Macon's new city council, including some certified newbies, will be sworn in on December 11th. Long before the swearing in-and well before the inevitable swearing at-a number of the newly elected members have made it their business to attend committee meetings, council work sessions and regular council meetings. Lauren Benedict, Larry Schlesinger, Virgil Watkins and Tom Ellington have attended often, and Lonnie Miley has attended occasionally. Of course, Miley has been on council before. Two work session-orientation session have been held, one Nov. 29th and one on Nov. 15th. Benedict, Schlesinger, Watkins and Ellington all attended both sessions. Outgoing council member Cole Thomason even came to the first orientation session to offer helpful advice. I hear that Erick Erickson may have missed these work sessions, and I find that surprising, though I know it does take a lot of time to be, what was it, the 69th most influential conservative...There's actually a whole lot going on, but even I know that all political strategy does not belong on a blog. But, here are a few examples: the Grassroots Georgia Program (the canvassers I mentioned above) is but one example of a new initiative. You can learn some more on the brand new website. We have been busy planning for he JJ Dinner and have invited all of the presidential candidates to joins us on Jan. 30th, right before our primary. You should come; it will be a blast and it's a deal until Dec. 1. Speaking of leaders, we'll also be honoring Sen. Max Cleland and Sen. John Lewis at this special event.
Committees are meeting, planning is taking place, candidates are being recruited, money is being raised, county parties are forming, formed and functioning-though we need more. The Party has taken a very active roll in the two special elections that happened this year in Georgia, most recently helping Bonnie Byrd Gardner with her race. I'm talking substantive help with mail, canvassing etc. And, while she did not win, if we are going to gain ground in Georgia those are precisely the kinds of races we need to invest in. Jane Kidd went herself to knock on doors with Bonnie, along with teams of canvassers from the Party. YD's helped, too, as did the unions.
And, I could go on, but again, the Party is not a "they," it's a "we." So, if you're a Georgia democrat, it's your party. I challenge you to get involved, if you're not, and help make a difference.
3. Why is there seemingly nobody with credibility opposing Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-GA?
There's no question that this race is a problem for us. I posted about it earlier this week. It's not easy to convince someone to run against a sitting senator. Political races are expensive both in terms of cash and personal time commitment. So, if you know someone who is credible, has great name id, could partially self-fund and can take the next year off to run-please send them over. Perhaps you?
4. Why do we hear nothing from the Democratic Party of Georgia on the rubber-stamp Republican government we have?
I personally support the shift to positive messaging for Georgia Democrats. We cannot win elections-and should not win elections-unless we make a compelling argument for why we should be allowed to lead. That means telling folks what we will do, not just why they're bad. I think people get tired of just hearing us beat on the r's.
5. Why was there no uproar among Democrats when SR 3033 (2005) was passed by the General Assembly to urge Georgia lawmakers to support blindly all Bush nominees?
Here's where you find out that I'm honest-I don't know what this is, but I promise I will find out. But, I do think "blind" and "Bush" should always be in the same sentance.
6. Why is there seemingly no statewide Democratic organization even though Democrats have a good chance to elect the new president?
There are actually at least two statewide democratic organizations-the DPG with our affiliate county parties and congressional district organizations and the Georgia Association of Democratic County Party Chairs. Expanding and strengthening this network is part of the 159 County Strategy. We are working to grow where there are no local groups and deepen our roots where there are such groups. The DNC helps fund grassroots development through the 50 State Strategy, and that means meeting measurable goals.
Even though I'm ever the optimist, unless hell freezes over, the outcome of the presidential election will not hinge on Georgia, but we have critical down-ballot races that it will impact and that we must work hard to win. We need your help.
7. Why was there no Democratic outcry regarding Sonny Perdue's land deals?
This was all over all the papers, in ads, on the radio, messaged every thirty seconds, practically, during the 2006 election cycle. I thought if I heard the word Oakey Woods once more I would scream. We were swimming in ink on this. You're right, what he did and is doing is horrible. We all but served warrants. But I don't know how you missed the messaging on this one.
"I could not find a dazzling e-mail address for the Georgia Democratic Party, so I am sending this to others who may know how to get through.
"The Democrats of Georgia have tucked their heads for too long. Those of us who care can do very little without a very strong state party.
"People are waiting. People are tired of DONATE, DONATE! There's nothing happening. - E. Ruth Green, Ph.D."
Here's the link for the email addresses and other contact information for the Party. Perhaps not dazzling, but functional, all the same.
There are a whole lot of us who are not "tucking our heads," but instead are doing all we can do to make our Party stronger. Is it perfect? Far, far from it. Is it frustrating? Often. We have a huge task in front of us, and need every single shoulder at the wheel, including yours. We are making progress, building a foundation for growth and success in elections. So, Bill, don't call 911 just yet, and tell Emily to take a hike. I assure you, there's a great deal happening, not all of it polite.
And I have to say, I was shocked. At least from what they've got on their sites, it seems like the Republicans aren't very interested in women. Granted, all issues are, in one way or another, women's issues. But I'm looking for something specific about the ones we tend to deal with a lot more than our husbands, partners and significant others.
As for the Democrats, they all have places on their websites to address the so-called "women's issues." John Edwards has his Promise for American Women. Chris Dodd wrote the Family and Medical Leave Act. Hillary Clinton is calling herself a "Champion for Women." Joe Biden has a whole section on his website called "Empowering Women to Take Charge."
So I assumed that the GOP candidates would have similar topics on their sites.
I'm still looking.
According to NBC, John Edwards has launched a pledge drive today, asking voters to sign a pledge refusing to support any candidate for president who “accepts campaign contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs.” The campaign hopes to sign up 1 million “voices” by Feb. 5, 2008, the day the primary process hits critical mass as more than 20 states hold their primaries. At first blush, this would seem to impact Clinton but not Obama.My Opinion: This is the kind of thing that really infuriates me. With issues like the war, our broken healthcare system, education, the economy, and so on and so on…Tricking the voting public with wedge issues like this makes me sick. The only thing worse than using a wedge issue to manipulate the voting public, is a wedge issue that will take take away personal rights of women…This is an infuriating story.
Dear Amy,
As you may know, on March 1st, a tornado ripped through Americus, which is just down the road from Plains, where Jimmy and I live. The destruction was massive, but the community has rallied and rebuilding is ongoing.
Sumter Regional Hospital <http://www.gha.org/directory/directory/Sumter1.JPG> The hospital that serves our area - Sumter Regional Hospital - was totally destroyed that day. Insurance money won't begin to cover all that it will take to rebuild our hospital. The good news is that we all have a chance to pitch in to help with just a few clicks of a mouse.
Siemens is holding a contest to give away a new MRI machine to a hospital in America that needs it. A new MRI machine costs almost $1 million, and I can tell you that Sumter Regional Hospital has a great need for it. It would mean a lot to me and our community if you would go to www.winanmri.com <http://www.winanmri.com/> , watch the powerful two-minute video called "Blown Away - Sumter Regional Hospital," and vote for our hometown Hospital.
Right now, we are in first place, but the second place hospital is just outside of Buffalo, an area with a much larger population than southwest Georgia! You will see that many hospitals, including other great hospitals in Georgia, have posted videos. Many of them are deserving, but I hope you will take the two minutes to hear our story and help us.
You can vote once a day, every day. Please vote often and forward this message to your family and friends asking them to do the same. The last day to vote is December 31st.
Our grandson, Jason, started Democrats Work because of a deep belief that Democrats can and should do more to help improve their communities in tangible ways every single day. I know you've been involved with Democrats Work because you feel the same way. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to help a community in need, and I am grateful for your support.
On behalf of my whole family, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Rosalynn Carter
----------------
There are lots of things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. One little table in the corner of my living room tells the story of four things I am very grateful for. The table holds a carnival glass dish, a lamp and a pottery pitcher holding a ceramic yellow daffodil, and reminds me of the values of charity, thriftiness, patience and perseverance I am grateful for learning from my family as I grew up.This is going to be an expensive battle for public school advocates, one that we will not win unless we fight differently than we have in the past. An organized, well-funded plan is needed to defeat this legislation and keep the Glenntax off the 2008 ballot.
Right. It's is a little insulting, isn't it, that they assume that because of where I live, where I shop and what kind of car I drive, that I must be a "strong supporter of the President and our Party?"
Amazing, isn't it, that anyone would enjoy reflecting on these seven long years? I was going to break down and buy the calendar for some of my friends as a yearlong reminder to vote for a Democrat in November of 2008, but then I realized that the RNC didn't exactly choose the pictures I had in mind. Plus, why buy theirs when I can make my own?
Here's my version of the George W. Bush 2008 Commemorative Calendar:
What do women want? It's not diamonds or pearls, but instead, shorter work days, more free time, a vacation. A chance to see their doctor when they're ill would be good, too.
Welcome Sign Created By Groover Children
Elizabeth Edwards and Duke Groover
Elizabeth Edwards and Lauren Benedict
Carol Porter, Elizabeth Edwards, DuBose Porter
Things are heating up in Iowa! Guest post from Mike Miller:Go, John, go!!! In the past two weeks, two highly respected polls (Zogby last week and now CBS/NY Times) have reported that Clinton's support is declining in Iowa and Edwards is steadily improving his numbers. According to the highly respected CBS/New York Times Iowa poll released yesterday, Clinton's lead in Iowa has all but evaporated in the past couple of weeks and John Edwards is in striking distance of the lead!
In fact, he may already be in the lead - Clinton's lead over Edwards is now well-within the statistical margin of error!
Here are the numbers:
Clinton 25%
Edwards 23%
Obama 22%
And a whopping 33% of her supporters reported that they "liked her with reservations."
Edwards's "favorables" with his supporters were also stronger than Clinton's were with hers. 71% of Edwards supporters reported that they "strongly favor" him. Only 66% of Clinton supporters reported that they "strongly favor" her.
Experience clearly divides the candidates: 8 in 10 say Clinton is "prepared for being president," 68% said Edwards is prepared for the job, but just over half think that Obama has not. However, Clinton is viewed by many likely caucus-goers as pandering and dishonest: 47% think Clinton says what she believes, but 48% think she only says what she thinks people want to hear. The CBS/NY Times poll notes that "Of the top three candidates, only Edwards is viewed as both being prepared for the job of President and as someone who says what he believes."
Overall, Edwards tops all candidates with the highest "favorable rating," with 73% of likely caucus-goers reporting that they view Edwards favorably. Also, the Clinton complaint that she's being unfairly attacked has gotten little traction, as 25% say she is not being attacked and 34% say that she is being attacked fairly.
I have previously reported on the importance of "second-choice" votes on caucus night. You will recall that candidates need at least 15% in a local caucus to be eligible for delegates. Supporters of candidates who do not receive 15% will then have the opportunity to support one of the remaining candidates. According to this poll, only Edwards, Clinton and Obama meet the 15% threshold. As I have oft stated, the "second choice" votes are critical to victory. Edwards is the winner there. Among likely caucus-goers who identify themselves as either Richardson, Bidden, Dodd, Kucinich or Gravel supporters, 30% chose Edwards as their second choice, 27% chose Obama as their second choice, and only 14% chose Clinton as their second choice.
Stay tuned. And don't miss the CNN debate tomorrow night - it's getting hot in Iowa.
A.D. Hamrick in Uniform, WW II
The Sims, High Speed Transport (right)
Dad's Uniform
Dale Cardwell, candidate for U.S. Senate, is having a press conference in Macon today (Nov. 12th) at 1:00 pm outside the Bibb County Courthouse. Cardwell, an investigative reporter by profession, is announcing a series of "investigation reports" about Sen. Chambliss. This press conference is open to the public.
So. Tonight Daryl and I went to our favorite Macon restaurant, Natalia's, and guess who else was there? John Oxendine and Erick Estrada, who I think are in town for a public event. They were very gracious to other guests, taking photographs, and chatting. But, I did find it humorous, as they were leaving, Estrada got into a car with some other folks, but not with Oxendine. As the car drove away, I couldn't help but notice the bumper sticker: "I Miss Bill." I wonder if Oxendine misses him, too?
Next week, on the day after the presidential primary debate in Nevada, Elizabeth Edwards will be in Macon for a fundraiser. Her timing could not be better.
With a 67% increase in the foreclosure rate from 2005 to 2006, Georgia has certainly felt the weight of the crash of the sub-prime lending market. As creditors aggressively marketed sub-prime loans, especially in minority communities, for many, the American Dream was transformed into the American Nightmare.
I leave town for two days, and look what happens. Today, the Telegraph endorsed libertarian, David Corr. Corr is running a write-in campaign against James Timley, who currently holds the citywide seat on Council. The election is Tuesday. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think Corr made history today just by getting the paper's endorsement. In the twenty-two years I've lived in Macon, I think this is the first time the Telegraph has endorsed either a libertarian or a write-in candidate. On Tuesday, will Macon voters hand Corr another first? Will he become the first write-in candidate to be elected to Council? And, if he wins, will Motley Crew play the inaugural? Stranger things have happened.
http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2199 We've Come a Long Way, by Kate Michelman Remember the commercial: We've come a long way baby. Well, have we? That's the question American women need to ask themselves. We earn 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. We are 48% more likely to live in poverty than men. 17 million adult women lack health insurance. Millions of us struggle to balance jobs and the needs of our families. A long way? Not nearly long enough. But now that we have the first viable female candidate for President of the United States, things will get better for women, right? Her candidacy will positively affect public perception regarding women in politics and business - and that change will benefit all women - even the women struggling in dead end jobs, scrapping by on minimum wage, raising their families on their own? Not so fast. As women take a second look at the candidates, now that attention is focusing more on the issues and how each of the candidates would lead, how they would make decisions; now that making a choice is becoming real, less about celebrity, more about being president, legitimate questions are being raised about Senator Clinton. And we're all learning something. When unchallenged, in a comfortable, controlled situation, Senator Clinton embraces her political elevation into the "boys club." She is quick to assure listeners she is plenty tough enough, that she's battled tested, ready to play be the same rules as the boys. But when she's challenged, when legitimate questions are asked, questions she should be prepared to answer and discuss, she is just as quick to raise the white flag and look for a change in the rules. She then calls questioning, 'attacking;' she calls debate among her peers, 'piling on.' It's a political strategy, no doubt focus grouped and poll tested: make it look unseemly that this group of men would question her and hold her accountable for her record. It's trying to have it both ways; walk the fence, something Senator Clinton's good at. At one minute the strong woman ready to lead, the next, she's the woman under attack, disingenuously playing the victim card as a means of trying to avoid giving honest, direct answers to legitimate questions. As a woman who's been in the public eye and experienced scrutiny, as a woman who knows how hard it can be for women to earn their seat at the leadership table, how hard women have to work just to get the same opportunities, this distresses me. It is not presidential. Any serious candidate for president should have to answer tough questions and defend their record. Any serious candidate for president should make their views clear and let the American people know where they stand on issues. And any serious candidate for president should be held to the same standard - whether man or woman. Have we have come a long way? Well, far enough to know better than to use our gender as a shield when the questions get too hot.
WellCare Faces Lawsuits, Calls To End Enrollment
By CAROL GENTRY, The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 31, 2007
Previous Coverage:
10/30/07: State Halts Expansion Of Troubled WellCare
<http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBFD6P5F8F.html>
10/27/07: Investors Continue WellCare Exodus
<http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBIFBSF98F.html>
10/26/07: WellCare Stock Plunges In Wake Of Raid
<http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/oct/26/na-wellcare-stock-plunges-in-wa
ke-of-raid/>
10/25/07: FBI Agents Raid WellCare
<http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGBRPJ6R68F.html>
TAMPA - As its share price continued to slide, WellCare Health Plans
dealt Tuesday with a flurry of other problems, led by a halt to its expansion plans in Florida.
It was the sixth day since a coordinated raid by federal and state agents on the Tampa headquarters of the insurer, which has 2.3 million
members in its drug and HMO-style plans - all of them Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
None of the agencies involved in the investigation has said what they
were looking for that day, or why. Neither has the company. But that
doesn't halt speculation, or the rush to the courthouse.
On Tuesday, a New Jersey investor filed suit in Tampa - at least the
fourth federal case so far - that accuses the officers and directors of
falsely inflating financial results to promote a run-up in the stock
price, and then cashing in on their stock options to become
millionaires.
The suit, Rosky v. Farha, names every current member of the board except
former Sen. Bob Graham. He has been on the board only a short time and was not at last week's quarterly meeting, which was interrupted by 200 agents from the FBI, state Medicaid fraud unit and Medicare inspector
>general's office. Todd Farha is WellCare's chairman and chief executive
officer.
WellCare filed a form with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
Tuesday afternoon saying that the investor who sued lacks standing to
pursue the case. The statement did not address the accusations of
financial misstatements or unjust enrichment.
A more immediate problem for WellCare cropped up Monday night when the
Agency for Health Care Administration said it was placing a hold on the
company's request for expansion in the state, pending the outcome of the
investigation. AHCA provided details on the expansion plans Tuesday, releasing letters that outlined the company's requests.
WellCare had asked to begin enrolling Medicaid beneficiaries in an additional 11 counties in Florida.
Already the largest Medicaid contractor in Florida, WellCare
subsidiaries Staywell and Healthease had planned to begin enrolling low-income people in Citrus, Lake and Hendry counties on Dec. 1 and in Hernando and Sumter counties Jan. 1. Healthease planned to move into
five counties in North Florida and Indian River County on the Atlantic
coast in coming months.
Currently WellCare has Medicaid permission to operate in 34 counties in
Florida.
WellCare also sought permission to expand its enrollment in Duval
County, where the state is conducting a Medicaid Reform project, from a maximum of 3,500 to 6,000 people. That action, too, is on hold.
In announcing the moratorium on WellCare's expansion Monday night, AHCA
Secretary Andrew Agwunobi said in a release that he was taking 'precautionary measures.' He asked that beneficiaries and health care
providers call 1-888-419-3456 if they had concerns about any Medicaid
managed-care plan.
The release also said the agency's inspector general and Medicaid director would review the state's managed-care contracting policies to
see whether they needed strengthening. AHCA spokesman Doc Kokol said
Tuesday that this, too, was merely a precaution, that there was no reason to assume that the questions about WellCare had anything to do with its contract.
Meanwhile, about 2,000 miles north of the company's base, the leader of a consumer group called on federal Medicare officials to stop
automatically assigning low-income beneficiaries into WellCare drug and
HMO plans across the country until the unspecified allegations of financial impropriety are resolved.
'This is something that's pressing for both beneficiaries and
taxpayers,' said Judith Stein of Willimantic, Conn., executive director of the non-profit Washington-based group Center for Medicare Advocacy. WellCare received more than $4 billion from taxpayers last year.
The people about whom Stein is concerned are low-income Medicare beneficiaries who are assigned to a drug plan when they don't select one
on their own. Of the 1.1 million WellCare members from Medicare, about 452,000 arrived at the company through auto-enrollment, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS calls the process 'auto-facilitation.'
About 38,000 of the auto-enrolled Medicare beneficiaries live in Florida, according to CMS data. Florida's Medicaid program also uses auto-enrollment for many in the state program for low-income families.
Stein says it doesn't make sense for CMS to add more money to the hundreds of millions of dollars it sends the company each month while
Its own inspector general and others are investigating how the money is used.
CMS had no immediate response to Stein's request.
R
Both Florida and Georgia Medicaid programs - WellCare's two largest
customers - also auto-enroll. A Florida consumer group, Community Health
Action Information Network, said Medicaid should halt auto-assignment pending the outcome of the investigation, but spokesmen for both state Medicaid plans said they have no plans to do so.
On Tuesday, the company's stock continued its slide, falling $6.58, or
23 percent, to $22.04. The shares had reached above $120 last week but
plummeted after the Oct. 24 raid by federal and state officials.
Reporter Carol Gentry can be reached at cgentry@tampatrib.com or (813)
>259-7624.
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