Gwinnett School's CEO Salary:
makes only $90,000 less then the President of the United States ?
The VP Choice that lost The Presidency for McCain
I think we will look back at today as the day when the Republicans most certainly lost the Presidency. In choosing Sarah Palin of Alaska for Vice President, the Republicans have made a cynical but clever choice. At least they think it is clever. She is a woman, young (44 years old), a Governor (only two years), a mother (five children), pro-life, and pro-gun. But what is she not? She is NOT pro-choice. She has NO national experience. She has never been under the intense scrutiny of a national campaign. She is under investigation for some incident in Alaska that is messy and personal. She has no international experience. Her experience governing is in a very small state, famous for its "Bridge to Nowhere" kind of political graft. Her Republican colleague in that state, Senator Ted Stevens has been indicted for corruption.
When Republicans and independents go into the voting booth, will they have the confidence to vote for a McCain-Palin ticket, knowing that John McCain has had several recurrences of his skin cancer, and will be the oldest President ever? Can they imagine Sarah Palin stepping into the Oval Office and dealing with all the problems we face right now? The Russians and the terrorists must be quaking in their boots.
It's a slap in the face of other Republican women like Kay Bailey Hutchison, bless her heart, who was forced to stumble through an interview on TV trying to make the case for Palin whom she has never met. There are certainly women in the Republican party who were "in line" for this before Palin. Did the Rovian type advisors to McCain just cynically think that throwing a young attractive inexperienced woman into the mix would satisfy women who long to see a woman president? Women, and Republican women, are not so stupid as to fall for that! It is reminiscent of the Republicans putting up Alan Keyes to run against Barack Obama for the Illinois Senate just because he was black. Voters saw through that pretty quickly.
It's also a slap in the face of Democratic women voters. They don't get Hillary but they get Sarah as the first potential woman President? In fact, I can just hear Biden saying, "Sarah Palin, you are NO Hillary Clinton!" I would imagine that the few remaining Clinton supporters who are wondering if they should support John McCain are even more leery now. There is absolutely no overlap between the positions Hillary Clinton has fought her entire life for and Sarah Palin. The two women are not remotely substitutable. They are as different as they can be.
How will this cynicism play with American voters? It is insulting to women to suggest that just "any" woman will do!
Gwinnett County Schools prohibits Political Bumper Stickers !
Gwinnett County Public School employees are prohibited from displaying political candidate bumper stickers on their personal vehicles at the ISC (main office). I am personally aware that Dr. Francis Davis, Head of HR, instructed one of her employees that it would be ill advised if the employee displayed an OBAMA Bumper Sticker on her car. So much for freedom of speech. I guess the current School Board likes prohibiting employees from participating in American Democracy !
Aug 25 - Day 1
Delegate Morning Breakfast
The Alabama, North Dakota and South Dakota delegations are also staying at the Doubletree Stapleton. Each day the Georgia delegation starts off with a breakfast meeting. Monday we opened up the partition between the Al and Ga rooms to hear our speacial guest speaker, North Carolina Representative Heath Shuler.
As the Al state chair said, "Only Alabama and Georgia would get together to hear a quarterback from Tennessee and Congressman from North Carolina." You can read more about this at <a href="http://www.tondeestavern.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=7BC75AF1EF56214E8443C3C55F1594C7?diaryId=2043">Tondee's Tavern</a> posted by Amy Morton.
Pepsi Center
We have a pretty good spot at the Pepsi Center. Being off the floor helps with the view.
Of course it wouldn't be a convention without all the press. There are cameramen and reporters all over the place. Walking up and down the aisles looking for elected officials and delegates to interview. Unique headgear will also get you an interview. CNN and CBS have sets down in front of us on the floor.
Day 1 requires that we do a little bit of business before the speeches really get going. The credentials committee approved the recommended by Senator Obama to seat the Michigan and Florida delegation with full voting rights for the roll-call vote this week. This was unanimously approved. The platform and rules committees recommendations were also approved.
The big speeches Monday were the tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama. There were many teary eyes in the Georgia delegation and around the Pepsi center when Ted Kennedy walked out on stage. There were some chairs set up for him but he pushed right past them and went up to the podium and and gave another moving speech.
Michelle Obama seemed a bit nervous when she started. Who wouldn't be! Addressing millions of people in this forum for the first time. It didn't take her long to get into her groove though. She did a great job and will make a super First Lady.
Just a quick note about the Delegate Seating
VIEW A LARGER VERSION OF THE SEATING CHART HERE
Katrina Relief Organizations Recognition Event
DNC Chairman Howard Dean...
“This anniversary is too important to pass by unnoticed. We are one country, and we stand together in good times and bad,” said Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Governor Howard Dean. “Nearly three years after Katrina, we want the nation to know that rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Region is not just a local issue but a national one. The voices of those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina have not gone silent, and it is critical to make sure those who live there and those who were displaced are not forgotten.”
The event started off with a bang with New Orleans style band marching through the banquet hall.
This was followed up by some great Mississippi Delta music
Hello from Denver, Co.
The buzz all around the airport this morning was the VP selection of Joe Biden. While he wasn't my personal first choice, I think Sen. Biden will be an excellent VP. Like most of the delegates here, I watched the event from Springfield this afternoon. Great event and awesome turnout. The original estimates were for only about 2,000 people would be there since it was such short notice. CNN was reporting around 20,000 people attended.
Throughout the week we hope that the delegates from Gwinnett County will be posting some of their experiences here.
I'll be posting pictures and maybe some video (time permitting) here while on the convention floor.
Each state has an embedded blogger with the delegation. Tondees Tavernis the official embedded state blog for Georgia. Another Georgia blog, Georgia Politics Unfilteredis in the blogging pool as well. I will be posting on Tondee's from time to time this week as well.
Efficiency County Commission and School Board:
School Board and County Commission:
When our Candidates for the County Commision and the School Board win their respective races. They should push the County Commission and the School Board to hire and bring in a outside Public Accounting Firm to review County and School Board operations. To make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently. Under Republican and one party control I do not believe the dollars are always being spent wisely !!!
Gwinnett County 2008 Candidates
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President of the United States - |
Holiday Symbols
I do not think that this has been the case with Republicans !!!