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.

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.

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

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.

Here I am, busy with real work for the last two months and not enough time to devote to political blogging. I’ve been reading the few press releases that have come my way and I’ve seen a trend. Maybe I just need to get use to this.

It’s the art of slamming someone while trying to kiss their butts. The need to posture and get your point across is essential but do you have to qualify your statements with an apology or a show of respect? Just say what you want, especially you Ox!

With all due respect and appreciation for the Supreme Court of Georgia, I am deeply disappointed in the decision today to reject the challenge to touch-screen electronic voting machines,” said John Oxendine. 9/28/09

Team Ox, here’s my advice, don’t pull any punches. There are plenty of undecided Republicans out here (ME)… Show us what you have.

Oxendine said he respects the work being done by Governor Perdue and like many Georgians he realizes there are no easy answers. “I do not wish to criticize the Governor and continue to offer my support in these trying times,” said Oxendine. 9/28/09

Speaking of candidates for Governor…
Is Karen Handel still running? I don’t think I’ve seen a press release in months. Did Austin Scott ever stop running across America like Forrest Gump? Has Roy Barnes accepted a cage match fight with David Poythress? Does Ray McBerry have any money left?

Strategic Vision, LLC, a public relations and public affairs agency, announced the results of a three-day poll of 800 likely Georgia voters:

If the Republican primary for Governor were held today, for whom would you vote, Nathan Deal, Karen Handel, Eric Johnson, Ray McBerry, John Oxendine, or Austin Scott? (Republicans Only)

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine 38%
Congressman Nathan Deal 16%
Secretary of State Karen Handel 9%
State Senator Eric Johnson 5%
Ray McBerry 3%
State Representative Austin Scott 2%
Undecided 27%

“Oxendine continues to lead in this race and saw his support grow over the past month and now hovers right near the 50% mark,” said David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, LLC. “He is drawing strong support among women aged 45 to 55 and among college educated professionals and is showing strong support in the Atlanta suburbs. Additionally, he is very competitive in the strongholds of his key competitors. Also encouraging for Oxendine is that he appears to be the second choice of Deal, Johnson, and Scott supporters.”

In an email to supporters, Team Oxendine said these numbers speak for themselves:

(1) John has a more than two one lead over his closest opponent.

(2) When you combine the numbers of his two closest opponents, he has more than a 10 point lead over their combined numbers.

(3) John leads all other candidates when you combine their totals.

(4) John is the only candidate to lead the undecided category.
“With Roy Barnes in this campaign, Georgia Republi cans understand we must nominate the strongest candidate to run in the general election,” said Tim Echols, campaign manager for Oxendine. “John Oxendine is that candidate.”

The poll has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. In the poll, 368 (46%) Republican voters were surveyed; with 328 (41%) Democratic voters surveyed; and 104 (13%) Independents and other party affiliation polled.

“John is humbled by these results and he will continue to work very hard to earn the trust and support of Georgia,” said Echols. “We have a lot at stake in this election and Republicans cannot afford to lose.”

See these pictures and more at the 120Politics Facebook Fan Page.

U.S. Rep. Tom Price

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel

Sen. Eric Johnson

Ray McBerry

Georgia Insurance Commission John Oxendine

Rep. Austin Scott, R-153

Brian Kemp, running for Secretary of State

Doug MacGinnitie, running for Secretary of State

Rep. Ralph Hudgens, R-24, running for Insurance Commissioner

Stephen Northington, running for Insurance Commissioner

Gerry Purcell, running for Insurance Commissioner

Look for these photos and more on the 120Politics Facebook Fan Page.

Rep. Judy Manning R-32, walking in the Marietta 4th of July Parade

Cobb Republican Party float

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel

Sen. Eric Johnson, R-1

Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry is pleased to announce the launch of the “States’ Rights Tour” across Georgia beginning August 1, 2009 in Cherokee County. The tour will cover the entire state during the months of August through October.

States’ Rights has recently been a topic much in the news as traditional conservatives across America look for a constitutional solution to an out-of-control federal government; and Ray McBerry has been one of the leading speakers across America on the subject of States’ Rights for more than a decade. The theme of Ray’s campaign for governor, from the beginning, has been “Georgia First!”

The subject of States’ Rights took on a more prominent place in Georgia news in May when the state joined twenty-two other states in passing State Sovereignty resolutions in the Georgia State Senate under the authorship of Sen. Chip Pearson.

Recent attacks by Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including Roy Barnes, against the States’ Rights stand taken by several Republican candidates have led off with Ray’s photo and references to Ray’s comments about the constitutionality of States’ Rights under the Tenth Amendment. Responding to these attacks, Ray commented, “I have been speaking out on the need for the states to, once again, exercise their sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to rein in an out-of-control federal government in defense of the people’s liberty. I am more than happy to be the ‘point man’ for States’ Rights in this race for governor.”

The “States’ Rights Tour” will be joined by State Insurance Commissioner candidate Gerry Purcell and a number of other statewide and local candidates and elected officials who have expressed their mutual support for the principle of States’ Rights.

More information about the upcoming “States’ Rights Tour” will be available shortly at www.GeorgiaFirst.org or by contacting Jenny Hodges, campaign director for Ray McBerry for Governor, at 404.435.8852.

State Rep. Austin Scott, candidate for Governor in 2010, announces that he will embark on a 1,000-mile “Walk of Georgia” tour to begin Saturday, June 27 at Chickamauga in northwest Georgia.

Scott’s walk will take him on foot through more than 1,000 miles of the State in order to meet citizens, listen to their concerns, and ask for their support.

“I am committed to walking throughout the State to listen to my fellow citizens about the challenges they face. I intend to walk right into a runoff alongside whichever candidate purchases the other slot,” Scott said. “Candidates talk of listening to the voters of Georgia but never give them a chance to be heard. I’m changing that with my walk with Georgians.”

The walking and listening tour will take Scott through 48 Georgia counties and dozens of cities and towns with many events along the way. The walk ends on the steps of the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta. Georgians are invited to participate by walking alongside Scott or by following his progress online at www.WalkingWithAustin.com.

A detailed map of the cities on the tour and the ability to put in a request for Scott to stop and speak to a group of citizens along his way are available on the website.

“I am bringing my campaign’s message of servant leadership and conservative reform to every corner of this State. This campaign is about Georgians, and that’s why it’s important for me to take my campaign on the road. While others are talking, I’ll be walking with Georgians, listening and learning about their needs firsthand,” Scott said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to Georgians in their hometowns. I want to hear what Georgians would do if they were governor for a day. This walk will give me an unmatched firsthand knowledge of our great State, and combined with 14 years of experience in the State House, I’m best prepared to govern from day one. I am going to win this race to serve Georgians,” Scott remarked.

Austin Scott is a Republican from Tifton who has served House District 153 for the last 14 years. He is chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves as a member of the Rules Committee, Way and Means Committee, and Appropriations Committee.