The following is a message from Travis Hopkins from Overstock.com. Several states have adopted and are trying to adopt what we are calling an advertising tax. I DO NOT bring this to your attention so you can have a ready made bill in the state of Georgia. I bring it to your attention because if this type of bill were to be introduced in the state of Georgia, I would take up the cause and fight it with everything I have. I am an affiliate marketing manager. My customers are merchants and their customers are affiliates, some of whom live in Georgia. The advertising tax in New York has devastated the incomes of many stay at home internet savvy affiliates because merchants no longer wish to work with them. I will be your worst nightmare if I see this bill introduced in Georgia!

January 25, 2010

Dear Affiliate:

Overstock.com values your advertising efforts on our behalf, and we hope to be in a position to continue our business connection for years to come. However, we are writing to inform you the Colorado state
legislature has introduced a bill which puts our continued relationship in jeopardy. HB 1193 (Concerning the Collection of Sales and Use Taxes on Sales Made by Out‐of‐State Retailers) was introduced on January 22, 2010. We are told the bill is moving quickly. This bill is modeled on a bill first passed in New York. The legislation attempts to establish responsibility for collection of sales tax for out‐of‐state retailers if those out‐of‐state retailers use Colorado‐based affiliate advertisers. We believe such bills are not only harmful to business, but unconstitutional and contrary decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court.

More importantly, if HB 1193 passes, Overstock.com will have to sever relationships with Colorado Affiliates before the bill becomes law. We have done this in each state where such legislation has passed: New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island.However, in at least 3 states last year, the voices of local affiliate advertisers were heard. They pointed out that such legislation was unconstitutional, would be bad for local business and would not increase state revenues. Those bills were either not passed or vetoed by informed governors.

You may want to make your voice heard on the matter. Currently, we have information that the bill is on the agenda of the House Appropriations Committee for hearing Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at
8:30AM. It is uncertain if the Committee will hear public comment at the meeting, but they may, and you may want to attend the hearing. If you cannot, but would like to voice your opinion, you may do so by contacting the bill’s sponsor Rep. Jack Pommer (jack.pommer.house@state.co.us; (303) 866‐2780) or your local legislator.

Again, Overstock.com values your work, and we are confident that, like other states recently examining and rejecting this legislation, Colorado will also see that this bill is bad for business and bad for Colorado.

Respectfully,

Jonathan E. Johnson III
President
Overstock.com, Inc.

We just bought a house in Willow Springs and I was shocked to find out we don’t have automated garbage collection in Roswell. I have a brochure from CWS and a website for Roswell Recycles, but I have to buy my own cans??? I’m sorry but from my days as a PR guy in the solid waste and recycling industry, I can’t believe Roswell still has guys getting out of the truck and throwing garbage cans into the back.



We should have 64 or 96 gallon automated carts at each house and a nice big shiny new truck that comes by weekly to scoop up the cart with an automated arm. Think about the benefits of greater efficiency, reduced worker injuries, improved neighborhood aesthetics and volume-based rate structures (PAYT).



Not that I want to rile up the homeowner’s association before I actually move in, but I would like to have the discussion. I can’t believe some of the crappy discount store garbage cans I saw on the street this week.



I’d like to hear from anyone on their opinions about this topic.

– The John Albers for State Senate Campaign is proud to announce the first of several cutting edge, high tech communication initiatives with the release of its new iPhone app and Blackberry/smart phone mobile sites.



Campaign Manager Wesley McCall explained the importance of these new technologies to the campaign’s winning campaign plan. Said McCall, “North Fulton voters are the most tech-savvy and involved voters in the state. To reach our highly educated and wired community, campaigns and elected officials need to maximize the latest technology and communications tools. The Albers campaign is setting the standard with some of the most technologically advanced communications and outreach tools provided by any campaign.”



The Albers applications are some of the most advanced and innovative available in the nation today. Users will be able to follow the campaign’s progress, get John’s views on top issues, view videos, download ring tones and sign up to become a volunteer


John Albers emphasized the importance of using technology to communicate with voters. Said Albers, “The entire focus of my campaign is serving the needs of the families of north Fulton. The best way to meet the needs of our families is by providing easy ways to communicate those needs to public officials, and we are leading the way with these new online tools. I am a strong proponent of using technology to improve communication and maximize efficiencies in business. Our campaign is demonstrating in a small way how we can bring technology to bear in public service to improve communication and eventually lower the cost of government to taxpayers.”



Voters may download the iPhone application at the iTunes store or the Albers campaign website – www.votealbers.com. Blackberry and other smart phone users can access the Albers campaign mobile site at www.votealbers.com. For more information or questions, please contact the campaign at info@votealbers.com.

Sam Olens, Republican candidate for Attorney General, is pleased to announce his new campaign literature features quotes from two respected leaders in Georgia’s Congressional delegation.


Congressman Phil Gingrey states the following, “Under Sam’s conservative leadership, Cobb County has the lowest property taxes and the lowest crime rate in the metropolitan Atlanta area.”


Congressman Tom Price adds “Sam Olens has made Cobb County the envy of local governments nationwide. It is one of the most fiscally conservative and best managed counties in the U.S.”


In addition, the piece also includes quotes from Georgia State Senator leader, Tommie Williams and former U.S. Attorney for the Middle and Northern districts of Georgia, Joe D. Whitley.


“I am grateful for the outspoken support of the Georgia’s most respected public servants,” said Olens. I plan to live up to their endorsements and build on the momentum it gives our campaign.

So much for objective journalism.


So much for strong lead sentences in newspaper stories.


So much for trying to keep respect when dealing with public officials.


This morning’s story from Jon Gillooly at the Marietta Daily Journal is just another embarrassment to the dying newspaper industry. Why you ask? Because the reporter clearly has lost his objectivity and shows sarcasm in a poorly written story. I’m not commenting on the subject matter of the story, just the structure and the opinions inserted by the reporter, or during the editing process.


When I was a reporter, my main concern was getting the story right and ignoring the publisher’s demands/wishes and sometimes the editor for that matter. I never wanted to be the hardcore investigative journalist with no soul. But it turned out that I was pretty darn good at it. The difference was that I was fair and objective. I listened to all sides and wrote the story down the middle, informing the reader and giving them the chance to decide for themselves. I stood up to that old man in the corner office and did it my way and fought them when they tried to change the “tone” of my stories. When it was time for me to leave, I left.


It’s been nearly 13 years since I quit the Marietta Daily Journal and I don’t regret my decision one bit. Unfortunately, the old man has corrupted yet another reporter and is no doubt pulling him into the vortex (the corner office) and telling him what to ask and how to write.


When public officials refuse to talk with a reporter or yell and threaten when asked for comment that means one of two things in my book. The reporter is on to something big and the bulk of the community is behind them, the reporter is a chump for the publisher or the reporter is an asshole.


I was never a chump or an asshole. I treated the subjects of my stories with respect and I gave them the benefit of the doubt for the sake of good objective reporting. I seriously doubt this is the current case.


Just do your job!

The Ox vs. King Roy The Rat – I love it!

Full script:
EYES ONLY

The Rat vs. the Ox

GIRLS VOICE:
Heeeees back…..
NARRATOR:

He can’t let go of the idea of power

His liberal, anti business, anti, education, anti agriculture policies were rejected by Georgia
But…

GIRLS VOICE:
Heeeees back….

NARRATOR:
He admits he did not listen to Georgia

He admits he was impatient with Georgia

He admits he did not want to explain things to Georgia

He wanted everything his way

He alone changed our flag

He alienated our teachers

He expanded our government

And now?

GIRLS VOICE:
Heeeees back….

NARRATOR:
For even more.

Who is this that let all this happen?

Who let our beloved state collapse by keeping his special interest friends and Party in power?

Who put politics ahead of the people?

Some just call him King Roy – the Rat!

He did let the power of the Gold Dome go to his head

He did forget the people

But, he did not forget the lust for power

Who can stop King Roy –the Rat?

Who is strong enough to defeat King Roy – the Rat?

Who is strong enough to protect Georgia from King Roy – the Rat and his liberal big government policies?

THE OX

The Ox has been on duty for Georgia

When there was disaster – the Ox was there. Strong enough to fix the problem, graceful enough to care for the people.

When Georgians need an advocate for consumers – the Ox was there. Strong enough to right the wrong graceful enough to care for the people.

When Georgia needed a champion for conservative government – the Ox was there. Strong enough to oppose the special interest, graceful enough to care for the people.

THE OX

Loud enough to say NO to King Roy – the Rat

Graceful enough to have a servants heart and care for the people

The Rat is back to bring liberalism to Georgia.

The Ox is the one who is strong enough to stop the rat.

The Rat is back to raise taxes

The Ox says that may work in California but not Georgia

The Rat is back to oppose Georgia teachers and students

The Ox says that may work in New York but not Georgia

The Rat is here to open Georgia up to the Obama liberals in Washington DC

The Ox says Obama may want that but Georgia does not

The Rat is here to expand state government

The Ox says that may work in France but not Georgia

VOICE:

It has been asked what is stronger than the Ox? Georgia conservatives know when it comes to protecting us and fighting for the Ronald Reagan philosophy of Faith, family, and freedom only The Ox is strong enough for Georgia.

Georgia knows the real question is who is stronger than the rat and Georgia knows only The Ox can stop the rat.

The Ox: strong.conservative.values

It’s somewhat refreshing to read that the AJC will no longer endorse candidates but its also disingenuous, since we could always predict which candidates or should I say “party” they would endorse anyway.

After listening carefully to readers and thinking deeply about the modern role of a newspaper in elections, the AJC Editorial Board is taking a new approach to election coverage, beginning with this November’s elections.
Going forward, our board will use its unique position to work for readers in pursuing with candidates the issues that are critical to the future of our community. The board will provide readers with clear, concise information about candidates’ positions and records. The AJC will no longer endorse political candidates….
We have heard from readers — and we agree — that you don’t need us to tell you how to vote.

Read the rest of the story at the AJC.

I spotted this YOU LIE! bumper sticker in east Cobb this afternoon. You gotta love east Cobb Republicans…

I’ve started reading FairTaxSOWEGA.com in my spare time. The fair tax would hurt my fiancée’s accounting business but I believe it is the solution to all of our tax woes. I’ll be learning more over the next few months.

I found this great little website called BitchOGram.com. Send an anonymous email, phone text or post card to anyone and tell them what you really think of them. In this case, send it to your favorite or least favorite politician. Isn’t this just the coolest concept? Free Speech be Heard!

You can choose different backgrounds and really take some time to create a meaningful, yet totally anonymous message to the recipient. I can only imagine the frequent bloggers and commenters over at Peach Pundit would love to use this service on certain gubernatorial candidates.