Former state representative and Lt. Governor candidate Jim Martin announced yesterday that his fledgling  primary campaign exceeded its fundraising goal of $250,000 by raising $346,000 in less that 12 days.

Martin is a solid progressive who faces five other opponents in the June 15 Democratic primary, none of which have the statewide name recognition or fundraising capabilities Martin so well demonstrated in his Lt. Governor campaign versus right wing Republican Casey Cagle. Martin earned 75,000 more votes in the Lt.Gov. race than Dem gubernatorial candidate Mark Taylor in his race against Sonny "Pray for Rain" Perdue.

Martin joins the race with top contender Vernon Jones, DeKalb County CEO,and four other potential candidates: Ecologist Rand Knight, Statesboro's Josh Lanier, former WSB talking head Dale Cardwell, and Rockdale County School Board member Maggie Martinez.

I have always been reluctant to use the word "breaking", but this is big news for Georgia. Finally! An extraordinarily capable and viable challenger to Saxby Chambliss has emerged.

Atlanta Attorney Jim Martin, a well-known and beloved state legislator and solid progressive announced this afternoon that he will challenge Bushbot wingnut GA Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

In his announcement today Martin said:

"Today, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War, it’s clear that the current administration is on the wrong track. We need a Senator in Washington who answers to Georgians and not to George Bush and Dick Cheney 92 percent of the time,"

"Senator Chambliss’s uncritical advocacy of the Iraq war has been matched only by his disregard for the soldiers fighting it and their families. I believe we should respect our troops by using them more effectively and taking better care of them when they come home."

More on the flip:

Super Mega Primary Watch Party!

YOU ARE INVITED:

Join the Fulton County Democratic Party, the Young Democrats of Georgia, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats, the Young Democrats of Atlanta, Mid-Fulton Democrats, DeKalb Young Democrats, AtlantaKos and the Red Clay Democrats as we gather to watch the presidential primary returns on Tuesday evening at Amsterdam Bar and Cafe.

This venue has over 25 flat panel TV's throughout the facility for easy viewing of Super Tuesday returns. Food can be ordered up until ten PM and the bar will remain open until 2AM.

This is THE place to be on the night of the biggest primary in history!

What: Georgia Presidential Primary Watch Party
When: Tuesday, February 5th, 7pm-?
Where: Amsterdam Bar & Cafe
502 Amsterdam Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306

Who: Open to all Democrats & supporters

RSVP on the flip:

Plans have now been finalized for a spectacular Super Tuesday Returns Watching Party hosted by a number of Georgia and Atlanta area Democratic organizations, including AtlantaKos. Put this on your calendar and don't miss it!

Here are the details:

Georgia Presidential Primary Watch Party (Atlanta)

Hosts: Young Democrats of Georgia, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats, Fulton County Democratic Party, Young Democrats of Atlanta, AtlantaKos,
Georgia Red Clay Democrats, and DeKalb County Young Democrats

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 7:00pm until midnight.

Location: Amsterdam Bar & Café, 502 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta, GA

IMPORTANT: This event is for persons over the age of 21 only.

This venue has 20+ TV screens for easy return watching and plenty of free parking. Guests
will be able to order food from an expansive menu up to 10PM. The bar
will stay open until 2AM.

More info on the flip:

All Atlanta area Kossacks should be sure to mark calendars for a Super Tuesday event from 7PM to 11PM on February 5, 2008 at Amsterdam Bar and Cafe, located at 550 Amsterdam Avenue in the Amsterdam Walk shopping district. Amsterdam Walk is one block west of the intersection of Monroe Drive and Amsterdam Avenue in the Morningside/Virginia Highland area, on the northeast side of Piedmont Park.

This will be a joint event with the Fulton County Democratic Party, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats, Georgia Young Democrats, and of course, AtlantaKos. Amsterdam Bar and Cafe is a great venue for viewing primary returns, as the facility has 20+ video screens throughout its interior.

This event is currently in the planning stage and more details will be provided after the new year.

If you're interested in joining the AtlantaKos group, the link is here.

Welcome to Round III of the AnnCoulter.com advertiser awareness effort. For those who are new to DKos, a bit of history can be found here.

This past February, following journalist entertainer Ann Coulter's bigoted remarks directed toward John Edwards, the members of this site participated in a major effort to make corporate and organizational entities aware of their advertising presence on her website. The effort was very successful and all advertisers eventually pulled their ads. A repeat effort was undertaken when a few new advertisers appeared, and eventually those  disappeared with the exception of a few "junk" ads.

It is particularly astonishing that any advertiser, large or small, would even consider sponsoring this site especially after Coulter's latest round of highly publicized anti-semitic rhetoric. After months with no significant advertising support, however, the site now has a new sponsor.

More on the flip....

How often have you heard the refrain in this diary title from a friend or acquaintance that the Democratic and Republican parties are indistinguishable, that they are "all the same"?

While this Naderesque view is a meme oft-repeated by the politically uninformed, sadly a significant number of US citizens do have this perspective, and it's no more evident than in the abysmal voter turnout performance that plagues this nation election after election.

Even despite the abject corruption, incompetence and world-image devastation the Bush-Cheney administration has wrought upon this wonderful country, many citizens remain ambivalent about politics, perhaps the result of either lack of intellectual curiousity or just a malaise-like disgust reflected in a "one-person-can't-make-a-difference" attitude.

How many people do you know like this?

More on the flip...

Well-known Georgia populist firebrand and former state legistlator Wycliffe "Wyc" Orr is seriously considering a run against the incompetent and disgraceful Bush rubber stamp, Saxby Chambliss.

Orr, a north Georgia trial lawyer and military veteran, is well-respected throughout the state and is acknowledged as one of the best stump speakers among all Georgia politicians. A group of activist Georgia Democrats, concerned about the various weaknesses of the current 3 declared candidates, is strongly urging Wyc to run and has launched a "Draft Wyc" organization to support his candidacy.

Get an idea of Wyc's stump strength in the video on the flip...

According to guest columnist Robert Parham in today's Atlanta Journal Constitution, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson has announced that the school has begun offering classes to wives of soon-to-be pastors to "train women how to make a Christian home". Evidently this curriculum, offered at more than just this one Baptist seminary, is designed to "teach" women such skills as general homemaking, kitchen organizing, how to keep a day planner,sewing, etc. In other words ladies, the message is clear: stay at home and be subservient to your husbands.

More on the flip...

Dale Cardwell, Emmy Award winning investigative reporter for Atlanta's WSB-TV, has announced he is leaving his post to challenge Saxby Chambliss in 2008. Although this story was previously diaried here, a closer look at Cardwell's positions on multiple issues published since the announcement merit considerable further discussion, and this is an understatement.

Here's an excerpt from the initial announcement story
in last Saturday's Atlanta Journal Constitution (link to entire story is here):

Cardwell  says he will run against what he calls the daily, debilitating corruption of Washington, and promises to eschew money from special interest groups and political action committees.

Sound good? Have Georgia Dems found the perfect populist candidate along the lines of Alabama's exciting Ron Sparks? Not quite. Bring your barf bag and read more on the flip:

James Marlow, GA-10 Democratic Congressional Candidate.

Democratic Congressional candidate James Marlow will be live blogging right here on DKos at noon EDT. Marlow, a former Yahoo executive, is running in a special election primary on June 19th for the seat of Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood, who died on February 13th of this year.

Marlow spoke this past Saturday to the Atlanta Kos group at Manuel's Tavern on a wide range of issues. He is absolutely focused upon bringing an honorable and expeditious end to the Iraq debacle. Today he plans to discuss Iraq at length during his liveblogging session, although questions on other topics are encouraged too.

More on the flip....

GA-10 Democratic Congressional Candidate James Marlow Mixes with Atlanta Kossacks at First ATLKos Event

Manuel's Tavern in Virginia Highlands was the scene last night as 42 (counting those who had to leave early and others who came late) passionately progressive Kossacks enjoyed the first-ever ATLKos event. Highlighting the event was James Marlow, GA-10 Congressional candidate and renowned talk show host Mike Malloy. Prominent local bloggers Catherine Smith of Blog for Democracy and Jon Flack (flackattack) of Tondee's Tavern joined the group. Well-known Pro-Choice advocate Ann Rose MC'd the event. Netroots favorite and Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks, potential challenger to Jeff Sessions, spoke to the crowd by phone hookup.

More on the flip:

James Marlow, GA-10 Democratic Congressional Candidate.

Progressive Democratic Congressional candidate James Marlow will be live blogging right here on DKos tomorrow morning at 10AM EDT. Marlow, a former Yahoo executive, is running in a special election primary on June 19th for the seat of Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood, who died on February 13th of this year.

James Marlow's principal opponent in the special election is Republican hack, tire dealer, and State Senator Jim Whitehead. Whitehead is an embarassment to the state of Georgia with a history of moronic verbal gaffes and a staggering detachment from reality.

More on the flip....

James Marlow, GA-10 Democratic Congressional Candidate.

Ron Sparks, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries:The Man Who Can Defeat Jeff Sessions.

Mike Malloy, Renowned Atlantan and Progressive Nova M Radio Talk Show Host.

Don't miss the first AtlantaKos event this Saturday, 630PM, at Manuel's Tavern near Midtown. As of today, 35+ people have indicated they will attend, and there's room for a few more.

Highlighting the evening will be James Marlow, GA-10 Congressional candidate, Ron Sparks, potential AL-Senate candidate, and Atlanta's very own local hero Mike Malloy, current Nova M network and former Air America talk show host.

Crossposted at Tondee's Tavern. Additional information on the flip...

REMINDER: The very first AtlantaKos event takes place next Saturday and we need to provide the facility with an advance headcount by this Wednesday. Please respond with the number of people in your party either by using the message feature in the AtlantaKos Yahoo Group (link is below) or by email to vdlatl@gmail.com.

The AtlantaKos gathering will take place Saturday, May 19th at
630PM at Manuel's Tavern, at 602 North Highland Avenue, just a
couple of block's south of Ponce de Leon Avenue. The location is in the Virginia Highlands/Poncey Highlands area just east of Midtown. Manuel's has a lot of great history and is often referred to as the unofficial headquarters of the Georgia Democratic Party. You can read more about  Manuel's and get directions here.

If you're not yet a member of AtlantaKos, you can sign up here. Be sure to post your DKos username when prompted to provide the reason for joining.

As a follow up to last week's advertising awareness efforts, it appears most of the advertisers initially referenced have pulled off Coulter's site. Many thanks to all participants for another apparent success. Here's a list of the "good guys" who have taken the time to respond to concerns:

The Good Guys:

Zipzone Media Bluetooth Marketing
Maryland Department of Tourism
Allstate Insurance
Delta Airlines
Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Westin Hotels)
Organic Valley (responded, no committment to withdraw but not appearing)

(For reference, a link to last week's diary on this subject is here. More on the flip:

The first AtlantaKos gathering will take place Saturday, May 19th at
630PM at Manuel's Tavern, at 602 North Highland Avenue, just a
couple of block's south of Ponce de Leon Avenue. The location is in the Virginia Highlands/Poncey Highlands area just east of Midtown. Manuel's has a lot of great history and is often referred to as the unofficial headquarters of the Georgia Democratic Party. You can read more about  Manuel's and get directions here.

If you're not yet a member of AtlantaKos, you can sign up here. Be sure to post your DKos username when prompted to provide the reason for joining. If you would like to attend, please RSVP using the message feature in the AtlantaKos Yahoo group and provide the total number of people in your party.

Our very own world-famous diarist, One Pissed Off Liberal, has promised to be there and will be signing autographs of his most recent diary, so don't miss it!

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks, who is seriously mulling a challenge to Bush rubber stamp Jeff Sessions in 2008, will make his second appearance on Daily Kos today. Ron will post at approximately 6-630PM EDT this evening, and will be available for Q&A after posting.

Ron Sparks, in many ways very similar to netroots hero John Tester, is a solid grassroots economic populist who has great potential to defeat Sessions next year. Sparks has made it clear that if he elects to jump into the race, he will be "in it to win."

You can learn more about Ron Sparks here. Please join Ron this evening and participate in the Q&A.