Oh my god, I can't believe, a real progressive Democrat has formed an exploratory committee to run for the Senate seat currently tainted by that weasel Saxby Chambliss. Daily Kos, I give you Josh Lanier. After the slime that Chambliss, and his fellow future member of hell Karl Rove, dumped on Max Cleland, a true warrior who fought for his nation, many Georgians have been aching for a chance to dump Saxby. Looks like we might actually have that chance.
Our previous choices were Vernon Jones, Dale Cardwell, and Rand Knight. Not very uplifting, I know. Vernon Jones was the corrupt DeKalb Co. CEO, once charged with rape and a self-styled Bush-votin' conservative Democrat. Dale Cardwell is a political neophyte who is doing everything in his power to run to the RIGHT of Saxby. And, Rand Knight AKA Flounder...'nuff said. With these three choices I was planning on skipping the vote completely as it looked like Jones was going to run away with the Democratic nomination.
The dream was for Cleland or former Governor Roy Barnes to make a run for the seat, a poll actually showed Barnes running a very, very competitive race, however both passed. Then, dreams were layed for former Senator Sam Nunn, former State Senator Wyc Orr, or David Polythress. All, it seems, have passed. Depression set in...
Until the announcement of an exploratory by Josh Lanier. He is a Vietnam Veteran and former staffer of Senator Herman Talmadge, and a man brave enough and with big enough balls to stand up to Saxby and Bush and proclaim the war in Iraq not a war but an occupation. Gotta love it. Be sure and visit his website and watch the video on the front page. It is a good introduction to a true candidate to stand up to Saxby.
This from the press release:
In approving the action, Lanier also took the unusual step of requiring the exploratory committee to operate to the spirit and requirements of pending bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate, known as the "Fair Elections Now Act" that, if law today, would provide voluntary public funding for Senate elections. By doing so, Lanier restricted donations to his exploratory committee to a maximum of $100, among many requirements.
In a video message on the committee's website - www.friendsofjoshlanier.com - Lanier told supporters that "we must face the truth that big money and special interests have paralyzed and polarized our political process" and that it was "time to do right." He also sharply challenged the Bush Administration's actions in Iraq, called for a return to federal fiscal discipline and stressed the need for "fearless and affordable health care for all Americans."
I don't know how this "clean campaigning" is going to work, but I'd like to see the oily influence of big money get the hell out of elections.
Hey, if you got a few dollars how about donatin' so we can convince them man to make a definite run and send that weasel Saxby home for comparing a disabled American veteran to a terrorist scumbag. Remember the maximum is $100.00. Thanks.
Damn, I am in a great mood now. The sun has risen!!! Let's dump Saxby!!!
UPDATE:
Here is Lanier's ActBlue page. Give up the green! h/t klondike.