I AM FROM GEORGIA.

The Oct. 18 print edition of Newsweek has a map. A map of the US that shows % increase in voter registrations. (I cannot find this map on the web version.)
Several states show no increase. Several states show less than 5% increase, and several more show an increase between 5% and 10%.

Only 5 states show an increase greater than 10% .
South Dakota.
Iowa
Maryland
Deleware...


and Georgia.

This from the online edition:
"Georgia election officials say there could be a 50 percent increase in the number of new voters since 2000. Some 35 percent of last month's new registrants are black, which raises the percentage of African-American voters in Georgia to 26. This bloc could possibly affect the outcome of the vote. "

And this from the AJC today:
"Bush's margin, 51 percent to 41 percent, in the poll conducted Wednesday and Thursday, has narrowed somewhat from the poll conducted the week before, which had the president leading 54 percent to 39 percent."


DO NOT COUNT US OUT!



:freak:

and only a few W04.

As a native Georgian now residing in Mississippi, I've been so disappointed "my" state lately, with the defeat of Senator Cleland and the antics of the former governor and current senator whose name I can't bring myself to type. I used to love to brag to Mississippians about how progressive Georgia is, but lately I just don't mention where I'm from. I'd LOVE it if Georgia went for Kerry. There is ZERO hope for Mississippi. *sigh*

Man, I think there is a long road to go for Georgia...I was just there last weekend (Glynn and Atkinson counties in the southeast), and Bush was KING in that area.

:(

I love the place, and want to go back there, but I'm thinking I will have to knock some sense into some folks, most of 'em relatives.

As a native Georgian now residing in Mississippi, I've been so disappointed "my" state lately, with the defeat of Senator Cleland and the antics of the former governor and current senator whose name I can't bring myself to type. I used to love to brag to Mississippians about how progressive Georgia is, but lately I just don't mention where I'm from. I'd LOVE it if Georgia went for Kerry. There is ZERO hope for Mississippi. *sigh*

I live here in Mississippi, too. My family moved down here back in 1994, and I've had to grow up here. I joined this forum after me and fellow Young Democrats on our campus (MSU) had our homecoming parade float set afire outside a friend's house. Things are pretty frustrating here, especially when you're subjected to arsony.

I've only been in Mississippi since 1998 (transferred out here by my job), and it's about as schizophrenic as it's possible to be...the people vote Democratic locally, but Repuke in state & national elections. I don't understand the place at all, and it breaks my heart that Georgia, which was spared the convulsions that the rest of the South underwent during the civil rights era, has decided that it should become more Mississippi-like. I'm sorry that your float got torched, sorry that you have to put up with such indignities, but don't get discouraged. Fighting the good fight is always worth the struggle.
:pals:

I'm starting to see a LOT of Kerry/Edwards stickers around these parts (Norcross, just outside of Atlanta.) Turn out is going to be huge. There just might be a surprise ...

I was at a meeting this morning with Shirley Franklin, John Lewis, and Andrew Young. At one point, Andrew Young said that HE had never been in jail in Birmingham, but that others in that room had been. Folks whose names we probably do not know, but were THERE to make sure WE get to vote.

It is now our turn. Young and Lewis and many others have been doing this for FORTY YEARS. For US. it is now our turn.

Young told a story about a man named Steptoe. Steptoe was determined to pass the literacy test that was required at the time. (But, as Andrew Young told it, it wasn't really a "literacy test", it was a "courage test".) Steptoe and some friends learned what they needed to know to pass the test, and finally, one day they drove a wagon to the courthouse. As they climbed the stairs to the courthouse, the sheriff came out the door and stopped them. He asked Steptoe what he was doing. Steptoe said " I intend to register and to vote". The sheriff took his pistol out of his holster and pointed it right at Mr. Steptoe's face, and said " I don't think I heard you, boy. Now what did you want here?" Steptoe said, "If I live, I intend to register and to vote."

Thank you Mr. Steptoe.


http://www.georgiavotes2004.com/

It would be so awesome to have all those Georgia peaches in our column. :yourock:

I am a deputy registrar and I have turned in 450 registration applications this year. All from the INNER CITY.

Now we are on GOTV.

http://www.georgiafordemocracy.org/

If you can conceive it,
and if you believe it,
you can achieve it!
J.J.

:yourock:

both in Augusta GA will be voting Kerry along with their family members who are 18 and over. They feel that Ga is in play!

Its good to hear the good news.

My barber seems to dislike Bush as have several people I have talked with in stores. I was intercepted by a guy standing in front of a Quick Trip, he was definitely pissed-off at Bush, Purdue also.

My ex-next door neighbors (moved way out by Gainesville) both work in education. One is an administrator in Norcross, the other a teacher in Gainesville are definitely against Bush. Their oldest son went to Iraq during the first call-up for the invasion. Bush extended his unit. They were very angry and fearful for their son. The son is home now I am glad to report. Sadly, others have not been so lucky.

I have noticed a very large change politically these last 4 years in Georgia.

Renee Utterman (R State Senator in Loganville) was the chair of the committee handling the controversy surrounding the Diebold voting machines clearly wanted verifiable votes. I doubt she got what she wanted though. The Sec of State, Cathy Cox, is very powerful and she had to defend her purchase decision of Diebold equipment in front of the committee. Sonny Purdue, Governor and owner of the Purdue chicken corporation, wants touch screen voting. I would suggest not buying Purdue Chicken, I don't. There is a lot of old time politics here, notwithstanding the metropolis of modern Atlanta.

However, I think Georgia is in play. Definitely in play.

I never heard that before and wouldn't want to discriminate against an innocent Purdue chicken!

Ther's still far too many yard signs and stickers for the Evil party around here, unfortunately.

assuming the vote suppression techniques (remember, Ralph Reed LIVES here) don't work too well. :-(

Hiya, MGKrebs! :hi:

You know I am well aware of problems with voting! I think the goal-at least to some extent- is to get SO MANY people registered and to the polls that they can't steal enough to change the outcome. I EXPECT them to try. I want to catch them! (It looks like I will be a poll watcher on election day.)

:hi:

I hope all is well with you!
Do you know about the Atlanta DU Meetups? Nobody ever rsvp's so they always get cancelled, but maybe after the election we should try to get together?

We have the power!

Voter registration didn't increase as much in my county as it did statewide...but there are only about 15,000 people in it, and most people already vote anyway.

I live in the Morningside area of Atlanta. From the yard sign count, we are solidly Kerry here. And so is the area around the Piedmont Golf Club which one would expect to be a hotbed of * supporters. As a matter of fact, I haven't found a single in-town neighborhood with enough * yard signs to count. Sure wish the rest of the state would stand up and get their knuckles off the ground.

The Young Dems and college dems are working hard. It sounds like there is a lot of South Georgia that sees the need for change. North Georgia will be a problem. (Two words: Zell Miller.) We just have to overcome it. Every last vote counts.
If we show up, we will win.

I would encourage any Georgians reading this to try to take a day off the week before election day to drive people to the polls during early voting. We have lists of names. We need drivers.

With this many new registrations, election day will be chaotic in many precincts. We must get as many voters to the polls during the early voting period as possible.

If you can help, call 404-524-5499. WAND is coordinating this aspect.

Mine included! I'd love it if GA was in play!

And my neighborhood is full of Kerry signs too. But then, isn't all of Decatur? ;-)

That's my philosophy in Louisiana. I'm not expecting a Kerry win, although I won't count it out, but I know that this state is blue enough that my work will be helpful in future elections.

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Make it snappy, I'm on my way to the store.

:spank:

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What the fuck was coke-boy doing during those years?

Getting DUIs? Setting up contacts with Saudi Arabian terrorists? Avoiding duty in Vietnam? Getting fucked up on Pabst Blue Ribbon?

:hi:

I think I am the only one with a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker in all of Cherokee County. This is totally Repuke country.

Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you...

:) :) :) :) :)

Oh, wouldn't it be sweet?

You go, Georgia Dems. You have suffered much. For a neighbor over here in Alabama, a shocker in Georgia would be so fine.

Majette will motivate the African American voters to come out and vote. I think the DSCC wrote her off way too fast. A small amount of money could still make a big difference for her.

are covered in bush signs. Everywhere I look I see one. Very few Kerry signs. Its depressing. I hope the rest of Ga. is better off than this hell hole.