Democrat Trainwreck in Georgia:<br>The Crimson Tide Continues It's Roll Across the South
By Thomas Posted in 2006 — Comments (28) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
While Republicans everywhere are shaking their heads in disbelief at the willingness of the Federal level Republicans to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, we should turn our attention to Georgia and notice that, at least in that State, a crimson tide (no reference to the University of Alabama intended) has swamped the State.
In 2002, things looked pretty good for the Georgia Democrats. (If you believed them, things looked good for Democrats everywhere.) Their incumbent governor had roughly $10 million in the bank. He was being challenged by a former Democrat turned Republican whom all the polls showed as the loser. The U.S. Senator up for re-election was a veteran and popular former Secretary of State. The legislature and Congressional delegation was playing in districts mightily gerrymandered to heavily favor Democrats. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tom Murphy, had personally intervened to wipe out Representative Bob Barr's district and destroy the district formerly held by Newt Gingrich. And then...
The governor lost to the Republican. In fact, it was the first time a Democrat Governor had ever lost to a Republican in the state's history. To give you a full taste of the flavor of that event, Perdue's concession speech was more advanced on election night than his victory speech was. The Republicans picked up two Congressional districts drawn to favor Democrats. Saxby Chambliss beat Max Cleland over howls from the national media, as the State suddenly realized that they'd sent a raging Lefty to Washington, and decided that, all other things being equal, he needed to come home. (Little did they anticipate the two-fer of having Cleland start camping out in other States at the beck and call of his party. Little did we ex-pat Texans realize he'd choose to plague us. Ah, what we do for our Party.)
The Georgia Senate came within a few votes of becoming Republican -- only to see the new Governor and Senate Minority Leader persuade enough to become Republicans to take over the Senate. Most notably, Georgia's very powerful Speaker of the House -- the longest serving House Speaker in the United States -- was defeated in a district he himself had drawn. Personal note: I count watching Murphy tearfully walk away from the podium one of my happiest memories of late 2002.
In 2004, the destruction of the Democrats, by then a quixotic coalition of rural, conservative, mostly white Democrats and urban liberal Democrats of various races, genders, and sexual orientations, became complete. The Republicans swept in to the Georgia House of Representatives and improved their Senate position -- this time under court drawn maps that were more favorable to them.
2006 is upon us. In just the past few weeks, several prominent Democrats who once ruled the General Assembly have announced either their retirements or their new affiliations as Republicans. The Georgia Republican Party spent the first three months of this year raising $3,793,518.83 compared with Democrat efforts yielding just $493,495.15. The GOP now has cash on hand of $4 million versus just $400,000.00 for the Democrats.
To be sure, the Democrats have union money to assist them. But, the Republican legislature pushed through school reforms requiring 65% of all money for education be allocated to the classroom. The most powerful Democrat union in the state, the teachers, will now see money otherwise going to the union going into classrooms.
Democrats still control every statewide office except the Governor, Insurance Commission, and School Superintendent. The writing on the wall, however, suggests that is about to change too. The Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State are both running in the Democratic primary for Governor. (My money is on Cathy Cox.) The Republicans have fielded top tier candidates for both open spots and the Democrats who are running are getting very little attention. The Ag Commissioner, Tommy Irvin, has been in his office since 1969, and now faces one of two Republicans, one of whom is being backed by Georgia Farm Bureau, which is Georgia's largest farm organization.
Already, the Democrats have started their traditional internal firing squads and are eager to get to their September convention where it is widely expected they will purge Bobby Kahn from their ranks. Kahn, former Governor Roy Barnes' Chief of Staff, has led the party since 2002, and will probably be the most prominent unelected victim of the Democrats' implosion.
Since 1994, the Republicans have dominated Federal level politics in the South. Now, more and more, we are seeing that domination sweep into the state and local levels of government. And, as it happens, Republican legislatures will more and more use the favored tool of the Democrats -- gerrymandering -- to reverse Democrat holds on power. South Carolina and Florida were struck by this crimson tide first; now, it is sweeping over Georgia.
Life is sometimes quite good.
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Democrat Trainwreck in Georgia:<br>The Crimson Tide Continues It's Roll Across the South 28 Comments (0 topical, 28 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
- Enforce the new anti-illegal immigrant legislation which just passed.
- Gerrymander Cynthia McKinney's district into Cuba.
So much of what we hear nowadays is doom/gloom for the GOP. Nice to hear some good, long-term promising, news
is that the democrats have gone so far left and have nothing to offer but liberalism and hateful speech. If the democrats were a responsible and centrist party, the republicans would be finished. Republicans need to replace the party leaders that gave us "moderates" like george w. bush, john mccain and bill frist. A truly conservative party would crush what is left of the lefty democrats. This "moderate" republican party may well lose its majority status.
New leaders before its too late!
That terrible Max Cleland probably cut his own legs and one arm off to try to come off as a patriot. Where was Saxby Chambliss during Viet Nam? I would bet all I have that it was not in Viet Nam!!!!! Bush and Republicans have done such a good job running the country. They balanced the budget .... Oh! excuse me that was Clinton!!! They got the mastermind behind 9/11 ..... Oh! excuse me they got a delusional man that thinks he was the mastermind behind 9/11!!!! They saved us from a direct threat by a madman .... Oh! excuse me they trumped up the madness of a madman and invaded a country that did nothing to us leaving the real villain running FREE!!!!! This has cost our country almost 2,400 of our men and women, and it is still charging ... DAILY!!!!!!! I would consider the Republican leaders as failures. Bush and his minions are very incompetent. Only 33% (according to your friends at Fox) approve of them, and you want this failure to blanket the states. I don't think that is a good idea. Teachers are considered "classroom spending". They pay union dues. No direct taxpayer money goes to teacher unions, so the changes in education spending in Georgia will not affect teacher unions. I would bet that the teacher unions were for this change in Georgia.
Using Max Clelands' horrific injuries to make a political point, rather insensitive for a lib! Add ignorant to the list, as Mr. Clelands' injuries were the result of his careless handling of a hand grenade. Way to pile on!
- who is a very clever man and very good writer, by the way: his books are well worth reading - has noted that five exclamation points is an infallible sign that the writer wears his or her underpants upon his head.
Therefore, I give you a haiku to speed you on your way (as certain people gnash upon their teeth at the lost chance):
Blam! Blam Blam Blam Blam!!
Blam-blamblam-blammety-Blam!!!
Ba-lam-blam-blam!!!!BLAM!!!!!
Thank you, I'm here all week!!!!! Try the veal!!!!!
I almost called troll yesterday on her previous comment but figured I'd let it slide.
debbie -- Please refer to the FAQ about apropriate postings.
True, the Dems in this state are 'converting' or retiring, but the Repubs are Repubs as opposed to conservatives.
One of the recurring "big ideas" is the debate over our state flag. Yeah, that's the most important thing to the GA statehouse Republicans despite the fact that maybe 10 people (mostly out in the boonies) really care. The Atlanta road system is constantly held hostage to statehouse infighting on both sides.
Another commenter wrote that the only reason the Repubs are prospering is due to the hard-left turn by the Dems. I would say that is highly accurate.
In terms of national politics, we're okay -- our Senators tend to vote correctly, and the House Repubs are good as well. We do have a few House Dems, but with one notable exception they're pretty invisible. Sadly, I live in District 4; the province of Cynthia McKinney.
We do have open primaries in this state, so I would urge anyone in District 4 to vote in the Dem primary for whoever challenges McKinney. We can then go forth in the general and vote for the Republican.
All in all, Georgia is pretty good and generally Redstate. We have improvements to make, but we are far better off than many other states.
Items passed in the last couple of general assemblies prove it. Sonny Perdue himself was a Democrat just a few years ago.
For one example, the statewide smoking ban in restaurants and most bars is not exactly pro-business. Truck stops are really suffering from it.
"Getting tough" on illegal immigration sounds good to people but the impulse to make more new laws isn't truly a conservative virtue, either.
That horribly gerrymandered map annoys me every time I see it. Because of it, despite living in Newt's old district, I'm stuck in the 5th district which since its core is in downtown Atlanta, means I have a liberal Democrat for my House Rep.
At least I don't have Cynthia McKinney for my Rep, is what I keep telling myself.
As a republican and an Auburn Grad, I vehemently protest your headline, "The Crimson Tide Continues It's Roll Across the South."
Alabama
Usually
Beats
Us
Round
November
Heh. Kidding. I think the title comes from the old GOP magazine "Rising Tide" combined with the red state imagrey. I'm confident this was not an allusion to Bama. Confident.
Geaux Tigers, LSU Tigers, not those transanimal types that think they are war eagles.
Defense of our borders is the role of government. Conservatives want enforcement of existing laws and passage of any new laws to stop this illegal invasion and to send these interlopers home!
Granddaddy,
As the CEO of Redstate, I approved the "profane" use of Crimson Tide in that title.
However, my heart is eternally sipping lemonade on Toomer's Corner. War Eagle!
Clayton
Auburn '93
I've seen those Gerry'd maps and they are just terrible no matter who is responsible. They have areas in districts that are only connected thru water! Last time I looked most people don't use boats to go vote...
Maybe I'm just a conservative sucker who plays to nice, but I can't say the way it's been carried out is honorable.
the assignment of district boundaries is beset by lack of a clear understanding and agreement as to the goals of the exercise. What is the goal when defining a voting district? As long as it is a political decision, and drawn by a political operative, it will be defined so as to accomplish the goals of the incumbent. Should it be different? If so, how? Do you draw to enable minority representation? Or should the district reflect the geo-political boundries? Or should it be drawn to ensure that each district reflects the make-up of the state?
I don't know the answer, but I don't think the results are surprising. DeLay got creamed for undoing democratic gerrymandering, and in the process redrew his district in a far less "republican sure" way. The opposition screamed anyway.
Perhaps we need a discussion on voting districts.
"Geaux Tigers, LSU Tigers, not those transanimal types that think they are war eagles."
I have three words for you: 'Fear the Thumb'
Actually it's kind of funny. My wife is an Alabama fan, and no matter how mean (in a playful hazing sense, not back-of-the-hand sense) I try to get around Iron Bowl time, she doesn't take me seriously.
But then my little sister, who graduates from Auburn next month said in passing to both of us, "you know, I don't know what it feels like to lose to Alabama, we've beaten then every year I've been here."
My wife just lowered her head.
I smiled.
I have an idea for how to eliminate gerrymandering entirely, or at the very least make it very difficult. It'll require a constitutional amendment or two, though. Look for "bee's Modest Proposals, Vol. 1: Congress" in the diaries coming soon.
saying that the new immigration laws in Georgia don't reflect a conservative take are you?
Please. Someone is doing something about enforcement of our borders (or at least cleaning up the mess of the non-enforcement of our borders) and you think that's not conservative?
It may not be LIBERTARIAN to pass new laws, and it's not conservative to pass new laws just to pass new laws, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.
And it won't be an issue. Maybe less than that if they can ever get the DOJ to approve their new maps.
There are extra servings of port, if you don't mind hanging out with the galley crew.
Well, I hate to be the one to rain on the parade here, but I want to point out that this is the first election cycle in which Georgia Republicans have been up for reelection as the Majority Party. The stakes are high and the race is going to be VERY close.
By most accounts, Georgia's Congressmen are very well regarded and would win in most reasonably drawn Congressional districts, however, I do think that the current districts are drawn a little too partisan whereas they discourage opposition. To me, this is a bad thing and a disservice to citizens.
On the state side, depending on who comes out of the Democratic primary, the Governor may have a really tough race on his hands. By most accounts, if the nominee of the Democrats is Cathy Cox, many Republicans across the state are prepared to march across the aisle and offer their support. On the other hand, if the opponent is Mark Taylor, the Governor wins pretty handidly.
Now the trick is, there is a lingering problem in the number 2 spot of Lt. Governor and he goes by the name of Ralph Reed. Given Ralph Reed's extensive ties with Jack Abramoff and company and his past work for Enron, Georgia doesn't seem ready to elect someone with such questionable ethics.
Polling in the state already shows that Ralph Reed is anywhere from an 8 to 15 point negative on the Governor if he is on the ticket.
Luckily, there is a very qualified alternative in State Senator Casey Cagle (www.caseycagle.com). He's a real conservative and he hasn't auctioned off his values and convictions to the highest special interest bidder.
It will be interesting to see what happens in GA.
GOV Purdue is ahead last poll I I saw:
Sonny Perdue (R) 49%
Cathy Cox (D) 41%
Sonny Perdue (R) 51%
Mark Taylor (D) 41%
Here is Rasmussen's two cents:
Perdue, the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, remains a well-liked chief executive, viewed favorably by 70%, up two points from a month ago.
Cox is viewed favorably by 55%, Taylor by 53%. Cox was at 55% back in February, but Taylor has gained eight points and enjoys a much lower unfavorable rating now.
Voters unaffiliated with either major party tend to prefer the governor, but self-described moderates tend to prefer the Democrat.
If the Federal GOP were responsible, centrists, then the Dems would have been finished years ago. But, alas, neither is and both are subjecting their true bases to political horrors.
I just feel sorry for her. Her life must be rather sad...
from the way liberals "do something" to feel better about themselves? Would these guys have been motivated if it wasn't polling high as an issue? How much good is a tax on wire transfers by illegals really going to do? Don't tell me they're doing it to protect Georgia businesses because we've already talked about the damage this legislature has done to business.
I live in Georgia. I know about the pork barbeques and the Baptist political machine. Most of these characters are not motivated by principle.