Associated Press
Remember Karen Handel? She was the subject of national interest several months ago when Handel, a former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and staunch opponent of abortion rights, directed Komen for the Cure to cut off all grants to Planned Parenthood.
The result was a fiasco. Komen is still trying to undo the damage, and Handel's role as the organization's senior vice-president for public policy quickly ended.
Nearly a year later, Handel has a very different position in mind.
Saxby Chambliss, the two-term senior senator from Georgia, could face a Republican primary challenge in 2014.
Activists and donors alike are expressing dissatisfaction with Chambliss for his perceived move to the left on issues like immigration and taxes. And members of Georgia's House delegation, as reported by Roll Call, like Tom Price, Paul Broun, and Tom Graves, may be considering running against Chambliss in the primary. But GOP and conservative sources say there's another possible candidate: former secretary of state Karen Handel.
"She's considering it," says Rob Sims, a Republican campaign consultant who worked on Handel's unsuccessful run for governor in 2010. Kay Godwin, the co-chairman of Georgia Conservatives in Action, says Handel is among those she's hearing who could successfully challenge Chambliss.
Now, we'll have to wait and see if Handel, or anyone else, actually follows through and launches a primary challenge against Chambliss, but the fact that it's even a possibility speaks to a larger truth about the current state of Republican politics.
By any sane standard, Chambliss is not a moderate. He's not even close to what anyone in the American mainstream would characterize as "the center." According to the most up-to-date information, Chambliss has a lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union of 92.5, putting him well to the right of most of his Republican colleagues. The Georgian's most recent VoteView score puts him at number 80 -- with 0 being the most liberal and 100 the most conservative -- to the right of prominent conservative senators like Mitch McConnell, John Thune, and Orrin Hatch.
In other words, when making a list of conservatives who shouldn't have to worry about their far-right flank, Saxby Chambliss would be on it. And yet, here we are.
Why would the right be unsatisfied with Chambliss? For one thing, he's worked for over a year with Sen. Mark Warner, a moderate Virginia Democrat, on a debt-reduction plan that includes modest tax increases. For another, Chambliss seems inclined to pass comprehensive immigration reform, or at least something resembling it.
That, apparently, buys him a one-way ticket to Primary Town, his overall voting record notwithstanding.
This is important because it helps underscore one of the key reasons so little governing gets done in Washington. In the Obama era, GOP policymakers have been conditioned to believe compromise is itself repulsive, but for those who consider cooperating across the aisle, there's a constant reminder: bipartisan governing will end your career.
Several years ago, a figure like Chambliss would blow off talk like this as mindless chatter, but that's no longer an option -- recent history offers too many examples of Republican incumbents losing GOP primaries to extremist challengers. Just ask Utah's Bob Bennett, Indiana's Dick Lugar, and even Alaska's Lisa Murkowski (though she eventually won after losing her primary). Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter was driven from Republican politics by a primary threat, and even folks like Utah's Orrin Hatch and Arizona's John McCain had to move sharply to the right to stave off intra-party challenges.
Pieces like this one from The Weekly Standard are the practical equivalent of a horse head in Chambliss bed -- if you know what's good for you, don't even consider working in good faith with colleagues who think differently than you do.
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These are the the actual hurdles. Progressive and center minded folks need to figure out a way to help any Republican who has at least a 10% understanding of the truth against wacked out primary opponents. Sure, it's funny to follow, humor is important, but governing needs to get done. If every red Senator has to cater to nuts, nothing will get done.
With respect ... we should help the whack-os defeat the reasonable ones!!! McKaskle did it beautifully in MO! It sounds like doing dirty tricks, but why not?
Because in Georgia (where I live) no Democrat is going to get elected, even when the alternative is a whacko. We might as well have a Republican who's at least open to talking to Democrats in Washington. And it gives me no pleasure to vote for Saxby Chambliss, but better him than Karen Handel.
What does it say about the base that they think the guy who got where he is by insinuating that a person who lost three limbs in VietNam was a traitor is too moderate? I find them to be disgusting to the point that they are the prototype of disgusting.
Gingerpye: I live in GA also, and agree that the chances of electing a Democratic senator are slim to none. However, while I was reading the article I confess to daydreaming a bit that the candidate who comes in second in the repug primary would change to an Independent and run in the general, therefore splitting the vote so a Democrat could sneak in and take the prize.
I know, it's just a dream, but wouldn't it be sweet? Especially after the swiftboating of Max Cleland. What they did to him was despicable.
As a resident of Georgia, I'm just curious if there are any good Democrats who might have a chance if Saxby Chamblis does lose his primary. After all, the recent polling suggests (per Nate Silver) that Georgia is the 2nd-least-red of the "red states" (after North Carolina), so in a midterm election if Democrats give it the general election ground game while the Republicans treat it like a midterm, we just might be able to elect a Democrat.
Maybe the Republican Party and these Senators who fear being primaried from the right should look at what happened in Indiana and Missouri when far right wing candidates won primaries: Democrats won in November.
Exspecially if it end up being this Handel woman. In the general, she'll lose the female vote big time.
If the republicans were smart... wait, never mind.
Reasoning with insanity is futile, but voting against it will do the trick.
What a perfect ending for the s.o.b. who campaigned for Senate in 2002 that Max Cleland was a "friend" of terrorists. I hope the Confederate traitor bastard does get primaried, and then we kill the witch who wins the primary.
You beat me to it, TC. I was going to say that before anybody gets all weepy-eyed over Chambliss, let's remember that this chicken hawk was the guy who so stridently claimed that a war hero who lost both legs and an arm wasn't "patriotic enough."
It's too bad that Georgia citizens seem to have so little appreciation for 1) true sacrifice in the name of the country; and 2) truth.
California might be a better lesson. In the '90s California Republicans went on a big anti-immigrant crusade that only accomplished the complete alienation of the state's Latinos. Did the CA GOP learn anything or moderate its positions? No. In face of a shrinking white electorate, the CA GOP continued to hew to its own version of the Southern Strategy and the end result is where they are today: a mere after-thought in the state legislature.
However, whatever state provides the best lessons for the Republicans, the dynamics of their primary process pretty much ensures that they can never learn. I think that's fine. We need at least two strong national parties, but the GOP can't be it. The Democrats are as right-wing as we need. Let the GOP die and maybe a viable leftist party can fill the void.
Saxby (where DO they get these names?) may be Conservative enough, but apparently he ain't Crazy enough, for Teh Base.
My grandmother's siblings were named Mar, Darris, Buford (but they called him Boot) and O'Dessa (called Desser). My grandmother was named Evelyn, but they called her Tennie. It seems the more bizarre the better. And no, I will not tell you their nickname for me as a child. I am, however, thankful that it did not stick.
Not to worry !
Success is just an Osama bin Laden morphological application away .
Brought to you by the same Saxby Chambliss
His efforts to provide filth where people live can never die !
When "Swift Boating" won't get the job done ...
Saxby can make a triple amputee Vietnam war veteran
A Saudi Prince who attacked America
Oh Yes He DID
He can do it to (for) you too !
Just step in the way of his manic ambition
Handel is West in high heels.
maybe west is handel in high heels
Oh Allen West will try again someplace else . Guaranteed
Didn't some Georgia gop big shot just invite the king of bat-crap crazy, allen west, to come back home and run in georgia?
looks like they trying to turn that state into another idaho ... oh ... never mind. wonder if they just think west goes to the same tanning salon as boehner and mittens?
Progressives: Consider giving $__— per month as a recurring gift to EMILY's List, starting NOW.
Who knows? EMILY's List might even back Karen Handel in the 2014(?) Republican primary, in GA, so as to give whichever Pro-choice Democratic Woman running, an easier crazy to beat.
Trust me, the crazy will win in Georgia. Better not to have one of them on the ballot in a general election.
And what does it say about US as citizens - that the inmates are ruining the asylum?! The fact is we do need litmus tests for public office we need to ensure that the religuluous, batcrapcrazy, and non-reality based people are put into office; we also need to review our voting laws because the theocratic, non-reality, unlearned, unscientific voters shouldn't be able to vote - it's way to much for their little brains to handle.
Hey GOTP will you people implode already, because you all are getting in the way of governing and leadership for this nation!
When I read or stories like this, or remember the "stuff" that was said and done during the election, I try very hard to put this into historical context. I am sure things were worse, politically, before, during, and after the Civil War. But, the 1850's and 1860's didn't have a 24/7 newscycle and Fox News to foster these reports. One can only hope that eventually saner minds will prevail. What I would really like is to be Queen of the World for a month to take care of all of this!
Actually, the nutcase old men running the GA RepubliKKKan party are losing a bit of influence. Going batcrap to the right will help the Democrats get back in power.
this is the place where the gop state legislators just spent 4 hrs at a presentation explaining PBO's mind control techniques ... they've already gone bat-crap crazy
Yeah eruh, can you believe that happened? Sadly, I wasn't really shocked. Nothing they do anymore shocks me. Down here in south Georgia racism is rampant, and their hatred of our president goes all the way to their core. Still, to think repugs actually held that meeting at the capitol is so incredibly obscene! They bring shame to us Georgians who live in the reality based world and make our state look just as assbackwards as it is to the rest of the nation and world.
Peanuts are not the only type of nut in Geogia. By the way I see they have scaled back the Georgia welfare program. Last time I drove through they were not working as much on I-95. I should cut them some slack, after all the quicker the snow birds get through Georgia the better--for the snow birds.
We need Max Clelland in Georgia.
It is hard to avoid feeling some satisfaction at any grief this worm Chambliss may suffer, after the dirty, despicable, unethical, and just plain evil campaign he waged to steal this seat away from Max Cleland in the first place. His treatment of an honorable disabled Vietnam veteran was so horrific that he should have no place in any level of government, but of course the good people of Georgia saw nothing wrong with that, so long as he is a Repugnant. They all make me sick.
Saxby Chambliss shamelessly defamed a true war hero. He is a cowardly scumbag SOB and if Handel beats him in the primary America would be a better place. She would also be easy for Democrats to beat. Republicans are stupid. Sometimes we should just get out of the way and let them self destruct.
In America getting away with it makes you the hero ...
Ron Byers, she would not be easy for Democrats to beat. The Republicans have a super majority in Georgia. The city of Atlanta and a few (very few) other areas would vote for a Democrat but the Atlanta suburbs and the rest of the state would go heavily for Handel. There would have to be an exceptional Democratic candidate and lots of support from the national party.
jim demint and ted cruz (wait til you get to know him!) are in charge of coaching gop senate candidates - what could possible go wrong?
Keep going Republicans. See where it gets you. Republicans who truly have some integrity should fall on their swords and do what is right for the country and stop worrying about the next election. If you're going to be primaried anyway, then act with honor while you have the chance. It might even pay off.
Republicans with integrity ...
I don't get the joke , but I like the idea of Republicans emulating the popular image of lemmings falling on their furry swords .
They never learn
http://chucksmomentoftruth.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/thanksgiving-turkey-mitt-romney/
It's like watching animals cannibalizing each other..forget which that does that..Komodo Dragons?
Eh, anyway, let them get primaried by the bat crap crazies, you could just see some red states turn blue as a result.
Altho i would really like to see rational Repubs in both houses of Congress, I cannot help but think "Oh, please, please, Georgia, run Karen Handel for Senator." That would give us a unique opportunity to kill two birds with one stone - not only to defeat Handel for the senate, but to shine another, brighter, more widely visible light on the Susan G Koman foundation and put them away for good.
I have heard of hardening of the arteries, but this seems like hardening of the righties. It would seem like the TEA-Republican party would learn from the severe thumping they got from Obama. Saxby Chambliss may get challenged by the radical fringe, and that would further harden the already strained deadlock in Washington.
Kinda funny how Handel was pro gay rights and other liberal issues as Chairman of Fulton County (Atlanta) Commision, but as soon as she entered statewide politics in Georgia, she instantly changed her views on all of that...
Time to find a good Democratic opponent so we can take that seat like we did against the nut jobs in Delaware and Nevada in 2010.
Now is the time for the DNC to start working on the 2014 elections in Georgia (in all states, actually). Work on bringing up good Democratic candidates and put in a little time on supporting the nomination of radical fringe Republicans.
Then keep up the pressure for two years and -- who know what would happen?
Rove is talking about copying the Democratic 50 state strategy. The Democrats need to keep it going and spend more money in places like Texas where the opportunities exist, but are not being taken advantage of because of voter apathy.
The Repub's need more women in Congress. But they need to be bat-@!$%# crazier than the men they replace.