Saxby Chambliss pulls away to win in Georgia
By David Neiwert Tuesday Dec 02, 2008 8:30pm
Well, there goes Democrats' chances of getting 60 seats:
ATLANTA - Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss won re-election Tuesday in a runoff, dashing Democrats' hopes of capturing enough seats in the U.S. Senate to thwart Republican filibusters.
Chambliss' election to a second term gives the GOP a firewall against Democrats eager to flex their newfound political muscle in Washington. The monthlong runoff battle against Democrat Jim Martin captured the national limelight, drawing political luminaries from both parties to the state and flooding the airwaves with fresh attack ads.
Minnesota — where a recount is under way — now remains the only unresolved Senate contest in the country. With 92 percent of the recount completed, the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s tally had Republican Norm Coleman leading Democrat Al Franken by 340 votes, with nearly 6,000 ballots challenged.
The worst aspect of this is that Sarah Palin gets to claim some credit for the win. Sigh.
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Not because he is a gooper and not because Palin gets to rear her head - again - but because Chambliss is a complete POS.
I don't think it's a shame at all. In the short term it would have been great for the Democrats to have a filibuster-proof majority. But in the long run it actually fits into the long term strategy to marginalize the Republican party. In Paul Waldman's book Being Right is not Enough and Thomas Schaller's book Whistling Past Dixie they both argue that the Republicans have embraced right wing extremists in order to win the last two presidential election cycles, and it's now possible to marginalize them by chaining them to that base. For a variety of reasons, most of the extremists, segregationalists, etc. are located in Dixie. Now that the Democrats have captured the moderates, and the southern extremists are pretty much all that's left of the Republican base, it's time to lock them up in that region, making them less and less acceptable to moderates in the rest of the country.
To this end, it helps to have all of the high profile Republican leaders be extremists from the south. (Yes, obviously there are lots of moderates in the south, too. But if the Republican party can be chained to the extremists, all the better.) Furthermore, they should be the most extreme social conservatives and right wing populists. This means Democrats should TARGET moderate Republicans for election defeat, while leaving the most extreme ones intact, unchallenged, and highly visible. So, here we have the best possible scenario. Both Chambliss and the base are now claiming that he won because he was faithful to the conservative principles, and that the other Republicans lost because they were not conservative ENOUGH. At the moment the two biggest heros in the Republican party are Sarah Palin and Saxby Chambliss, both of whom are popular with the extremist Republican base, but unpalatable to moderates and independents. As long as the Republicans are going apeshit over the idea of winning by making the party MORE southern, and taking it FARTHER to the right, the Democrats will be in good shape to capture the center. The more they think this really IS a center-right nation, and the secret to winning is moving farther and farther to the right, the less chance they'll have of regaining power.
Maybe, but with our very limiting two-party system, it seems to me a lot of disaffected Repugs will be drawn into the Democratic Party, thus dragging it, and allowing it to be dragged, even farther to the right. The wingnuts aren't the whole problem in this country; it's also that the left is ignored, even by its own representatives (Obama, does this include you?). Moderate wingnuts are still wingnuts, and they're not good for any party.
If the Republicans can be amde to look like the bad guy EVERY TIME they filibuster something the majority of Americans would want THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SPOTLIGHT SHINED ON THEM.
And like you said, if these people think that the Palin mentality is the future of the Republican Party I think they are in for a rude awakening - hopefully moderates and independents EVERYWHERE will have none of it.
They seem to be convinced that the only way they can win is by pulling the country further to the right and if this last election wasn't a wake up call that their in denial then they deserve an EVEN BIGGER rude awakening.
I look forward to the day when they are kicking and screaming and throwing temper tantrums and acting like the savages they truly are - and they realize that not enough people are buying that bull shit!
Though Virgil Goode and Marilyn Musgrave losing last month was not a bad thing either. Nor would I have cried if Michele Bachmann had as well.
and a pedophile... (maybe) ;)
At least Lieberman won't get to be credited with the 60th vote.
Now someones really got to remind me why Lieberman is still around?
if you ever find out. :-)
-- oh!
ooops...
never mind
:-)
now that the dems dont have 60, i'm hoping they will kick him to the curb.
Now, that's the audacity of hope.
The very fact that the Democratic caucus held its vote prior to the new Senate's being inaugurated, thus depriving potential Democratic Senators Martin and Franken a chance to express their views on the matter, and before we actually knew what the ultimate makeup of the Senate would be, demonstrates that they don't really care about the number 60.
Too bad, so Georgia after years of Federal aid to public schools, is rapidly emerging into the 1920s.
The south is easily the most fascinating part of the U.S., because it contains both the best AND the worst of the country at the same time. Yes there is plenty of racism and ignorance there, but there is also idealism and enlightenment. The two are in constant conflict. People in the north like to be smug about civil rights, but let's not forget that the civil rights movement started in the south, and fought its biggest battles there. And being an activist for civil rights in the south is something that could get you KILLED.
But for the other side...the backwards, deliberately ignorant side...when you say the Georgian schools are rapidly emerging into the 1920s, let's not forget that in the south, the 1920s looked more like the 1520s!
This is the same state where a farmer told BBC covering the 2004 election where he compared George Bush to one's son who screws up at baseball but you still love him nonetheless.
*Vomits*
These guys should really secede and let the 'real' America, (urban centers included) to move forward and repair this shit people like the farmer above have contributed to.
I mean as a neighbouring country? Considering their love of guns and hatred of liberals?
F*ck Georgia you dumb asses!
... to the nuclear option?
tsk tsk tsk without georgia we,d have no georgia peaches or pecan pies, no sweet georgia brown and no georgia on my mind!,
...no Stone Mountain, no Leo Frank, no Jim Crow...
I'm ok with this, I don't want either party to have complete control of anything. That's when goofy stuff gets rammed through - remember, Democrats are politicians. To think that having Democrats in control would somehow lead to paradise is absurd. The way our government is setup, the best ideas theoretically come from several sides (it is NOT a 2 party system, nor a democracy - it is a republic) compromising. If the Senate Democrats introduce something that good, getting a few Republicans to side with them shouldn't be a problem.
I'm a liberal, but I don't trust politicians - whatever they name themselves.
The US is a Democracy, since we elect our representatives. And a Republic, since the head of state is not a king.
There are Democratic Republics (like the US, France, and Germany), and Democratic Monarchies (like the UK, Spain, Denmark, etc). Incidentally I don't know of any nondemocratic republic, and I think there is but a couple of authoritarian monarchies.
I'm ok with this, I don't want either party to have complete control of anything. That's when goofy stuff gets rammed through - remember, Democrats are politicians. To think that having Democrats in control would somehow lead to paradise is absurd. The way our government is setup, the best ideas theoretically come from several sides (it is NOT a 2 party system, nor a democracy - it is a republic) compromising. If the Senate Democrats introduce something that good, getting a few Republicans to side with them shouldn't be a problem.
I'm a liberal, but I don't trust politicians - whatever they name themselves.
It's a "constitutional republic"
What country have YOU been living in for the last eight years? The Constitution may be a quaint little historical document, like the Geneva Convention, but America has been a "FIAT REPUBLIC" for a few years now.
With the number of Republicans up for re-election in 2010, this could be yet another incentive to do a good job and go for a net Senate gain then.
Assuming all goes well, you'd think the Democrats could defend their position and pick up a net of at least 4 seats.
Of course 2 years is a long time in politics.
that is 2 elections in a row where they have voted for a draft dodging do nothing over a war hero
fuck georgia
and i agree with everyone above...there is now no earthly reason why holy joe needs to remain in the dem caucus
Actually, that's not unique to Georgia. Look at the presidential elections. Electing JFK over Nixon was the last time America picked the war hero over the draft dodger. (Although Nixon was technically a WWII vet, many would argue that being a SUPPLY OFFICER during WWII was the equivalent of being a draft dodger.)
oh well. Nothing you can do.
he didnt go out to campaign for martin...he couldnt have...unlike the hacks who have gone out for chambliss obama has been busy trying to get his new administration up to snuff, and that is taking up all his time
the whore of the north proved that she doesnt give shit one about alaska...obama is just proving that he indeed is putting america in front of party
NOW FUCKING DUMP HOLY JOE
The greater the liklihood that the inmates (extremist social warriors) retain control of the asylum (the Republican Party) the lower the liklihood of a Republican resurgence. I say give Palin all the credit she wants.
Also, I think way too much is being made of the "60". I think Republicans will have great difficulty getting all of their votes to sustain filibusters, when many of their candidates represent States/districts that do not want to see Obama's program obstructed.
It's too bad a scumbag like him gets in but it's really about all the scumbags who voted for him.
Man, you have some seriously stupid people in your country. Failin' Palin for one big idiot.
Like the Texas School Board with one more young Earth Creationist
to make a majority where they can do anything they want to the school classes.
Yikes. I feel so bad for the innocent students when they go to get a
job and the employers see where they were from and said
"Come back when you get an education".
Georgians got the Representative that they deserve. And when all of their redneck jobs are shipped overseas and their unions are busted, don't come cryin' to the blue states. Oh they're probably already one of those darn mis-named "right to work" states, aren't they? Never mind.
... did to the honorable Max Cleland reserves him a special spot in karmic hell.
Saxby.
Even the name is creepy.
that a republican could defect to the Dems or become an independent like Jeffords did back in the day? Bless his heart.
Actually I'm glad the Democrats won't have unbridled control of the government, we hated it when Bush had it. Checks and balances are good.
This will allow Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi to make all the excuses about not doing their jobs.
Reid forced Dodd and Feingold to try and filibuster the NSA wiretapping, but when the republicans threatened to filibuster anything, Reid would curl up into the fetal position and suck his thumb.
Watch how Reid allows the mere threat of a filibuster to derail anything resembling action.
The democrats need an excuse for failure, and this is just what the chef ordered for dinner.
I'm thinking, "Where was Obama?" Now all of a sudden he can't multitask? If he wants his agenda passed, I would think that it's important to him to have as many team players as possible, but I guess not. The Democrats will only pick up seats in 2010 if they produce results, and the best way to produce results is with as many Blue seats as possible.
Politically Obama would have been foolish to campaign in person in Georgia. There was little or no chance that Martin was going to win. Chambliss failed to get 50%, but the election wasn't that close. It's a shame that anyone can be foolish enough to think it's only worth voting in a presidential race, but obviously, given Martin's poor showing, a lot of "Democrats" didn't bother to show up. Even if they had, it is unlikely that Martin would have won and therein lies the problem for Obama. He is about to become president. He won convincingly in November and will enter the White House with some legitimate claim to a mandate. To have gone to Georgia in a losing cause would only have served to tarnish his victory and diminish his stature. (I think we know the media would have played it up far out of proportion to its actual importance.)
I'm quite sure Obama has plenty to do without making himself appear weak by campaigning in a losing cause.
In a way, I'm relieved that the magic 60 has been removed from consideration. Given who at least five of those 60 senators are, it is absurd to pretend that the Democrats would have had a reliable filibuster-proof majority. To have any hope of that they probably need at least 65 senators, and even then it would be iffy.
Martin's loss also removes importance from the Minnesota race, which Franken is more than likely to lose. If Franken loses, and there is no clear evidence of fraud or misconduct, then the Democrats should accept the Minnesota count as legitimate. If there are firm grounds for believing the final count is incorrect, and there is hard evidence supporting that, then I see nothing wrong with continuing to contest the election. But if Franken simply loses by a margin so painfully small that it could be overturned if some contested ballots that were disallowed are admitted, then I don't think Franken or Democrats should support further action.
In 2004 Chris Gregoire won the Washington State governor's race by 133 votes out of some 2.8 million cast. Republicans whined and cried that the election was stolen, but the truth is in an election that close there is no 100% certain way to determine the winner. There will always be judgment calls and people who disagree with them. I think Gregoire's victory was legitimate, but it easily could have gone the other way (which would have really sucked because Rossi is a major POS).
If the Democrats can't get anything accomplished with 58 senators, perhaps they should consider replacing Harry Reid (I., Nevada), where I = invertebrate, not Independent).
..thanks, o r
A better GOTV effort might have changed the outcome. Obama making an appearance would have helped that.
What a bunch of idiots voting for this guy. It amazes me that people would actually for someone who would most likely make some very bad decisions and screw their lives.
NYGUY-
Thank you for phrasing your distinction "idiots voting for this guy". I campaigned for Martin, voted for Martin, and contributed financially to the Ga. Dem. party.
My friends and I cannot do any more.
For the "F*#K Georgia" crowd: How did you feel when the world reacted to Bush's re-election?
..you did as much as you could there and I personally would like to thank you.
Now come to Canada!
..they're just voting for the candidate which most closely resembles a 'daddy figure' to them, as horrible as that sounds.
Voters turned out very light for this run-off, probably cause Obama wasn't there on the ticket to motivate people. And we all know light turnout favors repugs.
As a vet, I am very disappointed Saxby is still around. It blows my mind
how Georgians could twice, through their voting, be so disrespectful
of our soldiers and citizens.
So the majority of Georgians Hate Our Troops?
Probably not but the majority sure didn't care enough to vote out this scumbag.
Saxby's presence is a reminder of the hateful, warmongering & profiteering GOP.
She simply doesn't have that much clout. She was a nobody two months ago, and if anyone thinks her recycled speech made a difference, I'm sure they believe President Bush has been keeping us safe from terrorism.
It's the same ad hoc ergo propter hoc fantasies the GOP routinely indulges in.
They got it right when they called them crackers!
..and can't quite absorb the real ramifications of this outcome, but am still feeling horribly disappointed.
I'm not so certain that Palin had that much to do with it either. In her big speech, she was in bad voice and CNN even cut away just as she was saying "ya know, me and John McCain are..."
I'm afraid that will make no difference for her cheer squad.
Her supporters are wearing blinders.
That's only fair though since she's also made so many of her non-supporters go blind, if you know what I mean ;-)
And another reason to wait before prejudging the guy's rationale's. Obama knows he'll have to work on the opposite side.
Now that there is no chance of a democratic majority, they can put the noose on Traitor Joe and drop him like a rock.
..would name their child "Saxby".
Living in Atlanta, I got to see first hand the Saxby Slim machine destroy Martin. Martin had no grass roots and only put on 1 commercial for every 4 of Saxby's. He wasn't even able to tap into Obama's grassroots dontations for help.
At least that scumbag Saxby wont be around here for another 5 1/2 years until he needs to be re-elected.
"The worst aspect of this is that Sarah Palin gets to claim some credit for the win. "
That's a good thing. As long as the Republicans refuse to jettison the evangelicals and the likes of Sarah Palin, they will continue to lose elections with the mainstream of the country.
And as much as I like Georgia, I have to wonder the what the collective mindset is to elect a schmuck like Chambliss over Cleland and then re-elect him.
I hate to believe Georgians are that stupid.
I know many people there and none of them are stupid.
Then, explain Joe Lieberman's ongoing bad smell in that state and throughout the entire country.
The DSCC had a chance this fall to knock off loathsome Republican senators in Georgia and Kentucky, but because they didn't want to tap into their personal war chests, they lost an historic opportunity. The DNC won't be getting any money from me for a while -- if they're not willing to pony up and seize the moment, my checkbook's closed.
I guess Georgians would rather vote a pedophile into office rather than have Democrats control both houses.
So the Senate Dems sucked Joe Lieberman's appendage for nothing?
What a surprise...
Of course it was already for nothing because of the blue dogs in office who would vote with the GOP, but they're too moronic to realize that. So let's see if it finally sinks in.
Obama needs this traitorous goof to help get things done...not to satisfy now irrelevant vendettas.
Irrelevant vendetta, or irrelevant agenda to keep an irrelevant failure onboard to produce more entirely irrelevant non-investigations of very relevant (to the tune of 18 billion dollars) graft by Homeland Security?
We'll see.
Chambliss is next to worthless, but he's typical good ol' boy. The repubs think they have turned the momentum, but truth is this state epitomizes stupid....look at its gov, speaker, etc....
all buffoons
Martin did have potential to help this state/country rise to its potential not cower in fear.
Take heart. Chambliss is a dying breed and the things he champions are headed towards oblivion.
2010 is going to see more GOPer senate seats lost.
....but GA has to be represented by a scumbag like chambliss.
Such a low life...and the Georgians fell for it again. Some dumb ass folks back there I'm afraid. Same brew as the morons up in MN that elected that goofy evangelical bitch back to the House. Egads....what's this world come to?
The run off election had a pretty poor turn out and that generally works in favour of the the Reps and of the incumbent.
I mean, seriously. Sexy was never going anywhere, not once they had this runoff in the pipe.
Fuck 'em. The GOoPers and Con(men)servatives are the ones who are sweating like pigs in wool blankets, not us. 60 seats would have been nice, but I still don't have my lil' white pony either and I will be fine.
has a silver lining. Look on the bright side.
A. Franken could win the Minnesota race
B. Maybe a Republican from a state with Dem Governor will die...some
of them Good 'Ole Boys are older than dirt.
C. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Maybe a filibuster proof Senate
wouldn't be such a good idea. You can't totally trust the Dem's
either
Golly, I guess that rubbing the chests of pre-pubescent girls in Thanksgiving Holiday Greetings videos really does work! LOL. Couldn't be the insane cultist's freakishly bizarre occult rituals and invocation to his deity constructs, got to be rubbing little girls. Science must look in to this! }:-}
What?!?! He won?!?! I thought he would have been arrested by now for molesting his granddaughter.
--That was sarcasm by the way - for all the crazies out there who think hugging grandchildren is obscene.
Goes to show you that incest and child molestation are still very popular in the South. I wonder if he likes young boys too..?
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