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DEL.ICIO.USCagle heads for the sticks, and the sticks need propping up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Tuesday, Casey Cagle, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, hitched up his britches and resumed the daily grind of campaigning across the state.
Over four days, Cagle will hit 25 communities in rural Georgia, each one smaller than the next. The “Hope and Opportunity Tour,” he’s calling it.
This very much resembles the strategy that Democrat Greg Hecht, the Jonesboro attorney and former state senator, attempted in his effort to collar the nomination. It didn’t work. Atlanta attorney Jim Martin won the run-off.
But that doesn’t mean Hecht didn’t have a reason for doing what he did. Or that Cagle doesn’t need to spend a week on Georgia’s blue highways.
Last month, shortly after the August run-off, Democratic strategist James Carville’s outfit in Washington posted an analysis of a crucial weapon in the Republican arsenal: “Battling for White Rural America: Denying Republicans Their Base”.
The entire paper is worth the time of any laptop pundit in either camp. But here’s the gist:
“White rural America forms the cornerstone of the Republican base. In 2004, 64 percent of these voters voted for Bush, and white rural voters broke for Republican congressional candidates by a margin of 17 points. In the 2004 election, more than 60 percent of white rural voters approved of the job Bush was doing as president, and Republicans had a 22-point advantage in party identification. Only 34 percent gave the Democratic Part a warm thermometer rating, while 57 percent gave the Republican party a warm thermometer rating.
“But since 2004, the tide has changed: the loyalty of white rural America is up for grabs. White rural Americans are evenly divided (italics in the original) on whether they approve or disapprove of the job Bush is doing as president. Sixty percent think the country is moving in the wrong direction….The parallel for Democrats would be Democrats having only a 9-point lead among union households.”
This could have application not just with Georgia’s statewide races, but with the two heavily rural congressional contests in which Republicans are desperate for upsets: The 12th District race featuring GOP challenger Max Burns versus Democratic incumbent John Barrow; and the 8th District race in which GOP ex-congressman Mac Collins wants to oust incumbent Jim Marshall, a Democrat.
Comments
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By Fabb4eyes
September 6, 2006 7:02 AM | Link to this
That warm thermometer needs a new place.
Dems will blow it in November like they always do.
Liberal politicians today cant construct the language necessary to communicate a winning platform. (“It’s the economy, stupid”)
Offering services here.
By Philly
September 6, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this
An interesting note about some of Cagle’s shenanigans posted on Peach Pundit by Bobby Kahn. It catches Cagle in yet another lie.
I am voting Libertarian for Lt. Governor. Buckley is the alternative for those of you that are disgusted with Cagle’s campaign tactics and his lack of ethics.
http://www.peachpundit.com/2006/09/01/looks-like-sonnys-losing-cover-for-his-personal-100k-tax-break-revenue-dept-knows-nothing-who-pushed-the-tax-break-sonny-did/
On March 22, HB 488 was mysteriously recommitted to the Finance Committee, then chaired by Sen. Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville). Back in committee, only one seemingly minor change was made to the bill — changes affecting capital gains taxes from the sale of property were suddenly made retroactive all the way back to Jan. 1, 2004, more than a year earlier. Although only a few knew it at the time, that minor change meant big money for Perdue, whose land transactions now fell under the new law.
Cagle, who has since become the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, said in an interview Tuesday that the Department of Revenue had requested the change making those provisions retroactive.
However, that is contradicted by Graham, who says his department made no such request.
“I was just informed that the bill was going to change,� Graham told me, stressing that he neither opposed nor requested the change.
In the end, the only provisions of the 24-page, 27-section bill retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004, were the two provisions needed to let Perdue defer more than $100,000 in state taxes.
By Philly
September 6, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
The whole problem with the aforementioned issue is the fact Sonny and Casey think they can get away with anything and not be held accountable.
Perdue controls the hierachy with the Georgia GOP. The Georgia GOP has thumbed their nose at the local grassroots committees and have tried to usurp the authority of the local county parties. They have formed regional offices that they are in charge of and not worked in partnership with the local parties as they should be. Typical attitude of Alec and company.
The Georgia GOP has not even held a state committee meeting in over a year in flagrant violation of their rules. They don’t want the input of the grassroots. They have the gall to wonder why the grassroots is upset… Alec and company want a dictatorship..
Watching Perdue and the Georgia GOP hierarchy reminds me of a nursery rhyme. “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall…
By Exporters
September 6, 2006 2:44 PM | Link to this
Exporters
By Exporters
September 6, 2006 2:46 PM | Link to this
nice site
By Barnicle Bill
September 6, 2006 3:09 PM | Link to this
Philly- I believe the GOP State Committee met in August in Atlanta. Might want to check your facts. As for their regional offices- can you really argue that unpaid volunteers are more organized, on message, and financially supported than full time workers? I have met quite a few of the regional people and they seem to make every effort to work with local GOP’s and grassroots. I think those who believe otherwise are blinded by their own hubris and a desire for so-called “power.” Winning is supposed to be a team effort- and the team looks pretty well managed. Your negativity jeopardizes candidates all over the state, and I hope you remember that in the next 2 months.
By John Galt
September 6, 2006 3:51 PM | Link to this
Philly, Reed lost. Get over it.
By Former Cagle Guy
September 6, 2006 4:01 PM | Link to this
Some of us tried to warn Republicans before the primary that Cagle had serious ethical problems.
I can see the TV ads coming. Both Cagle and Perdue will be tarred and feathered with this. Cagle works behind the scenes to give Perdue a big tax break.
Folks, you can say this is a minor thing all you want, but when people start paying attention to this election in a few weeks time this thing is going to sting.
Those who think Cagle and Perdue are going to walk away with this are as stupid as they are wrong.
I will vote for Sonny, but I plan not to vote for Cagle. I know many who will never vote for him right here in his own district.
By Jackie
September 6, 2006 5:35 PM | Link to this
Philly/FCG - Republicans have moved past the primary and are focused on winning. You are proving yourself to be a bunch of whiny losers who just can’t get over the fact that you were wrong - Reed was a liar and a hypocrite and Republicans rejected him. You were wrong. Admit it.
If you can’t get over it and get over yourself, then get out. We Republicans don’t want you here anymore. Leave.
By Philly
September 6, 2006 6:18 PM | Link to this
BB, You should check YOUR facts. There has been NO official Georgia GOP State Committee Meeting in over a year as required by the rules.
Executive Committee Meetings do not count and that was the meeting held in August. T I know many state committee members and they have told me there has been no called meeting. There is much grumbling about this throughout the state. It is like Alec and company want to pretend the county parties and grassroots do not exist. Let’s see the offical minutes of the meeting if you say there was an official meeting. Where are the notices that are supposed to be sent out?
The bottom line is the whole attitude of the state party. They show a complete disregard for the grassroots, unless they control it.
When we see wrong going on, we should not be silent, even if it is fellow Republicans doing the wrong. BB, it is the State Party and their actions that will put our candidates in danger of losing. Are you saying it is ok for the rules and bylaws to be violated?
Jackie, we will not go away and give up the party to folks like Cagle and you. Cagle is about to receive what he dished out during the primary. I am quite sure that Martin will go negative and voters will see Cagle for the sleezy, do anything and tell lies to get elected canidate he is. I am sure the other statewide GOP candidates want our votes and they will get them. Just not Cagle. A message will be sent if Cagle loses …
Vote Buckley for Lt. Governor.
I have also spoken with a number of local county party members and they said they feel like the state party is trying to take over control.
By nowalknotalk
September 6, 2006 7:13 PM | Link to this
I have to ask…how many Executive Committee members, or even State Committee members have actually organized a door to door effort, created and/or worked a phone bank, delivered yard signs, stood outside a poll waving signs, put bumper stickers on their friend’s cars, wrote a letter to the editor, or did any real work? Grassroots is about work, behind the scenes, hot, boring, unnoticed, repetitive, work. All the complainers are talking, the real grassroots are out walking.
By Tony
September 6, 2006 8:43 PM | Link to this
Let me see here. We have Reed supporters preaching about ethics. Irony…and humor. I think the one with the clear ethics issues lost back in July.
And let’s see something else. We have Philly quoting Bobby Kahn and believing him? Philly has officially come out of the closet. We now see that Philly is quoting the mouthpiece of the GA Dems.
Why don’t you just come out and admit you’re voting for the Big Guy?
By Hahhahahahaha
September 6, 2006 11:11 PM | Link to this
So whatever is the answer Philly?
Lemme guess, your friend and cohort Anthony Scott Hobbs!!! Anthony for Georgia! Anthony for State Chairman? I am glad I was the one who alerted Alec, Nick, Paul and Sonny about the last attempted run in Savannah.
Am I getting warmer?
By Rawena
September 7, 2006 7:00 AM | Link to this
Jim Martin 06!
By Philly
September 7, 2006 7:44 AM | Link to this
nowalknotalk , Hahhahahahaha , I hate to disillusion you, but I have nothing to do with Hobbs. I have met him maybe thrice. I have never even lived in Cobb County.
I suspect that hahaha is none other than Brian Laurens. Brian, your reputation precedes you and I DO know you and have known for some time that you were the one that told Nick about Hobbs thinking about running at the Savannah Convention.
Do both of you believe it is ok for the State Party to violate rules and bylaws? Please don’t dodge answering my question.
I know many state committee members that have been volunteers on many campaigns and for many years. They have manned phone banks, gone door to door, put up yard signs and many other volunteer activities. Are you naive enough to think they were elected to the state committee and executive committee without putting in the volunteer hours? You have a lot to learn.
I think the Georgia GOP has a complete disregard for the grassroots. They went into the local counties and just tried to take over from the local parties. I have spoken to county party members in different counties where they have set up their regional offices. It was no team effort. They did not co-ordinate with the local parties. They just went in and told the local parties they were opening regional offices and ask the local parties to send them volunteers. The GOP would have been better served had the Georgia GOP worked as a team with the local parties not work in competition with them.
Tony, I have already gone on record as saying I am voting GOP except for Lt. Governor. I would suspect my track record on voting GOP is much better than yours is. Tony, are you denying Kahn’s allegations about Cagle? Are they true or false? Let’s hear your opinion. Are you trying to allege that just because Kahn bought the allegations up we should not investigate them? That is reminiscent of Hillary Clinton and the vast right wi ng conspiracy.
I hate to break this to you, but I was in Cagle’s district and there is much out there that has not been bought up yet.
By Tony
September 7, 2006 8:20 AM | Link to this
Let’s hear some committee members’ names. I want to know who all of these disgruntled people are. Are the ficticious? Hiding? Or what?
You would suspect? YOU are suspect. You trash Sonny but then you say you’re voting for him. THAT is quite humorous. Why would you slam a guy for ethics issues and then support him? Sounds like YOUR ethics is screwed.
There is a difference between investigating what Kahn has said and you promoting it. I’m all for investigating allegations. But when you come on this board and promote it and attack a candidate as if this were true, you distinguish yourself as being no different than Bobby Kahn and in his camp. So your actions are not matching your stated intent after the fact.
If there is more that has not been brought out then you’ve done your party a disservice and so has Ralph for not bringing this all up to our attention. So no matter what Philly, you’re a loser in this.
By Philly
September 7, 2006 8:28 AM | Link to this
Tony, do you think it is ok for the state party to violate it’s rules and bylaws? Please give me an answer.
I am not going to mention any names. We all know how that Alec and company could give lessons to Bill and Hillary Clinton when it comes to retaliating against those that speak out against them.
By John Galt
September 7, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
Cagle 56% Reed 44%
By Philly
September 7, 2006 3:43 PM | Link to this
There is a long way to go. You Cagle people are already celebrating Cagle’s victory as if it is a done deal. Keep celebrating..
The latest poll shows Cagle has not broken the 50% barrier and over 30% undecided.
Martin has not even started bashing Cagle yet. It is coming, I am quite sure…