Dec 02 2008
Republicans Hold on to Important Senate Seat in Georgia
The GOP may have gotten walloped in last month’s elections, but, at least for the time being, life is good.
According to Robbie Brown and Carl Hulse of The New York Times, Georgia Republican senator Saxy Chalmbliss single-handedly crushed Democratic hopes for a filibuster-proof majority in the upper house of Congress by winning a run-off election against opponent Jim Martin.
For the past several weeks, anxiety had been high as members of both parties awaited the results of three inconclusive Senate races in Alaska, Georgia, and
Minnesota.
In Alaska, Republican incumbent Ted Stevens, who was convicted on corruption and ethics violation charges in late October, was running a tight race against Democratic challenger Mark Begich. On Nov. 18, The Associated Press declared Begich the winner, and Stevens conceded the election the following day.
In Georgia, since neither candidate was able to capture a majority on Election Night, state law required that a run-off election be held.
“With 95 percent of the state’s precincts reporting in Tuesday’s runoff election, Mr. Chambliss had 58 percent of the vote, and his Democratic challenger, Jim Martin, had 42 percent,” report Brown and Hulse. “The margin was far greater than the three percentage points that separated the two men in the Nov. 4 election, when neither got the required 50 percent. Many of the Democrats who turned out last month in enthusiastic support of Barack Obama apparently did not show up at the polls on Tuesday.”
The third inconclusive Senate race, the one held in Minnesota, is being decided by a recount.
The Democrats needed at least 60 seats for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. As of right now, they currently hold 56 seats, along with two independents who caucus with the party.
Source: The New York Times
This sucks for several reasons. Chambliss represents the worst in politicians. Martin was actually a decent Democrat, and would have served well in the Senate. Now we’re stuck with a hateful man who’s purpose in Washington will be to stand with Mitch McConnell in order to filibuster legislation that will benefit the country.
Hooray. Progress will be hindered again.
Fingers are still crossed for Franken.
It just goes to prove that you can’t take the cracker out of the Georgian. Not only were blacks slaves in Georgia, there is a whole population of whites who were treated little better and are still treated little better and Chambliss was one of their bossmen. Chambliss is a pretty ugly person when you look at him closely.
As someone who is slightly right-of-center, i see this as a good thing because it’ll keep the Democrats from having absolute power in the Senate (or something like that). I tend to favor divided govt. Although i have to admit, if i had voted in that election, i would probably have voted for Martin because he seems like a decent guy and i don’t like Chambliss very much.
Divided government is only good when both sides actually intend on being cooperative. When the opposition is intent upon being obstructive, it hurts.
In this case, it isn’t so much divided as just not major enough to let the Democrats get away without at least some measure of trying to please at least the moderates on the other side. With just a little cooperativeness, I’d bet that the Democrats can find three of four Republicans that they can deal with.
That’ll pull them towards the Center and prevent too much of a swing to the far left without giving the fundies too much of a feeling that they can always obstruct things.
Just about right for the times, I’d say.
R, i hope the Dems see things the way you do! If would be a huge mistake for them to pursue a far-out Leftwing agenda.
Btw, i wonder how long it will take them to screw, like the Republicans did, and lose one or both houses of Congress. Any bets on 2010?
I think it’s good that one party doesn’t control everything at once. No matter how one-sided you are, it’s good to hear and listen to the opposite point of view.
“I think it’s good that one party doesn’t control everything at once.”
I do too. Divided government worked under Clinton, Reagan, Eisenhower, Nixon, and Truman. It’s amazing to think that from 1933-1995, the Dems controlled Congress by wide margins, with only a few minor interruptions. Something tells me they won’t do that again anytime soon.