October 17, 2021 / Newsletter 246 |
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HELP US FIGHT JIM CROW 2.0!
Your donations help us in the fight for all eligible voters to be able to cast their votes & have them counted.
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SAVE THE DATE
Hall County Democrats November Meeting
When: Monday, Nov 8, 6:00-8:00 pm (meeting gaveled to order at 6:30)
Where: Gainesville Civic Center
FEATURED SPEAKER:
John H. Eaves, PhD
Dem Candidate for GA Secretary of State
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Rabun County Democrats Blue BBQ
When: Sat, Oct 30, 4:00-8:00 pm
Where: The Gatehouse at Parker Ranch, Clayton
Click the image for details.
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VOTE EARLY
EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY
Early voting for the Nov 2 elections is taking place October 12 - October 29 including two Saturdays, October 16 and October 23. Early voting hours are 9 am to 5 pm.
Scroll down to the section headed November 2 Municipal Elections.
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Don't let GOP Right-Wingers Intimidate Local Government Officials. Go to a meeting!
Click on the links below to see the public meeting schedules:
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HELP GET OUT THE VOTE!
Laura Colannino is organizing canvassing in Gainesville to get out voters for the mayoral race.
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Sign up to canvass for Devin Pandy's mayoral campaign: |
DONATE BLANKETS TO HELP AFGHAN REFUGEES
As many as 1,500 hundred Afghan refugee families (out of a total of 69,000) are being resettled in Atlanta, a few at a time. They are arriving with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Twenty-four more families arrived in Atlanta on Friday.
Dems in the 9th District are working with The Afghan-American Alliance of Georgia, Inc., a new organization formed by American-Afghan sisters, Homaira and Hogai Nassery, to provide necessities for those who need them.
Right now, families need twin-sized and full-sized blankets.If you have blankets to donate, please email Melba Gandy <melbag853@gmail.com>
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Weekly Thoughts from the Chair:
Some Are More Equal
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In 1776, we declared that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We went further and explained that to “secure these rights” Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
It has taken quite a while for us to accept that “all men” means everybody. Who should have the final say has been a historical problem. Until 1870, most voters were white men. Fifty years later, we included women in that “created equal” part. The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution seemed to solve the problem as it declared that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
Of course, those who were “more equal” than others have been fighting this concept ever since. White men fought it and in the 1960s, fewer than 5% of eligible Black voters were registered in Mississippi. Violence was employed to stop registration and voting by those of color. The 1965 Voting Rights Act started to correct to imbalance of “all men” to actually include all people.
Since 1986, Reagan’s Republicans have been systematically eroding these rights. White men were in danger of losing control of government. So the Republicans invented a problem – the solution to which would disenfranchise as many persons of color as possible. They called the problem "ballot integrity." Voter fraud – as demonstrated by the recent real and imaginary “audits” – is an illusion and a fraud – it simply does not exist in any meaningful way.
There are three bills pending in Congress that might make a difference: The For the People Act, The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and Freedom to Vote Act. Do not expect any of these to become law. White Republican men oppose these laws and white Republican men will do whatever it takes to stop them. These white Republicans want to erase the power of everyone not “like us.” Butch Miller, would-be Lieutenant Governor, admitted it. If we do not destroy the power of these evil white men, our democracy will vanish.
There is only one way: Vote them out of office – while we can.
Mike
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Ready to Save Democracy? Get Fired Up for 2022 |
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Campaign signs for 2022 are already popping up around town. Make no mistake, the cult of Trump is going all out to elect candidates who have crafted themselves in the image of their leader. From Butch Miller to Jody Hice to Vernon Jones, they're determined to expand their power in Georgia and, by doing so, to be in a position to make sure that Georgia's electoral votes in 2024 go to Trump. For the cult, being a conservative, anti-tax, anti-regulation, pro-business, anti-abortion Republican isn't enough to earn their support. They will only support candidates who are faithful to the Big Lie and promise to do all they can to manipulate elections for their guy.
Democrats have many outstanding declared candidates for statewide offices. This past Monday, those who came to the HCDP meeting had the opportunity to hear from the campaign manager for Jen Jordan ("Senator Jen"), who is running for GA Attorney General. Next month we'll be hearing from Dr. John Eaves, candidate for GA Secretary of State. We'll be brining as many Democratic candidates, or their surrogates, to Hall County so that you can hear directly about their qualifications and the issues they are fighting for.
There is so much at stake in 2022. Democrats have to revive the energy, the enthusiasm, and the dedication to commit to an effort comparable to that we put forth in 2020. One way to do that is to engage with local Democrats at party meetings and to volunteer with like-minded people who believe that ALL the citizens of the US should be able to vote without obstacles.
Whatever your passion--climate and the environment, women's rights, the right to healthcare, making sure the rich pay their share of taxes, re-envisioning how the police interact with everyone in their community, affordable housing, LBGTQ rights--we can make no progress on any of these or other worthwhile causes if we don't elect Democrats in 2022.
So make a pledge to get involved. Join us at our next meeting. Get fired up and ready to go for 2022.
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'Battleground: Ballot Box' podcast returns to track...
From voting rights and elections to the future of the GOP, Georgia is still playing a prominent role in national politics almost a year after the 2020 election. Former President Donald Trump continues to fixate on his narrow defeat in Georgia,...
Read more
www.gpb.org
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The 2022 Races That Could Determine if Trump Steals the...
Arizona's partisan election review concluded last month by finding more votes for Joe Biden in its flawed hand count of Maricopa County and without alleging any specific fraud. Despite these findings, the partisan review offered false and...
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slate.com
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How the GOP Will Try To Subvert Our Elections
I have no doubt that we are only one, maybe two, elections from a constitutional crisis. My fear is that those in the pro-democracy movement are not as prepared or as focused as those who seek to subvert our elections.
Read more
www.democracydocket.com
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Analysis: Donald Trump is doing everything he can to...
Donald Trump is, ostensibly, a Republican. But he has shown time and again -- both in the White House and now out of it -- that he cares little about helping the party and its other candidates.
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www.cnn.com
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'Cannot wait for Washington:' Voting rights activists...
With the prospect of passing federal voting legislation dim, activists are plunging ahead with voter-education efforts and using upcoming municipal contests in places like Georgia to test their tactics for next year's midterm elections.
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www.cnn.com
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Opinion | The dangerous idea behind Trump's coup effort...
As the Jan. 6 select committee kicks into high gear, one big thing it will examine is the role played by Mike Pence in the final days of Donald Trump's effort to overturn his presidential reelection loss and remain in power illegitimately.
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www.washingtonpost.com
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State & Local News (Some links may require a subscription)
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Gainesville mayor preview: Sam Couvillon vs. Devin Pandy
And with all the growth the city has seen, Couvillon said he will focus on improving infrastructure to handle increased traffic. Improvements to Green Street will come, but he would also like to add through lanes and other improvements to...
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www.gainesvilletimes.com
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Judge tosses suit to inspect Fulton ballots after...
A judge dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday that aimed to discredit Fulton County absentee ballots, the latest in a string of lawsuits challenging the validity of the 2020 presidential elections to get tossed.
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georgiarecorder.com
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After white students displayed Confederate flag at...
Black students were suspended from their high school for planning a protest after another group of students came to school waving a Confederate flag. Last week, a group of students at Coosa High School in Rome, Ga., were filmed waving the...
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thehill.com
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After hotel altercation, accusations of bullying against ...
After hotel altercation, accusations of bullying against Hall's tax commissioner, this is what investigation concludes By CONNER EVANS and JOHN CHAMBLISS A physical altercation broke out after dinner in a hotel lobby between Hall County Tax...
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www.gainesvilletimes.com
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Election investigators haven't found evidence of...
Georgia election officials continue to pour cold water on claims of fraudulent ballots in the 2020 election, after investigators failed to find "pristine" counterfeit absentee ballots that were allegedly counted in Fulton County.
Read more
www.gpb.org
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Jefferson man pleads guilty to involvement in January...
A Jefferson man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to his involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. According to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Glen Mitchell "Mitch" Simon made a plea deal and admitted guilt to a ...
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accesswdun.com
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National News (Some links may require a subscription)
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Voting rights set for Senate vote as Democrats push...
subscribe to The NPR Politics Podcast podcast Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is calling on Democrats to work together to pass a major spending package before the end of this month as part of a broader push to advance major elements ...
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www.npr.org
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January 6 panel moves to hold Steve Bannon in criminal...
The committee investigating the January 6 Capitol Hill riot announced Thursday it is moving forward to hold Trump ally Steve Bannon in criminal contempt for refusing to comply with a subpoena, as his game of chicken with the House panel now...
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www.cnn.com
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Trump to testify in lawsuit by protesters who say guard...
A New York judge has ordered Donald Trump to give testimony on Monday in a lawsuit brought by a group of demonstrators who said his security guard assaulted them during a 2015 demonstration outside Trump Tower. Justice Doris Gonzalez of the Bronx ...
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www.theguardian.com
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The Unmaking of the White Christian Worldview
Robert P. Jones writes that white Christian Americans must recognize that their personal sins they pale in comparison to the systemic ways they have built a society that reflects a conviction that their lives matter more.
Read more
time.com
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Americans are ready to tax the rich
As debate over Democrats' Build Back Better Act has intensified, the $3.5 trillion social spending bill has remained strikingly popular. That may be both a blessing and a curse for lawmakers because it's now clear that the bill will need to...
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www.vox.com
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MORE EVIDENCE: New details of armed Trump extremists...
Fight disinformation. Get a daily recap of the facts that matter. Sign up for the free Mother Jones newsletter. Since January 6, Republican lawmakers attempting to cover up the Trump-driven insurrection have claimed that no one brought guns to...
Read more
www.motherjones.com
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