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I understand how you might think the switchers are
somehow less than nonorable. In other circumstances
I would probably agree with you.

But you must understand this about Georgia politics.
Georgia has had a Democrat Governor since 1872.
You have to stop for a moment and think to understand
how big this issue is. Realize that for the ENTIRE 20th
Century Georgia has had a Democrat Governor. Entire
generations of voters have come and gone knowing nothing
but a Democrat Governor.

- ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS AGO -
Just think about that. It is incredible.

Politics in the state has been a crony system.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, went on in this state
without the governor's approval.

In 2002, the crony system was finally broken.
That single fact is the simple important news
in Georgia politics following the 2002 elections.

That snake is now dead.

These people (the switchers) have had to either tow the
party line - or leave politics. They have been treated
badly by their own party because of conservative ideas.
The Georgia Democrat party is now in shock (and denial).

It is a necessary thing now for these men to switch.
Not just to be "independent", but to become Republican.
Why? because of the existing Senate rules - thats why.
This is one of the ways the Democrat's crony system worked.
The party in the Majority in the senate sets all the rules.
They control committee appointments, set agendas, control
which bills come to the floor and which ones are tabled,
etc, etc, etc.
The switchers are needed so that the Repulican party can
run the senate in order to use the Democrats own rules
against them. The Republicans need a firm majority in
the Senate or the Republican Governor's agenda will never
see the light of day.

I only wish this election truly indicated that Georgia
was more supportive of Republican candidates. I do not
think that is what happened. Sonny Perdue was not elected
because he is a Republican. He was elected because he was
not Roy Barnes. Many issues came together at the right
time to cause this to happen, gerrymandering the districts,
snubbing the teachers union, snubbing the state workers,
selecting Democrat Miller to fill Republican Coverdale's
seat after he died, and yes, changing the flag played a
role in Barnes defeat, too.

Few people actually went to the poles to vote
FOR Republican Perdue, but many went to vote
AGAINST Democrat Barnes.
I do not necessarily expect a repeat in 2004.
I think it will be a whole new ballgame.
Republicans may only run this state for the next 2 years.

footnote:
(The last Georgia Republican Governor was in the times
when there was a series of Military Governors appointed
by General Meade following the "Great War of Northern Agression".
In the election of 1871 the Democrats gained
a majority in the legislature, Governor Rufus Bullock
of New York, fearing impeachment (or worse), resigned.
Benjamin Conley of New Jersey served as Governor for
a few months after Bullock fled the state. A special
election was held and Democrat James M. Smith was elected
Governor to fill Bullock's unexpired term. Since that
time, the control of the Democrats has been complete.
... but I digress)