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Just a few months ago, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a two-term Republican incumbent from Georgia, started facing credible primary threats in advance of his 2014 re-election bid. In a bit of a surprise, the senator has said there won't be a re-election campaign -- Chambliss is retiring at the end of his term (via James Carter).
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will announce this morning that he's dropping plans to run for a third term in 2014, a decision certain to set off an avalanche of Republican candidates who will seek to replace him.
Word out of Washington is that Chambliss broke the news to his senior staff this morning.
The news was not widely expected, and Chambliss was expected to win re-election if he sought another term.
What's especially interesting now, however, is the field of Republican candidates who may try to succeed Chambliss in 2014. One of the leading GOP officials to watch is Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), who said just this week that was considering taking on Chambliss in a primary, and with the incumbent stepping down, the congressman is that much more likely to run himself.
That would set up quite a campaign -- Broun is one of Congress' more ridiculous members, and a Senate campaign would create an Akin-in-Missouri situation in which a candidate may simply be too nutty to compete on a statewide level, even in the South. In this case, Broun is perhaps best known for arguing that that cosmology, biology, and geology are, quite literally, "lies straight from the pit of Hell," and that President Obama only believes in supporting "the Soviet constitution."
In other words, even among loony extremists, Broun is almost a caricature of himself.
This matters because Georgia could prove to be far more interesting than expected. In 2008, when Chambliss sought a second term, he won by a narrow margin after being forced into a runoff when he won 49% of the vote on Election Day. Since then, Georgia's population has only grown more diverse.
If a strong Democratic candidate faced off against a ridiculous right-wing extremist, could this become a blue-to-red pick-up opportunity? Quite possibly, yes.
In addition to Broun, I should also note that Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) is also likely to consider the race. Gingrey, of course, recently argued that Todd Akin raised a good point when he said rape victims can't get pregnant.
Update: And yes, it's true that Herman Cain once ran for the Senate in Georgia, and might do so again. I doubt he'd run, but it's probably another GOP player to watch.
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One of the worst things our species has ever done was to keep crucifying the innocent guy. These people who are power craving, corrupt, arrogant, hypocrites, greedy, and deceiving keep trying to push the blame on an innocent person. Notice how the Republicans got people all worked up over the need to buy a gun just for rich bastards and who ends up getting hurt or murdered innocent people and worst of all innocent children. Now do these Republicans have any shame for what they have done NO. These Republicans, even though they try to push it off on the Tea Party, show no shame at all. And worst of all for some Democrats to follow that same mentality of promoting what in essence is only for rich bastards or gun violence. Too many times, we have seen these politicians play these games with no concern at all of others and when does it stop. There is no real humanity in what these people do or care to say wants to do. So how long does this keep going on and how many more innocent people and children need to keep getting hurt or murdered by the misdeeds of a few? Republicans don’t need to pretend anymore that this is just the Tea Party, when it has been the GOP/Republican Party for too long now, just as it has been with some of these Democrats. Where they’re only real goals is lining their pockets and catering to rich bastards.
Another Republican not seeking re-election might signal that the Republican election machine in the South is beginning to run out of steam. Georgia is a state that can go for the Democrats on the changing demographics. Texas is another one. The Karl Rove "wedge and win" currently has fewer wedges for 2014. He will find some, but, with a 50 state strategy in 2014, the Democrats could have a result like 2006 and 2008.
If you are interested in turning the tide in the Democrats favor, then start now. If you have friends, relatives, or acquaintance in the currently Republican dominated states, start to work on persuading them on key issues, like gun control. Ask them if an inalienable right to life ranks below a qualified right to bear arms. Unlimited gun advocates would lose that argument. Ask them if religious freedom applies to all people, not just to religious clergy. Ask them if reproductive rights applies only to those who advocate that life begins at conception or also to a woman who has lived and been a productive part of society.
Take on those who yell and scream on these issues (gun control, abortion, religious freedom) and others. Don't let them get away with what Limbaugh and Hannity do.
Ok. Who's a likely Dem contender in Georgia?
I wonder if Max Cleland would consider running for his old seat? He's only 70, not all that old for a Senator. It would be nice to have him there for at least one term.
I can't help but wonder... What about the guy who discovered Romney's '47%' video>...
"If a strong Democratic candidate faced off against a ridiculous right-wing extremist," THEN PIGS COULD FLY.
Interchangeable idiots, today's Repub party.
Much as a despise the meme both sides do it, the fact is that Democrats display a similar, if less extreme proclivity to idiocy as the GOtP (See Reid/Durbin).
Maybe in the past, but these days the extreme idiocy is coming from republicans.
lib50: I agree, the Repubs have cornered the market.
Is "Organizing for America" going to take this on? Is is a given that a Democrat would only have a change if the Republican candidate was "a ridiculous right-wing extremist"?
" Is is a given that a Democrat would only have a change if the Republican candidate was "a ridiculous right-wing extremist"?"
Perhaps not. But it is a given that a Republican candidate will be a right-wing extremist -- that's all that is left in the party...
Wonder if Newt will [pretend to] run [to try to stay relevant and maybe bring in a few bucks]? Isn't he from Georgia?
Yes, but his state of residence has been Virginia... Remember, he missed the deadline to get on his home state's primary ballot?... Virginia ended up with only Romney and Paul on the ballot...
I think I speak for all Democrats when I say, "<b>please run, Herman Cain. Please.</b>"
As someone who actually lives in Ga. I'm glad Saxby is leaving, because frankly he hasn't done diddly squat since he's been there. The sad truth is, most of the candidates who are considering running, or have local rumors about them considering running, are not much better than Saxby. Some are in fact worse than him, which will make for some interesting primaries. The down side is, a Democrat would have a hard chance at actually winning a Senate Seat in this state. It's all Pro-life, Pro-Christian, Pro-Guns, Conservatives can do no wrong, Fox News is always right, Liberals are the Devil, Old Southern Money and Deep Southern Values. Unless you live in or around Atlanta, but let's face it, most of this state isn't Atlanta. This state can be summed u in three B's Bible-Babies-Bullets in that order.
As a nation WE must wake up! WE have some of the most idiotic, intellectually lazy & inept, power hungry, traitors to democracy to be voted into office! WE as Americans should be ashamed of ourselves for voting these people into office! First off the GOTP don't believe in anything but their own power, they KNOW NOTHING absolutely nothing about government or the way that it's supposed to function and they don't even believe that government should function - and why are they being voted into office? Simply because they have an (R) after their name - these people are crazy, bordering on pathological - they don't need to be holders of public office - they need to be in intensive therapy and medicated!
VOTE THEM OUT IN 2014!
But, Zora... How do you REALLY feel?...
;-)
Love the idea of Broun running.
Is there any way to get him to deny being a witch?
warlock
@maphi -- If I could find a warlock, I'd be too busy asking for other favors* to ask him to get Broun to deny being a witch.
* or running away
maphi...
I might have a hex or two...
...no guarantees, though...
To paraphrase a quote I saw on here recently: There have to be some idiots in Congress or it wouldn't be a representative body. Sad, but true.
At any rate, I do believe in the efficacy of calling out stupidity and shining a light on it. Sooner or later, it dawns on voters that they're being ridiculed for good reason and just might lead to changing their color. There's hope. I see the Organizing for Action movement as having exactly this effect.
I agree but why can't they all just emigrate, to whereverstan, and let the rest of us stay here.
Yeah I know, quit smoking that stuff , but pipe dreams do have a use.
Ah, yes. As the song goes, wouldn't it be lover-ly.
Never could resist a song cue...
Good riddance to White Trash.
Chambliss the draft dodger claiming Max Cleland was a supporter of terrorists was the scummiest campaign run by any of the slimeballs in that party of traitors.
I had forgotten about that.
Yes, Chambliss, the Draft-Dodger attacking Cleland, the Wounded War Hero. The arrogance of that guy. But leave it to GA voters to get it all mixed up and twisted around and vote for the wrong guy.
"That would set up quite a campaign -- Broun is one of Congress' more ridiculous members, and a Senate campaign would create an Akin-in-Missouri situation in which a candidate may simply be too nutty to compete on a statewide level, even in the South."
Aww, c'mon. As we've already seen, there IS no such thing as a Republican who is "too nutty to compete" in the South.
The Democrats must seize this opportunity by finding a really strong candidate with really good policy positions to run and then supporting him/her, maybe a her would be a really good candidate, so that she would have a real chance of winning. I do believe that demographically there are a lot of African Americans, Latinos, and women of all sorts in Georgia. Get them registered and to the polls. Send in Rev. Al.
The Dems. may have lost much of the white vote in the South when the Civil Rights Act was passed, but that act gave power to many who had been disinfranchised before. That is why the white supremecists hated it.
A black woman, politically active, in Georgia?... What about Shirley Sherrod?...
I think he should run again, and present himself as the sane man in a field of hyper-ideological, anti-science crazies. He should make the case that Broun and Price, for sure, are going to be nothing but an obstacle to doing what must be done.
The Tea Party and their ilk had a chance to influence the path of government and they blew it with temper tantrums and blind adherence to far-right ideology. We don't need more extremists in government, we need statesmen.
I'm skeptical also. Georgia has too many stupid people that vote "R" without thinking about who they are voting for. And in many parts, they are indoctrinated to believe that saying stupid, racist, sexist crap makes them an even better candidate. They enable the nonsense.
Saxby Chambliss, of late, has moderated a few of his positions and worked with Dems (against what Republicans are doing), maybe because he knew he was leaving. So he's a better choice than either Broun or Gingrey because they are nut-jobs. But that isn't saying much.
Considering the last election voting (there was an 8% difference in GA between Romney-53.% and Obama-45.5%). 2014 is kind of an 'off-cycle election' because the next presidential election is in 2016. So if Dems came out with a vengeance and at least 90% of eligible voters came out to vote (I think more voters would be better for Democrats), it might close the gap some but even with that scenario, I just don't see GA voters voting for the best candidate (versus voting 'R' no matter who runs).
Think of the most unqualified, silly, lying, good-for-nothing candidate. Now put an 'R' next to their name. Now take the most qualified, moderate, honest, capable, smart candidate (even throw in 'Blue Dog' if you want) and put a 'D' next to their name.
In that scenario, Georgia, as a whole, would be too stupid and too ideologically misguided to vote for a Dem, in the current environment. People just don't think out here. And there are too many of these numb-skulls who live in Georgia who will never vote for anything but an 'R' no matter who is on the ticket.
Maybe the Dem won't be worth voting for and the GOP person will not be Gingrey, Broun, or some other 'empty' candidate and they will be strong GOP candidate. In that case, forget everything that I've said. I don't have much of an argument but odds are good that will not happen.
I'm convinced it could be like a Romney vs. Obama election where there's no question who is better for Georgia and who will do nothing for Georgia, and these mindless voters will vote for the guy who says the dumb crap, that plays into their ignorance, that says crap that shows how ill-equipped they are to lead or run in Congress.
I hope I'm wrong but I have very little faith in the typical GA voter.
I agree that the next Senator will be a Republican because Dems are not doing the things they need to do to win elections which is register voters on a continuing basis. It cannot be a one time campaign; it must be every day and all year round. Until then Dems will continue to cede races in the southern states to the Republicans. Even if Dems cannot do it on a statewide basis, it should be done on a district basis for national and state elections. The Dems can begin with districts where they have a sizeable presence that can be a foundation for flipping the district. Organizations are built from the ground up and Dems have neglected these state organizations because the state is "safe" Republican. Dems are waiting for a major crisis or event to change voters, but they may as well be waiting for the Second Coming.
I've heard, but I don't know how true it is, that in places like Texas and maybe even Georgia, there are huge numbers of eligible voters (mostly minorities, poor, etc.) who don't vote. What percentage of eligible voters voted in the last election, one that included voting for the president?
In GA, it was about 58% total. The percentages of eligible voters for minorities is lower than Whites. I can't find the percentages of eligible black voters and hispanic voters who voted. I only see the percentage of black or hispanic voters who did vote and who they voted for (different number).
That's a HUGE potential voting block/market. Why do we have so many people who don't vote? I don't want to assume that I know the answer to that one.
In Texas, I'm told (no sources here), the number of Latinos who actually vote is really low. If Latinos alone voted in verh high percentages, Texas would turn BLUE!!! Ya, I was thinking the same thing. WTF! That would be a sight to behold. Or how about Georgia turning BLUE?!
I'd like to see more AMERICANS voting in all of the national elections. No excuses. Australia requires its citizens to vote they have close to 100% voting of all eligible voters. I'd like to see at least 90% or more in America without 'requiring' it by law. Honestly, I don't know what it would take to do this but I like the idea a lot.
Voting Day should be a national holiday. That would be a big step toward getting people to vote. The way to get people registered to vote is to have the state party pull voter lists and then get people to go out door to door for those addresses with no voter registered with information on how to register to vote in the state and what id's will be needed. The info should also include how to vote absentee. If registration is a cumbersome procedure then the party needs to id who wants to register to vote, but is unable to because of transportation, id's, etc., and find ways to help these people. Canvassers can also leave written info on voting with every address even if there are registered voters. Blitz one area every weekend until the election and then resume after the election is over. This can/should be done in districts where there is a sizeable Dem presence that could be increased enough to flip a district. On election day, people can check voting lists to see who has not voted and make contact with the person to see if they need help getting to the polls. That is similar to how Obama got out the vote.
cosmology, biology, and geology are, quite literally, "lies straight from the pit of Hell," and that President Obama only believes in supporting "the Soviet constitution."
You forgot embryology. He doesn't acknowledge that there is any connection between a zygote and a newborn baby, hence he has no objection to contraception or early abortion. Also, given that he considers himself an authority on the Soviet Constitution, I wonder what his real motives are. Could he be a sleeper like that sexy broad who was caught along with her accomplices a while back?
Wouldn't those two talking points get the teabaggers in an uproar?