GOP Widens Lead in Georgia Senate (They just keep SWITCHING and SWITCHING in Georgia...)

AP ^ | 11-12-2002 | AP

[fieldmarshaldj]

November 12, 2002 at 14:05:15 PST

GOP Widens Lead in Georgia Senate

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA- A fourth Democrat in the Georgia Senate has changed parties, bolstering the Republican majority and giving a boost to GOP Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue.

State Sen. Jack Hill's decision Tuesday gives Republicans a 30-26 edge over Democrats in the chamber and it reversed the Election Day results that gave Democrats a four-seat majority.

Republicans have not controlled a legislative body in Georgia since Reconstruction, and Perdue is the first Republican in 130 years to become governor of the state.

Democrats still control the Georgia House with 106 members to 73 Republicans and one independent.

The new majority means Republicans could strip Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor of his power to appoint committees and assign legislation to committees, leaving him only with the power to preside over debate.

Taylor has called on party switchers to resign and run for re-election as Republicans.

[Regulator]

People in the rest of the country, and especially young people and immigrants have no comprehension of what just happened in Georgia, which you rightfully point out is a BIG thing. The Solid South for the Democrats is gone, just as LBJ feared in 1964.

It will now be the Solid South for Republicans, and as the last 37 years have shown, it takes Southerners a long time to be convinced, but once they are, then their minds are made up. And that means we will no longer have to contend with Southerners voting for the likes of Clinton, just out of loyalty.

And it means that conservatism in American government may actually be here to stay, because it took the Southerners years to change their minds this time, and probably will take just as much time to change them again.

Good!! Welcome Home.

[MissAmericanPie]

They are politicans. All politicans check the demographics of their area and run with the majority, even if they are a democrat with republican leanings, or a republican with democrat ideology. Mostly their ideology is just to get in office and barter their vote for power.

This is why I say punishing a party using your vote is something they understand and respect. It's about the only thing they understand or respect. You think they spend as much time as the average freeper does studying the issues or
using reason or logic to take a stand? Half of them don't even read the bill they are passing. The Patriot act by congress, GATT, NAFTA, the package of 34 U.N. treaties passed by the Senate? Heck no, they can't tell you what's in any of them, if it's something bad for the country and they know it, they pass it with a voice vote so it doesn't go on their record that they voted for the piece of trash.

The scum floats on the top of the cess pool.

[Route66]

Don't worry. Most decent conservatives who have worked hard enough to be elected to public office are good leaders and good administrators. Most liberals are not actually good at either. They are just good at maintaining control. I have no doubt that the new leadership will do just fine.

As for Mr. Taylor's hissy fit, well he can just join Mr. Daschle and the rest of the 'disenfranchised' Democrats across the country as they sit around and feel each others pain.

Besides, with the number of people switching down there, I think Taylor may wind up being a little lonely..... ;-)

[Aracelis]

This is so cool! :-)

[Route66]

'The Solid South for the Democrats is gone, just as LBJ feared in 1964.'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Oh - you are so right. LBJ is rolling over in his grave.
The traditionalism of the people in the south is a most endearing quality, but the traditionalism that bound them to the Democrats had long since become chains and it's wonderful to see them broken.

[Chemnitz]

They should run again as Republicans, but only after Judas Jeffords does. No one can complain until he resigns and runs as an indie or as a Demon_rat.

[bradactor]

Well they could do the honorable thing like Phil Gramm did. He waited until the next election and ran as a republican. His constituency still voted for him.

[bradactor]

The lieutenant governor in the State of Texas has more power than the governor has. He is the head of the senate. If he wants to, he can stall all legislation. Some have in this state. The same thing lies in the state of Oklahoma as well. So the office of lieutenant governor, depending upon your state constitution, can have a lot of power

[Jen]

It's a great time to be a Georgian! Thanks for the ping 'fearless leader'!

[danmar]

If they switch parties, they don't represent my interests

Now,how do you know that...can you tell me, what your party(Dem's)stands for, next to(Rep's)?!
It looks to me that those elected representatives chose the party which represented, pretty much their beliefs(lower taxes,strong defence,hopefully tort reform and a miriad of assorted domestic things.

Maybe they just figured out that their constituents voted for the aforementioned, and decided that the "R" party is the right turn to deliver the promised goods.
Trust me they will be judged by their constituents when the time comes, and they know that very well. Hence the gambit...

[Glenn]

But you must understand this about Georgia politics.

Thanks for the lecture. It wasn't a bad one. That being said, I was a Georgia taxpayer and voter for 15 years. I understand the "system" there.

[AlGone2001]

Here in Georgia, there are still democrats that are conservative. They just have to run as democrats to even get atention. The good ol' boys ran this state for 140 years.

Now it is over and the conservatives will come out of their closet.

The former (I love to say that) democrat house speaker, Tom Murphy, held more power than anyone in the state. He just lost after 42 years in the state house; 28 of them as speaker. Yikes!

[davidosborne]

Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) - On Iraq (BARF Alert)

Pass it on.

David

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

"Many of these people are good conservatives"

You are exactly right. People from outside of the south cannot understand what is happening here. Southerners are VERY loyal to a cause and during reconstruction, they were all consevative democrates. Over the years they have slowly come to see that it is the Republican party that now best represents us.... I remember when my parents switched, it was a big thing and not done lightly. I am excited that finally the Dem-hangers-on are realizing that their party is NOT what it used to be. Its an exciting time to be a southerner!

[Guillermo]

In Georgia, the Lt. Gov. has a lot of discretionary power. He makes the committee assignments and controls the flow of legislation.

But, as I stated earlier, his power is discretionary, and can be taken away with a majority vote in the Senate.

Since the GA Senate is now GOP, you can expect them to emasculate him. I suspect his new powers will include cutting ribbons and attending funerals.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Doug, you would have to have lived in Georgia to understand this switch. For over 130 years, the conservative democrats (DINO's) had to run as such to even get a seat in the state legislatures. Now that the GOP has finally broken the stranglehold, the rural officeholders can switch parties. If you were a pubbie under the old system, you could not propose legislation, could not hold a committee chair, and rarely would be allowed to speak under dictator in charge Tom Murphy. The black caucus and the demorats held the state hostage. I encourage the switch as this reflects the true nature of the voters more than it does anything else. FYI....

[em2vn]

President Regan changed party allegiance before he was elected to any position.

[Hodar]

I have to agree with you on RATS switching to the GOP under the Clinton administration, due to the dishonesty, debauchery and immorality. I would still expect them to vote on bills in a manner that would refect their constituents, though.

[Hodar]

Apparently you have difficulty reading statements. Ronald Reagan did NOT run as a Democrat, then switch to the GOP a week after the election. He ran as a Repub, and won as a Repub. This is a pretty big difference. My issue is when someone lies to their constituencey, and changes parties as soon as they win the election. Whether it's Jeffords, or this scumbag ... The GOP doesn't need snakes in their party. What makes this person any more honorable than Jeffords?