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DEL.ICIO.USThe new House score: GOP 104, Dems 76
Johnny Floyd of Cordele, Richard Royal of Camilla cross over to the other side
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State Rep. Johnny Floyd of Cordele switched to the Republican side of the aisle on Wednesday, the last trick that GOP leaders say they have up their sleeves. He was joined by state Rep. Richard Royal of Camilla — although Royal had already announced his intentions.
That brings the number of Democratic switchers this year to four. And the Republican majority in the 180-member House now stands at 104.
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen of St. Simons Island stood watch over the pair. He said no more switchers are expected this year. And that Republican efforts to lure members of the opposite party have now ended.
The majority leader said he anticipates November bringing one more seat into the GOP camp — despite polls showing Republicans headed toward a poor showing nationally.
“We put our sweat into qualifying. We won our races before the season starts,” Keen said.
Comments
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By
April 26, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this
Switching parties after you have been elected to office is just sneaky, dirty and low down. Isn’t this the old bait and switch? They should at least be required to switch only when they are up for election not half way thru their term. It shows that they are wishy-washy and do not believe in or support the platforms they run on. They just tell the people what they want to hear. I hope next election people listen closely and get all the switch hitters out of office. How can we support someone who can’t make up their minds about such an important decision as to what party they identify with?
By UGOBOY
April 26, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this
Switching parties after you have been elected to office is just sneaky, dirty and low down. Isn’t this the old bait and switch? They should at least be required to switch only when they are up for election not half way thru their term. It shows that they are wishy-washy and do not believe in or support the platforms they run on. They just tell the people what they want to hear. I hope next election people listen closely and get all the switch hitters out of office. How can we support someone who can’t make up their minds about such an important decision as to what party they identify with?
By Not as dumb as you
April 26, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this
I think that’s what they are doing smart guy. They are up for election this year!
By
April 26, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this
They are up for election, you moron.
By Freethinker
April 26, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this
Its not really a big suprise that state reps from places like Cordele and Camilla switched sides of the aisle. Scratch a rural Geogia Republican from the last decade (Sonny Perdue, Mickey Channell, and Nathan Deal just to name a few), and you will find someone who started out as a Democrat, but switched to increase electibility, not because of philosophical changes. As Atlanta and other areas such as Athens, Savannah, and Columbus have become more progressive over time, the disconnect between the state Democratic party and its rural members has grown to the point where party switching is perceived as the way to keep being elected by the strongly pro-Christian right (mostly rural) part of the state. The question is…how long will pro-business suburban Republicans and pro-religious right Republicans be able to work together on the state and national levels? The schism is definitely there, and the 2 factions certainly don’t trust one another.
By Tony
April 26, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this
Good to see that Southern Democrats are now the voice of the GOP. Want to know why fiscal conservatism is out the door? Try having the good ol’ boy system being brought over by these switchers. All of these are doing this for their own personal survival NOT for anything else. Sonny did the same thing to make sure he could survive long enough. True Republicans and conservatives in this state are no more. They have been pushed out the door and the southern Democrats now are running the show. Channell is pro-choice and pro-bloated government entitlements. Sonny does whatever it takes to appease the base. Stephens clearly is only after his own fortunes. The list goes on. Bring on more good ol’ boy politics. The GOP of old is now officially dead in GA.
By Ralph
April 26, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this
True Democrats, would never under any circumstance, switch parties. I say good riddance to these traitors, Too bad they will be out of the Legislature next year. Democrats will rise again and rid the govt of idiotic Republican control.
By Hunter
April 27, 2006 08:03 AM | Link to this
Lets ALL ‘STRIVE to be SMARTER than a democrakkk’!!!
I surely do wish North Carolina democrakkks would do the same…
Dont EVER vote for another democrakkk, they keep us ALL oppressed!