Before the 2008 legislative session started, Georgia's Republican leaders traveled the state and touted their shared vision for fixing the state's most critical problems.

"During this legislative session the governor, the lieutenant governor and I are committed to improving the way of life for all Georgians, and because we share this common thread, I know we will succeed," House Speaker Glenn Richardson said at the time.

That spirit of cooperation evaporated quickly, and the year's General Assembly session ended at midnight Friday with no tax cut, no new funding plans to fix the state's transportation and trauma care systems and a very public Republican power struggle that left the GOP with little to brag about on the campaign trail this fall.

"Just to be purely blunt, it's about as dismal a performance that I have seen by a General Assembly in my lifetime in terms of their ability to coalesce around any, any meaningful issue," said former longtime Republican lawmaker Chuck Clay, who helps run an online media and polling firm.

Former state GOP Chairman Rusty Paul said the party needs to smooth things over.

"I don't think there is any question the Republican base would like to see a few more verses of 'Kumbaya' sung at the Capitol."

Republican leaders had hoped to run for re-election this fall by bragging on a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate car taxes and limit increases in property assessments used to set property taxes.

They have used such ballot questions in the past to bring out the conservative base. In 2004, for instance, they forced a measure onto the ballot outlawing gay marriage, even though it was already illegal in Georgia.

That won't happen this time around. Instead, they ended the 2008 session with:

> Richardson urging Georgians to can Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, whom the speaker blamed for killing tax cuts. At one point Richardson challenged Cagle to "be a man."

> Cagle accusing Richardson of being "blinded by ego and unwilling to come to an agreement" on taxes.

> Perdue, who earlier declared tax-cut proposals from Richardson and Cagle "political pandering," chiming in from China to call Richardson's attack on the lieutenant governor a "tirade."

By the time the session was gaveled to a close Friday night, some lawmakers appeared dazed by the frenetic ending to a wild day.

"In my 34 years of being up here, I've never seen anything like this," said House Minority Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus).

"It is hard to call this session a resounding success," said Senate President Pro-Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah).

Richardson and Perdue were unavailable to talk Saturday about the end of the session or their relationship. Cagle issued a statement indicating that he will not dwell on the ugliness of the last day.

"Politics is about the future, not the past," he said. "And in that vein, we will continue to work diligently to provide safe communities, excellent schools, lower taxes, local control and a well-managed state to Georgians. Harboring old grudges does nothing to help us achieve these goals."

The next few months will show whether the three can overlook the past.

Perdue is facing the second recession of his tenure. He will probably veto some of the spending approved by lawmakers in next year's budget. He will almost certainly veto some of the legislation passed in the final days of the session, which he missed while on the trade mission in China.

Some lawmakers predict that Perdue will use his sizable campaign war chest to help elect Republican candidates willing to oust Richardson as speaker. Cagle, who doesn't face re-election this year, might help with that effort as well.

Richardson, meanwhile, has vowed to continue traveling the state promoting property tax cuts. While working to elect his legislative candidates, he might also try to build a case for himself as a viable candidate for governor to rival Cagle in 2010.

Democrats hope to take advantage of the Republican squabbling, particularly in a presidential election year in which they hope for a boost from a popular nominee.

However, they have a long way to go to retake either chamber. They currently hold only 72 of 180 House seats and 22 of 56 Senate posts.

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said the Republicans who control state government have let Georgia down.

"Some important issues in a vibrant state have been hindered by a void of leadership," he said.

But as the political focus moves from legislating to campaigning, Porter said Democrats have a clear message to sell.

"Voters can clearly see that [Republicans] stand for division and we stand for the people," he said.

Clay, the former Republican lawmaker and longtime Cobb County party leader, believes if the GOP isn't careful, Porter could be right.

Richardson, Cagle, Perdue and their fellow Republican lawmakers have "hurt themselves," Clay said.

"I don't mean they're going to lose control this year or next year, but you have created an excellent opportunity" for Democrats, Clay said.

House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), a Richardson ally, doesn't think the spat between the top Republican leaders will make a difference this fall.

"I think people will vote their philosophical leanings anyway, Republican or Democrat," Ehrhart said. "I think we'll probably gain seats if anything. We supported what the people of Georgia in poll after poll said they wanted ... and we passed some of it."

Additionally, at least in recent years, Georgia Democrats have often not been able to take advantage when Republicans stumbled.

But Amy Morton, a Democratic activist, blogger and state party leader, says this year could be different. The party, with help from the Democratic National Committee, is already doing the kinds of grass-roots organizing absent the past few cycles.

Democratic lawmakers united in early March to oppose Richardson's original plan to eliminate property taxes and add fees and taxes to services. Morton said that was a good sign of things to come.

Plus, as she said on her blog, "Democrats have no better friend than Glenn Richardson," thanks to his attacks on Cagle.

Still, Paul isn't so sure the brawl will hurt Republicans this fall.

"While on the surface it looks bad ... by the time November rolls around, a lot of the details will be forgotten by the average voter," he said.

WHAT GOT DONE

These are the issues Gov. Sonny Perdue, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson promised to address:

> EDUCATION: Created system of tax credits and scholarships for public school students to attend private school; created statewide charter school commission that could grant charters over objections of local school officials; failed to adopt Perdue's plan to overhaul school funding, Richardson's plan for vocational education (known as the BRIDGE plan) and President Pro Tem Eric Johnson's school voucher plan.

> TRANSPORTATION: Failed to approve legislation allowing regions to raise a penny sales tax for regional transportation projects. Lawmakers also cut funding to help expand regional commuter bus service.

> TRAUMA CARE: Lawmakers worked until the last minute Friday, but House members wouldn't sign onto a deal for a permanent funding source for trauma health care.

> WATER: Approved funding for reservoirs and water projects, passed a state water plan and backed legislation creating a new state agency to build and expand reservoirs.