senators who are fighting for voting rights, and we can be proud that we were a part of making that happen. But having ensured that Democrats have a technical majority in the Senate was a good start but it certainly wasn't enough to protect our democracy. We need to do everything possible to be sure that we elect Democrats to protect our elections in Hall County, in Georgia, That means we need your help this year, as much as we did in 2020.
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Watch: Rachel Maddow reveals Trump's lawyers have...
Former President Donald Trump's lawyers have reportedly met with Georgia prosecutors seeking to file official charges against him for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. On Monday, January...
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www.alternet.org
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'These are no ordinary times': Warnock calls for action...
Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock talks with Rachel Maddow about the need for Democrats to take it upon themselves to prevent the continued dismantling of democracy in the United States before there is too much damage to repair.
Read more
www.msnbc.com
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'I'm tired of being quiet.' Biden rips Georgia GOP, says ...
President Joe Biden on Tuesday endorsed changing rules in the Senate to advance voting protections, saying the time was now to stand up for democracy. " I ask every elected official in America," Biden said. "Do you want to be on the side of Dr....
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www.gpb.org
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Battleground: Ballot Box | 22 political storylines to...
This year, Georgia has an outsize role in deciding the next steps of several big developments in American politics. We've got a U.S.
Read more
www.gpb.org
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Opinion | Steve Bannon Is On to Something
In his 2020 book "Politics Is for Power," Eitan Hersh, a political scientist at Tufts, sketched a day in the life of many political obsessives in sharp, if cruel, terms. I refresh my Twitter feed to keep up on the latest political crisis, then...
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www.nytimes.com
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Swing State Trumpers Forged Letters to National Archives ...
Pro-Trump groups in Arizona and Michigan attempted to fool the National Archives by sending forged certificates of ascertainment declaring Trump the recipient of the state's 2020 electors. The Jan. 6 committee now has those fake certificates,...
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www.rollingstone.com
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Opinon: We need federal voting rights legislation
To all U.S. senators of the United States of America, as I help with the planning of the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, my heart is heavy. I am old enough that I remember the marches and riots of the '60s.
Read more
www.gainesvilletimes.com
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King family rally in Arizona for voting bills for MLK Day
President Joe Biden had implored Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, to end the filibuster that requires support from 60 of 100 senators to pass most legislation. But Sinema poured cold water on the voting rights...
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www.ajc.com
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Are you a woman thinking about running for office?
Georgia WIN List is here to help
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We’re looking for candidates to run for office in 2022. Women who run for office can get training and support from the Georgia WIN list.
The First Women’s Training Event for 2022!
Georgia WIN List is delighted to join forces with our sister organizations for the state’s first 2022 training event specifically designed for potential Democratic women candidates and senior-level campaign staffers.
At the beginning of any year, many of us make resolutions of various kinds and some of those resolution lists have already been tossed to the dumpster of good intentions. However, if one of your resolutions has to do with running for office or helping other women who are, this training will set you on a productive path and introduce you to the organizations who want to see you WIN.
We hope you will consider signing up for this free, virtual training opportunity by clicking below to learn more and register.
Perhaps you long ago determined you are not a prospective candidate or campaign staffer.
If not you, then who?
Think about your friends and the wide network of women you have worked with on various volunteer projects. Who might make a great candidate for an open legislative seat, a county office, or a local school board seat? Consider forwarding this e-mail to your friend with a personal note from you which specifically mentions attributes and the leadership potential you see. Encourage them to attend this training and consider running for office.
It truly takes the proverbial “VILLAGE” to recruit the best possible progressive women candidates for office – especially in ruby red Republican counties or places where women have not traditionally been elected. The 2022 election year offers the opportunity for Georgia Democrats to regain control not just of statewide constitutional offices, but also legislative seats and county courthouses.
The Rising BLUE Tide Lifts all Boats!
If you are not planning to run, be a part of the WINning team with your contribution to our efforts. Please consider a generous gift today or set up a recurring monthly donation to demonstrate your commitment to our work to recruit, train, support, elect and re-elect the women who will finish the job of turning Georgia BLUE in 2022!
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State & Local News (Some links may require a subscription)
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PLEASE NOTE: Any articles we post about Georgia Democrats on the primary ballot in 2022 are intended to keep you informed. They are not an endorsement of any candidate. |
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Democrat Bailey jumps from AG race to LG contest in Georgia
The Democratic contenders include state Rep. Erick Allen of Smyrna; state Rep. Derrick Jackson of Tyrone; Bryan Miller, grandson of former Gov. Zell Miller; and state Rep. Renitta Shannon of Decatur. Bailey enters the contest with powerful...
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www.ajc.com
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Kemp targets critical race theory, transgender sports...
The next few months could see critical race theory banned and transgender student athletes sidelined if Gov. Brian Kemp gets his way.
Read more
www.gpb.org
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Marjorie Taylor Greene Finds a Way to Profit Off Gov't Debt
Last September, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) called for a shutdown to stop government spending. Four days later, she lent the government money. Financial disclosures show that on Sept. 21, the anti-government conspiracy theorist bought...
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www.thedailybeast.com
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Divided Republicans, campaigns to factor in 2022...
Gainesville Sen. Butch Miller is running against Sen. Burt Jones, R-Milner, who has received the former president's stamp of approval. Miller and Rep. Timothy Barr, R-Lawrenceville, are the only local legislators facing primary challenges. Barr...
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www.gainesvilletimes.com
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National News (Some links may require a subscription)
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A Democrat won a US House seat this week with 79 percent ...
The Democratic winner, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, is interesting. She is a progressive who spent her own money to win and backs the concept of universal basic income. She also becomes the first Haitian-American woman in Congress to represent...
Read more
www.bostonglobe.com
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Guns, ammo ... even a boat: how Oath Keepers plotted an...
The seditious conspiracy charges against the leader of the Oath Keepers militia and 10 others related to the January 6 Capitol attack have revealed an armed plot against American democracy that involved tactical planning and a formidable arsenal...
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www.theguardian.com
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COVID Is an Emergency. To SCOTUS's Conservatives, It's...
A majority of the justices on the Supreme Court may not see COVID-19 as an emergency. But they do see it as an opportunity. This unprecedented pandemic, the deadliest in American history, has forced the executive branch to act swiftly and...
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slate.com
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The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, Explained
OPINION: Voting rights are under the greatest threat in six decades, and the fundamental rights of Black voters are at stake. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment (Photo: Getty Image) President Joe Biden is promoting bold voting rights legislation ...
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thegrio.com
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