The Best Of The Drifts - Hank Johnson's Town Hall

Originally published August 11, 2009

Town Hall Twist And Shout

We rarely boo at baseball games. Our calls to talk radio, although at times tinged with anger, are generally polite. To outsiders, it must appear difficult to stir Atlantans into a froth.

However, given the recent history of the so-called health care town halls across the land, there was some trepidation as people filed into the Cole Auditorium at Georgia Perimeter College's Central Campus on Monday night. 4th District Congressman Hank Johnson was hosting his first town hall and many showed up to see the fireworks.

Perhaps it was the heavy police presence. Perhaps it was the constant attention of the volunteers. Perhaps it was the very structured nature (including a reading of the rules and the Pledge of Allegiance) of the event. Perhaps it was all of these which calmed the divided crowd.

Or perhaps it was a slick politician with a speaking tone the equivalent of vocal valium.

Dekalb Commissioner Larry Johnson moderated and both he and Congressman Johnson asked the crowd to show the rest of the country that the south and Dekalb County was known for its ability to be polite in disagreement. For the most part, they succeeded, although as the rhetoric heated up, there were a few flareups and three people were escorted out for shouting from the audience. Commissioner Johnson joked about the first day of school and how the crowd had "failed the first test" bringing subdued chuckles from both sides of the aisle.

But perhaps Johnson's cleverest tactic was his panel. Instead of a town hall where a politician stood upon a holy rock and preached, the Congressman presented a panel of seven medical professionals with positions as diverse as the CEO of Grady advocating national health care to Dr. Troy Williamson of the Medical Association of Georgia flat out stating any public option was unacceptable. The ricocheting opinions had portions of the crowd switching from boos to cheers with whiplash speed. When one panelist advocated "personal responsibility", the applause was near universal.

The lack of radicalness proved a foil to the expected craziness and the only incident which drew attention from the stage was during the audience participation portion when a young man shouted a question from his seat. Outside the town hall, Sean Mangieri of Atlanta, the first person escorted out, said he expected to be thrown out for breaking the rules but felt it was necessary because it was "not a legitimate debate". Mangierie was quick to point out he was not there representing anyone but himself.

Perhaps the relatively subdued mood of the town hall was summarized best by former 10th District Republican candidate Bill Greene who attended because he felt it would be interesting. Greene said although he disagreed with Congressman Johnson's positions, he was "impressed by the diversity of the panel" and noted this is not the first time Johnson has reached out to unexpected allies. In 2009, the liberal Democrat Johnson co-sponsored libertarian Republican Ron Paul's bill to audit the U.S. government.

The Best Of The Drifts - Constablegate: The Straight Story

Originally published August 7, 2009

The Candidate And The Kid

Only those who work deep in the trenches of the hideous world of politics likely care, but there was a small flareup today when 15 year old Lee County blogger Kyle Constable claimed he was "bullied" by officials from the John Oxendine campaign after writing a piece questioning the legitimacy of the Oxendine ancillary website youcanstopObama.com.

Constable fueled the fire further by publishing details from what he admits was an "off the record" conversation with the campaign.

Prior to today's events Constable was a supporter of Oxendine and used his website to praise the candidate.

John Oxendine Campaign Manager Tim Echols believes this episode resulted from a misunderstanding between Constable and his staff and stated to Drifting Through The Grift, "We value the involvement of teenagers in this campaign. It is important that we work with them and their parents to determine the best role for them to play."

In the dog days of August, political campaigns tend to stall and all those who travel that strange road will search for any rest stop to quench the thirst for political spirits. Merely the idea of a gubernatorial campaign fueding with a teenager stirred the Georgia political blogosphere into a frenzy. However, once the dust settles, the conversation of the role of bloggers in politics and the ethical dilemmas encountered will likely continue.

The Best Of The Drifts - 2008 Perry Debates

Originally published October 9, 2008

Clouds And Clods In Perry

Dark skies roiled around the Georgia National Fairgrounds as the candidates for U.S. Senate and the 8th Congressional district gathered at the stage of the Reaves Arena in Perry, Ga. Perhaps, Mr. Henry asked a favor of his new landlord, for the heavens indeed opened, threatening to drown out the lows of the manure slingers who temporarily infested the hallowed home the legendary cattleman built for his beloved livestock.

Despite the exhortations of the spare but raucous audience, the blather on the stage never matched the fury of the rain lashing the roof. It seemed every time a politician opened his mouth the whipping of water on the ceiling crescendoed, causing the occasional nervous eye to stare heavenward - possibly wondering where all would run if the thing peeled off like a potato skin.

As with most debates, there were no game changers. No particularly harsh gaffes. No soul stirring moments of inspiration. No pol succumbing to the pressure, stripping off every stitch of clothing and prancing around like a chicken. Not much fun at all.

Instead, with a weird format which limited answers to a couple of minutes and 30 second rebuttals at the discretion of the moderator, the entire affair was mostly limited to sound bite pablum found in commericials.

In the big daddy event of the Senate race, Democrat Jim Martin was more confident and forceful than expected - except when he lapsed into wonkish professor mode, droning on about billions and trillions.

Incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss talked about winning wars, cutting taxes and saving us all from the liberal menace - except when he stumbled around on the immigration question and was met with an uncomfortable silence from his previously rabid supporters.

Libertarian Allen Buckley referred to his website about 243 times and appeared genuinely rattled any time the restless audience began burbling with either approval or disapproval. At certain points, if someone had whispered "boo", he might have just darted for the wings.

The congressional candidates were mercifully spared a full hour of the nonsense and spent a mere 30 minutes warbling mostly about "the vote".

Incumbent Democrat Jim Marshall mentioned a letter he received from the AARP, one of the debate sponsors, about half a dozen times in the hope that the powerful blue hair lobby would provide the karmic bailout bandaid he so desperately needed.

Republican challenger Rick Goddard spewed about better handling of the taxpayers money and his knowledge that 90% of Georgia opposed the bailout. Of course he had this handy fact because before making a public statement on the hot potato of the day, he had polled extensively - including inadvertently quizzing Jim Marshall's campaign office.

Somewhere in the middle, Goddard said "this is a strong market" and Marshall said he "hadn't paid much attention to either (Presidential) candidate's plans for Iraq". Despite the strength of these two gaffes, no blood ran because after 90 minutes of beating rain and bleating politicians, few still cared.

Afterward, when the hands were shook and signs were stowed, all waited in the lobby for the rain to cease lashing the fairground. There would be no quick aboslution for these political desperadoes who had invaded this innocent land of funnel cakes and candy apples.

Eventually the storm waned and a bright moon emerged from the clouds. Mr. Henry must have decided to once again rest easy - for tomorrow, the cleaner parade of cows and pigs would return to his arena.

The Best Of The Drifts - Senate Debate 2008

Originally published April 23, 2008

Outsiders In Athens

Sometimes, it is about who ain't there.

Although a resident of Athens, Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd was not. Despite resigning his party post the previous day, former Vice Chair of Constituent Services Virgilio Perez-Pascoe was.

U.S. Senate candidates Dale Cardwell, Rand Knight and Josh Lanier were. Coy Vernon Jones and apparent Democratic Party of Georgia darling Jim Martin were not.

The "greasers" showed up for the rumble but the "socs" were nowhere to be seen.

Although the absence of the putative front runners was not the only topic at Wednesday's debate sponsored by the Young Democrats of UGA, the three attendee politicians took quite a few swipes at the big bucks boys as well as the party they are vying to represent.

Josh Lanier, whose campaign has been defined by campaign finance reform, pondered the possibility that Martin and Jones were too busy raising funds. Given, he said, a sitting Senator uses 1/3 of the day to raise money, the absent candidates were acting like "Saxby Chambliss with a blue tie".

Dale Cardwell was more blunt. He noted a study which showed 99.7% of the U.S. population does not contribute to political campaigns and said he believes Martin and Jones count on voters to choose the person they "dislike the least".

"Young" Rand Knight called forth the ghosts of elections past comparing the $330,000 Jim Martin raised in the first ten days of his campaign to an alledged $310,000 debt from his last campaign. He also noted Sonny Perdue beat Roy Barnes in 2002 despite an 8 to 1 money disadvantage.

When asked if all three would support any eventual Democratic nominee, Knight proclaimed "any Democrat is better than Saxby Chambliss". Cardwell levelled the harshest criticism of the night, openly alledging his belief Vernon Jones is being paid by the opposition to run. Cardwell flatly refused to support Jones but agreed he would support any of the other candidates. Lanier demured, reserving judgment, but agreed somewhat with Cardwell that everything he read supported allegations of Jones supporting Republicans in the past.

As the three insurgent candidates move on to future confrontations, they find themselves only two months away from the fateful primary day where voters will deterimine if they are Johnny slowly slipping away in a hospitial bed or Ponyboy surviving and striving to "stay gold".

The Best Of The Drifts - Praying For Rain

Scene from the backbench at the rain dance

Originally published on November 13, 2007

Weirdness And Clarity At The Capitol

Bowed heads during the many prayer breaks easily denoted the heathens (and most of the media) from the true believers at Governor Perdue's pray for rain "hoot n holler" down at the Capitol today.

It was a diverse crowd of around 200 who came to hear the praying of preachers and the pontificating of politicians. Many beseechers raised their hands throughout the service towards a mockingly cloudless sky.

Like the proverbial moths, the media warrior camera jockeys working the edges of the crowd were invariably drawn to the weird. For those without a front row seat, this meant either the two pretty girls with a pink umbrella or one particular Frankenfreak-tall fanatic.

Practically bubbling, the umbrella girls would only confirm they were both state workers who brought the useless parasol to show their faith. However, most of their time was spent with their backs to the prayers, yearningly looking towards the row of local camera trucks - faith in brief fame being a surer bet than Jesus loving pink.

Down the way, possibly to the chagrin of the pretties in pink, cameras flocked to the broad back of one true-believer. He towered over the crowd, holding his hands towards his eternal home. Anyone who growed up in a small southern church would instantly recognize the creature - corrective shoes, short-sleeved dress shirt, a whiff of stale sweat and a look of vague zombie-like fanaticism which would scare all but the most degenerate gutter-drunk straight into the detox.

Most photogs quietly snuck up behind their prey, snapped away and quickly vamoosed fearing the giant might suddenly turn to lay the heat of holy rapture on their forehead. But one brave photojournalist insistently tapped him on the shoulder and eventually breaking the reverie received a whispered exchange from the devotee. The incessant whir of the news choppers and the verse spewing of the amplified preachers masked their conversation, burying it in the endless annals of mystical mutterings. Or a soon-to-be-seen AP caption in your nearest dead tree media.

Governor Perdue concluded the service with a brief prayer directed towards the heavens. Slowly, overhead a peregrine falcon circled, a church bell rang in the distance and probably somewhere a dog howled.

But sadly for all the fanatics, thumpers and quiet zombies shivering in ecstasy below, only the clear blue eye of the great Sky Daddy stared back. Not even a mist of weepiness in sight.

The Best Of The Drifts - Josh Lanier Enters The Senate Race

Originally published October 3, 2007

A New Name In The Georgia Senate Race

He's not a career politician but he knows politics.

Josh Lanier, 55, is a native of Statesboro although his career took him to Virginia over 30 years ago. A Vietnam Veteran, Lanier worked on the personal staff of Georgia Senator Herman Talmadge assisting the front line aides on the hottest issues of the day including Watergate and Vietnam. He returned to his native state one year ago and his name keeps popping up in interesting places.

Recently, it began surfacing in the already muddled race for the seat currently held by Senator Saxby Chambliss. Democratic Party of Georgia officials confirm that Lanier contacted the Atlanta headquarters expressing an interest in the contest but would comment no further, stating it was one of many calls speculating on candidates.

Lanier says he's not a person looking for a career in politics but is willing to step up if there is a need.

" I talked to [a party official] because I heard he had been asking questions", Lanier stated via telephone, "All my conversations have been what is the status of the race and what is the real need here".

Lanier is not rushing anything but admits to the possibility of a campaign,

"I have not made a decision to run yet, but I am kicking it around."

Lanier's name recognition may be low at this time, but just two years ago few people knew Jim Webb in Virginia. The potential of a knowledgeable neophyte running may make a Senate race considered by many to be a foregone conclusion, at the very least, a lot more fascinating.

Gonzo Townhall

It is a tradition at Drifting Through The Grift that when your humble scribe stumbles out into the real world to report a story, he publishes an unfiltered version of his notes. Hopefully, this will give you a better idea of how the "crafted" story was formed. As well as possibly some amusements.

My notes from Hank Johnson's Healthcare Townhall are extensive, so this time we'll just have to pull the tastiest morsels.

*Yellow truck with sign "Bush-Obama Economic Dumbasses"

*Police informing no signs, no cameras, no backpacks

*Oxendine campaign handing out flyers

* Free Speech Zone sign blows over

*Sign - "The Govt Could Not Run A Used Car Sale How Are They Going To Know When To Take Out My Gall Bladder"

*Cynthia McKinney hat wearing guy yelling at sign toters

*The number of flyers is incredible

*Two groups screaming yes and no at each other

*Woman screams "Thank you Hank Johnson"

*First cheering and booing. Pretty mild though

*Restlessness in the crowd. Rumbling of approval on certain points

*Someone yells "We're already doomed"

*Johnson calms the crowd again

*This is kind of boring

*Dr. Kellerman - "One procedure that should never be performed in an E.R. is a wallet biopsy"

*Most of the panelists are presenting a moderate message. Hank Johnson defused the thing by presenting a moderate message.

*An honest to god conservative!

*The liberals are hissing. It's getting a little ugly.

*Question time!

*Said not pay any money. People go a little crazy. Shouting

*Got to point to the baby. Man uses baby as prop

*Deficit neutral brings laughs. A few catcalls but pretty polite

*Johnson won't guarantee another town hall before the vote brings the strongest reaction. People shushing each other

*Crowd gets really rowdy. Hank just keeps going

*Guy screams from the audience. Police move in. Asks about article "general welfare". Couple escorted out. Third guy escorted out.

*"You're not Cynthia McKinney which is way cool".

*Girls with tape over their mouth. Cops not doing anything. Cops moving them on.

*Bill Greene

Town Hall Twist And Shout

We rarely boo at baseball games. Our calls to talk radio, although at times tinged with anger, are generally polite. To outsiders, it must appear difficult to stir Atlantans into a froth.

However, given the recent history of the so-called health care town halls across the land, there was some trepidation as people filed into the Cole Auditorium at Georgia Perimeter College's Central Campus on Monday night. 4th District Congressman Hank Johnson was hosting his first town hall and many showed up to see the fireworks.

Perhaps it was the heavy police presence. Perhaps it was the constant attention of the volunteers. Perhaps it was the very structured nature (including a reading of the rules and the Pledge of Allegiance) of the event. Perhaps it was all of these which calmed the divided crowd.

Or perhaps it was a slick politician with a speaking tone the equivalent of vocal valium.

Dekalb Commissioner Larry Johnson moderated and both he and Congressman Johnson asked the crowd to show the rest of the country that the south and Dekalb County was known for its ability to be polite in disagreement. For the most part, they succeeded, although as the rhetoric heated up, there were a few flareups and three people were escorted out for shouting from the audience. Commissioner Johnson joked about the first day of school and how the crowd had "failed the first test" bringing subdued chuckles from both sides of the aisle.

But perhaps Johnson's cleverest tactic was his panel. Instead of a town hall where a politician stood upon a holy rock and preached, the Congressman presented a panel of seven medical professionals with positions as diverse as the CEO of Grady advocating national health care to Dr. Troy Williamson of the Medical Association of Georgia flat out stating any public option was unacceptable. The ricocheting opinions had portions of the crowd switching from boos to cheers with whiplash speed. When one panelist advocated "personal responsibility", the applause was near universal.

The lack of radicalness proved a foil to the expected craziness and the only incident which drew attention from the stage was during the audience participation portion when a young man shouted a question from his seat. Outside the town hall, Sean Mangieri of Atlanta, the first person escorted out, said he expected to be thrown out for breaking the rules but felt it was necessary because it was "not a legitimate debate". Mangierie was quick to point out he was not there representing anyone but himself.

Perhaps the relatively subdued mood of the town hall was summarized best by former 10th District Republican candidate Bill Greene who attended because he felt it would be interesting. Greene said although he disagreed with Congressman Johnson's positions, he was "impressed by the diversity of the panel" and noted this is not the first time Johnson has reached out to unexpected allies. In 2009, the liberal Democrat Johnson co-sponsored libertarian Republican Ron Paul's bill to audit the U.S. government.

Hank Johnson Town Hall

It's been a while since I've wandered out into the field to cover the crazy. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Griftdriftland) is hosting one of those very popular Health Care Town Halls.

Monday, August 10 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus
Cole Auditorium/FineArtsCenter
555 North Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA 30021

That's too much fun to pass up. Best crazy sign that I'm allowed to photograph gets a lollipop.

Among The Candles

No notebook. No quotes. To interrupt the near silence with questions which had been answered or were unanswerable seemed inappropriate. Even the pros, the photogs, the camera jockeys, the tv faces moved quietly, respectfully, through the crowd which gathered in the pre-dawn chill at The Standard.

They walked from their houses, drove from nearby neighborhoods , even braved the cold by catching a ride in the bed of a pickup truck to honor the memory of John Henderson.

The previous morning, while closing the restaurant, Henderson was brutally murdered.

Tired, red eyes glistened with fresh tears. A young woman volunteered she was late because she was up most the night comforting friends. Some of the eyes glinted with anger.

Originally, there were ideas of protest. Questions about public safety in an era of shrinking budgets and police furloughs remained unanswered, but the owners of The Standard asked that now no be the time. Anger was present, but for the moment it remained internalized, pushed aside by the horror of having this young man's life ripped away.

No questions. No answers. Not today. Later questions will be asked and answers will be given. A reckoning will come - for the story of John Henderson is not finished.

To donate to the John Henderson Memorial Fund, go to grantpark.org and follow the link to make a donation via credit card or mail donations by check or money order to: Grant Park Neighborhood Association, P. O. Box 89235, Atlanta, GA 30312. Please designate “John Henderson Memorial Fund” on the donation

Gonzo Election Night

Unfiltered, straight from your scribe's notebook.

*Manuels parking lot is full at 5:00

*Manuels is total chaos

*It feels like the Super Bowl in here

*Bartender friend says the are "making bank"

*John Sugg sighting

*Jay Bookman sighting

*Off to the Hyatt

*The cab driver is very excited

*The last time I heard this many cars honking on Peachtree was when the Braves won the World Series

*Red Clay has the best spread. Young Dems suite looks like a dorm room

*Turn around, you're on TV!

*Now the DJ is playing Bobby McFerrin. WTF?

*I just got picked up and shook like a rag doll by a man and I'm not a small guy

*Jesus God! What time do I have to wake up in the morning?

Gonzo Perry

A night at the debate and scribbles straight from the notebook:

*Republicans on the left. Democrats on the right. Like a primitive church

*Mention of Harry Reid. Not good.

*One crazy guy right in the middle screaming at Saxby

*Buckley "are you deceiving the public or incompetent?"

*Democrats need captains corralling the cheers and heckles

*Buckley thinks it's possible he can be elected

*Moderator dancing to KC & the Sunshine Band

*Wow this is boring

Clouds And Clods In Perry

Dark skies roiled around the Georgia National Fairgrounds as the candidates for U.S. Senate and the 8th Congressional district gathered at the stage of the Reaves Arena in Perry, Ga. Perhaps, Mr. Henry asked a favor of his new landlord, for the heavens indeed opened, threatening to drown out the lows of the manure slingers who temporarily infested the hallowed home the legendary cattleman built for his beloved livestock.

Despite the exhortations of the spare but raucous audience, the blather on the stage never matched the fury of the rain lashing the roof. It seemed every time a politician opened his mouth the whipping of water on the ceiling crescendoed, causing the occasional nervous eye to stare heavenward - possibly wondering where all would run if the thing peeled off like a potato skin.

As with most debates, there were no game changers. No particularly harsh gaffes. No soul stirring moments of inspiration. No pol succumbing to the pressure, stripping off every stitch of clothing and prancing around like a chicken. Not much fun at all.

Instead, with a weird format which limited answers to a couple of minutes and 30 second rebuttals at the discretion of the moderator, the entire affair was mostly limited to sound bite pablum found in commericials.

In the big daddy event of the Senate race, Democrat Jim Martin was more confident and forceful than expected - except when he lapsed into wonkish professor mode, droning on about billions and trillions.

Incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss talked about winning wars, cutting taxes and saving us all from the liberal menace - except when he stumbled around on the immigration question and was met with an uncomfortable silence from his previously rabid supporters.

Libertarian Allen Buckley referred to his website about 243 times and appeared genuinely rattled any time the restless audience began burbling with either approval or disapproval. At certain points, if someone had whispered "boo", he might have just darted for the wings.

The congressional candidates were mercifully spared a full hour of the nonsense and spent a mere 30 minutes warbling mostly about "the vote".

Incumbent Democrat Jim Marshall mentioned a letter he received from the AARP, one of the debate sponsors, about half a dozen times in the hope that the powerful blue hair lobby would provide the karmic bailout bandaid he so desperately needed.

Republican challenger Rick Goddard spewed about better handling of the taxpayers money and his knowledge that 90% of Georgia opposed the bailout. Of course he had this handy fact because before making a public statement on the hot potato of the day, he had polled extensively - including inadvertently quizzing Jim Marshall's campaign office.

Somewhere in the middle, Goddard said "this is a strong market" and Marshall said he "hadn't paid much attention to either (Presidential) candidate's plans for Iraq". Despite the strength of these two gaffes, no blood ran because after 90 minutes of beating rain and bleating politicians, few still cared.

Afterward, when the hands were shook and signs were stowed, all waited in the lobby for the rain to cease lashing the fairground. There would be no quick aboslution for these political desperadoes who had invaded this innocent land of funnel cakes and candy apples.

Eventually the storm waned and a bright moon emerged from the clouds. Mr. Henry must have decided to once again rest easy - for tomorrow, the cleaner parade of cows and pigs would return to his arena.

Gonzo Primary

Reporting plausibly live from Manuel's Tavern. No notebook. It would be a dead giveaway, the room is full of Democrats and they are feeling bloody. Random notes on the fly. Anonymity is the only protection for the faded and jaded. But onward we must go.

*"I don't know anyone in that room" "You have to wait until the polls close, all the young uns are still out working the field"

*"I think we were talking about smacking Matt around when his business partner Chuck walked by"

*"Steve Davis will trounce his opponent" "It's 51-49" Silence

*"After watching many elections I've learned there are few surprises" "What about Paul Broun and Roy Barnes?" "I'll give you Paul Broun"

*Sen. Nan Orrock seen chatting with former 10th District Candidate James Marlow asking what his next move is and upon seeing a shady blogger nearby hurrying off to a dark corner.

*" Don't worry, it's only Satan. The son of Satan isn't with him."

*"You tipped her too much. You think she's cute!"

*Allen Buckley supporters bumrush the 11Alive live set and get on the 11:00pm newscast. Unfamiliarity with the seven second delay causes much shuffling and frustration. Democrats strangely amused.

*Rev. Lowery is still a sweetheart but its difficult watching legends grow old.

*No fights. No orgies. No dice.

Selah.

Gonzo Athens

Random notes of a deranged blogger who attended the YDUGA Senate Debate:

Cardwell used an analogy of cigarette packs to PACs.

Josh Lanier on a politician's need to know the audience: "I'm Rand Knight Saxon"

Apparently there's been a lot of defacing of Senate desk 32 over the decades.

Rand Knight: "We can't continue to live on coffee shops and condominiums".

Cardwell after Lanier explained his theory of universal healthcare: "I loved that."

Rand Knight on the environment: "We're defecating in our own house."

Josh Lanier: Looks forward to the day we "tax bad things like pollution and stop taxing good things like working".

Republican like moment of the night - Josh Lanier calling for an end to capital gains taxes on entrepeneurs.

Careless allegiances moment of the night - Dale Cardwell bragging about a Georgia Tech professor less than a mile from Sanford Stadium

Campus police ask me if I know who had put all the signs out front. It's Rand Knight.

Dale Cardwell referencing the Gene Hackman "Posiedon Adventure" which was released before most of the audience was born. Should have gone with the Kurt Russell "Posiedon".

Asked how they would show young people appreciation Knight jokes he'll forgive all student loans.

Although he couldn't resist taking a poke at the lowly blogger's alledged immunity from libel suits, Athens Banner-Herald boy reporter Blake Aued agreed to join me for a beer in the future.

Selah

Outsiders In Athens

Sometimes, it is about who ain't there.

Although a resident of Athens, Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd was not. Despite resigning his party post the previous day, former Vice Chair of Constituent Services Virgilio Perez-Pascoe was.

U.S. Senate candidates Dale Cardwell, Rand Knight and Josh Lanier were. Coy Vernon Jones and apparent Democratic Party of Georgia darling Jim Martin were not.

The "greasers" showed up for the rumble but the "socs" were nowhere to be seen.

Although the absence of the putative front runners was not the only topic at Wednesday's debate sponsered by the Young Democrats of UGA, the three attendee politicians took quite a few swipes at the big bucks boys as well as the party they are vying to represent.

Josh Lanier, whose campaign has been defined by campaign finance reform, pondered the possibility that Martin and Jones were too busy raising funds. Given, he said, a sitting Senator uses 1/3 of the day to raise money, the absent candidates were acting like "Saxby Chambliss with a blue tie".

Dale Cardwell was more blunt. He noted a study which showed 99.7% of the U.S. population does not contribute to political campaigns and said he believes Martin and Jones count on voters to choose the person they "dislike the least".

"Young" Rand Knight called forth the ghosts of elections past comparing the $330,000 Jim Martin raised in the first ten days of his campaign to an alledged $310,000 debt from his last campaign. He also noted Sonny Perdue beat Roy Barnes in 2002 despite an 8 to 1 money disadvantage.

When asked if all three would support any eventual Democratic nominee, Knight proclaimed "any Democrat is better than Saxby Chambliss". Cardwell levelled the harshest criticism of the night, openly alledging his belief Vernon Jones is being paid by the opposition to run. Cardwell flatly refused to support Jones but agreed he would support any of the other candidates. Lanier demured, reserving judgment, but agreed somewhat with Cardwell that everything he read supported allegations of Jones supporting Republicans in the past.

As the three insurgent candidates move on to future confrontations, they find themselves only two months away from the fateful primary day where voters will deterimine if they are Johnny slowly slipping away in a hospitial bed or Ponyboy surviving and striving to "stay gold".

Maggie Martinez On Discipline and God

Forsyth County Democratic Debate - "We've taken discipline out of the classrooms."

For a candidate in a federal election to emphasize such a local nuts and bolts issue seemed odd. But perhaps not so unusual considering relative unknown Maggie Martinez is an educator. Perhaps it made a certain strange populist sense.

Throughout the debate, Martinez clutched to her experience in education while explaining her stances on ethics, charity and religion.

Many may not have been prepared for her answer to a question regarding the Democratic Party's perceived loss of Christians.

Ms. Martinez related a story about the mandatory moment of silence at the beginning of the school day. She explained she always crosses herself before using the time to pray. When confronted by a student she explained her actions. She said she felt it was imperative "to teach children God is important".

She later emphasized her commitment by relating how she got in some hot water by posting a nativity display containing Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus on her classroom bulletin board.

In a day and age where the religious beliefs of politicians draw intense curiousity, one thing is certain - candidate Martinez' position on the divine will never be in question.

Rand Knight On Passing The Torch

Forsyth County Democratic Debate - Perhaps it was subtle jab at the man down the table whose every answer emphasized his extensive service to country, government and industry or perhaps it was Senate Democratic candidate Rand Knight's continued emphasis on his self-designation as heir to previous generations of Democrats.

Answering a question regarding a committment to future political contests Knight responded that although he "would be older than Richard Russell and Sam Nunn when they entered office", he still had plenty of years left to dedicate to the party.

Later, Knight emphasized despite his youth, he had 20 years experience in this arena and would be open to a potential run against Johnny Isakson in 2010. He pondered that it might be time to "pass the torch to the next generation".

Then again. Maybe it wasn't so subtle.

Dale Cardwell On Immigration

Forsyth County Democratic Debate - Hearing a Democrat at a Democratic Party function quote conservative columnist Jim Wooten might seem the oddest of birds until you understand it is Dale Cardwell.

Cardwell's past tactics have included an apparent run to the right of incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss - particularly on immigration.

The former television journalist staked an early hold on the right flank of one of the hottest of hot buttons and he continued his entrenchment Thursday night in Forsyth County.

Cardwell accused Chambliss of not being "concerned about the southern border", stated the influx of illegal immigrants depresses the American job market and called for enforcement of employer verification of validity of social security numbers.

All were familiar stances for anyone who has followed the Cardwell campaign. It was after the debate where things got interesting.

Answering followup questions, the candidate stated absolutely he would take the same tough stance on immigration if he were speaking to the Chamber of Commerce in Chambliss' hometown of Moultrie, Ga. "It is time for someone to speak the truth", Cardwell responded.

Then came the Wooten.

Cardwell continued to discuss immigration and referenced a column by Jim Wooten where the AJC's right wing scribe pondered the strange alliance between the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. According to the candidate the cooperative effort between the two organizations is only natural as they are "both really PACs".

He went on to state he believed organized labor intentionally recruits illegal immigrants to bolster membership rolls. When asked if he fears potential blowback from openly attacking what is considered a traditional Democratic stronghold, Cardwell responded, "not at all because the [rank and file] union members don't like it".

Josh Lanier On Torture

Forsyth County Democratic Debate - When the candidates were asked very directly about torture, Josh Lanier was quick to rise.

He related how in 1971, he was a member of a special operations unit in Vietnam. This unit would remove their uniforms, put on civilian clothing and walk into the deadly world of southeast Asia with the appearance of just any other westerner in the country. As part of this assignment, he was required to sign a statement that by undertaking this mission, he was forfeiting any right to protection under the Geneva convention.

Lanier said he suddenly felt a dreadful fear. Capture would mean the possibility of facing torture with no recourse or rescue. It was not a moment of theory. It was a moment of harsh reality. A moment which cemented why for the safety of our own military, we must never succumb to the seduction of torture.

Lanier finished by categorically condemning torture and admitted he wouldn't mind getting in the face of any "chicken-hawk yahoo" who advocated such disgraceful action.