After an election, sometimes people feel that all the Democrats are in hibernation.
The CCDC doesn’t have a December breakfast. The East Cobb Dems and the Cobb County Democratic meetup don’t have a December meeting either. It isn’t because Democrats are resting or hiding. It’s because Democrats are very busy with one holiday followed by another and the accompaning shopping, traveling, eating, and partying.
The one big Democratic social event during this time, as always, was the Cobb Democratic Women’s Holiday Open House at the Avery Gallery on Roswell Rd. near the main Marietta Library. The location was perfect – an art gallery, centrally located with great parking and a wonderful atmosphere inside. Special guests of honor were CDW members who were candidates this year: Sheila Jones, Holli Cash, RuthE Levy, Beth Farokhi, and Joan Davis.
I’m told that when Roy Barnes was Governor and let CDW use the Governor’s mansion that the event was extra special. Last year Roy let the CDW use his house in Mableton and except for the parking (the best little shuttle service you ever saw) I’m told that it was a very special party.
Now that we’re into January, with a Democratic Congress, it’s time for Cobb Democrats to start thinking about the next election. Roberto invited me to go to Manuels Bar and Resturant Wednesday in Atlanta for a fund raiser for Rob Teilhet the state rep from Smyrna. A small donation and Rob buys drinks. Politics is fun. Rob was just elected to the new position of assistant whip which puts him in a Democratic leadership position in the state house. Manuels is a local pub and THE place in Georgia for Democrats to be. Buy a drink and walk around the place and see the pictures on the wall of presidents, senators, congressman, and local Georgia politicians. At one table, Roberto introduced me to the Georgia for Democracy folks were getting ready for 06. Then there was Rob’s group in the aisle. At the other end of the building was a meeting of the Atlanta Young Democrats. I said hello to Benson and Shannon Marietta. I met Shannon in South Cobb when we were working for the Rick Crawford for Congress (against Gingrey) campaign 2 years ago. Rick is now a state rep from (as I remember) Cedartown. He is a blue dog Democratic (ie. The kind of Democrats who made Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House).
The next night, I attended the East Cobb Democratic Alliance’s first “At Issue” meeting of the year. "The $8.6 Trillion Debt: Tough Choices and Soaring Federal Deficits," was the subject. Dr. William Gissy, author and instructor in the Department of Economics and Finance at Kennesaw State University was the speaker. He spoke for a half hour and answered questions about economics and politics for an hour. The East Cobb Government Center was occupied, so we ended up at a bank conference room on Johnson’s Ferry Rd. – quite plush and the right size for the crowd – maybe 12 or so from Fulton County, Forsyth County, and Cobb County. Democrats found the meeting on different Democratic web sites.
After the meeting, each one of the 4 or 5 first time visitors was matched up with an East Cobb Dem member who made them feel at home, answered their questions, invited them back, and made sure we had their contact information.
It’s possiple that the next Cobb County Democrats meetup at the Rib Ranch Tuesday Jan. 9, 7:00 and the Cobb Democratic Committee 2nd Saturday of the month breakfast (location to be announced) on Jan. 13 may not be standing room only but after taking over Congress there may be a changing of the wind locally, so I’ll get to both functions early, just to be on the safe side.
Rob Teilhet said that no Democrats in the state house were defeated but about 6-7 changed parties, which means that all the Republicans are finally sitting together.
What is the difference between a Democrat and a Republican in Georgia? In 2007, there is a lot of difference.
Mike Holzknecht, ECDA Grassroots Action Committee Chair 
