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DEL.ICIO.USWell past midnight, some thoughts for the morning:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Among them:
— Republicans Sonny Perdue and Casey Cagle rolled over Democrats Mark Taylor and Jim Martin, respectively, in similar fashion. But with 88 percent of the vote in, Martin had outpolled Taylor by nearly 60,000 votes.
Which might be the closest we ever come to a count of ticked-off Democratic women in Georgia.
— A quick, thumbnail assessment of the Taylor campaign: It operated as if Democrats were still the establishment party, when it should have operated as a populist insurgency. Like Perdue in 2002.
In the 1980s, the members of the state House rose up and put one of their own, Joe Frank Harris, in the Governor’s Mansion. Taylor never had that relationship with the Democratic senators he ruled over for eight years. Or at least, it never showed.
This was the cruelest criticism of Taylor wielded by a prominent disappointed Democrat, mid-campaign: “He’s just Roy Barnes, but without the $20 million.”
— In terms of Republican votes gathered up, Perdue was finishing behind State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, who now needs no “with a ‘K’” to set her apart from the departing secretary of state. John Oxendine looked to be the top GOP vote-getter.
— On the Democratic side, State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin was jousting with Attorney General Thurbert Baker for top honors. You have to think that Baker was helped by the strong campaign run by state Supreme Court Justice Carol Hunstein.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Rawena
November 8, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this
Georgia returns are disappointing but expected. Georgia was set to lose not matter if Taylor or Perdoofus won.
On to better news — GOOD MORNING MADAME SPEAKER.
By R Johnson
November 8, 2006 9:10 AM | Link to this
Where is the AJC report and comment on the outrageous, insulting, race baiting ad presented on behalf of Fulton County Commissioner Eaves election efforts by Mayor Franklin, Andy Young and John Lewis? You hear in the street the opinion of these peopleas perpetrators of racism as retribution but now any doubt has been removed hasn’t it? So much to be proud of as a white citizen of Atlanta, isn’t there? Is this really what the message of MLK was or do these folks just represent a rip off and anger filled distortion of the dream? One can only hope the truly intelligent Atlanta voters of all races remember the true nature of these folks in future elections.
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 9:19 AM | Link to this
No surprise that GA and most of the south is out of step with the rest of the country. We (southern states) have the lowest SAT scores, the highest drop-out rates and the highest divorce rates and the highest rates of supporting the GOP no matter what. We are an embarrassment. I heard someone on MSNBC last night refer to the south as “the dumb belt” and it’s true. BUT I also have been saying all year that I would be here on Nov.8th declaring victory in the House and Senate for the Dems and that is what I am doing. Told ya’ so!! GOP got their walking papers and it is a victory for our troops and for middle class America. How sweet it is!!
By Wahhhh Wiggins
November 8, 2006 9:30 AM | Link to this
The Republicans won state races more due to the idiot behavior of the Democrats than anything else.
Really, Sonny Perdue and Mark Taylor both look like guys who call all women “honey” and tell them to get the coffee at meetings. The difference is that Mark Taylor doesn’t look like the one who would apologize—even in a patronizing way—-when corrected. He’d just get his daddy to fire them.
By Ed
November 8, 2006 9:30 AM | Link to this
It is very clear now that Georgia is a solid Republican state, one of the five most Republican states in the country. Perhaps this will help put an end to the racist, bigoted attacks made by out of touch has been people like John Lewis, Andrew Young and Shirley Franklin who instill hate and fear in people with thier over-the-top ads against people of a different race than they are. I am referring to their ad for John Eaves in Fulton County. Franklin should be impeached for this. I wasn’t at all surprised about Youngs’ participation in this ad, he is on record being a bigot so many times, it’s hard to keep up with how many anti-Jewish comments he has on record. And John Lewis, a good civil rights activist, a horrible politician. Yep, a new day in Georgia, some folks just need to get use to it.
By Kyle
November 8, 2006 9:45 AM | Link to this
Lauren, you’re an idiot! Anyone who voted for John Kerry in the last presidential election,(I’m assuming you did)shouldn’t be allowed to have a column. MSNBC is about as credible as you are. If you want reliable, non-biased news, watch FOX.
By Wahhhh Wiggins
November 8, 2006 9:49 AM | Link to this
Mayor Franklin must have had some kind of brain cramp to do that radio ad. I wonder if she just recorded her portion without knowing what the final product would include.
But the complaining about this ad is silly. Republicans were such paragons of virtue in this election, they poured a million dollars into the non-partisan Supreme Court race by roundabout unethical means. They have held power by bashing everyone from gays to Max Cleland. Don’t get on such a moral high horse.
By RAC
November 8, 2006 9:50 AM | Link to this
I guess Georgia should change names to Dumbfukistan?
By Matt
November 8, 2006 9:52 AM | Link to this
As the most of the US is headed for hell in a hand-basket, it’s nice to wake up in Georgia where there is still some sanity.
At least watching “Miss America” Pelosi and “Dingy Harry” Reid try to lead the jackass party will be fun for the next two years.
By Matt
November 8, 2006 9:58 AM | Link to this
RAC - you are the wit of the left.
By EW
November 8, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this
Franklin just committed political career suicide, another McKinney…two peas in a pod.
By GLC
November 8, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this
Where are the checks, balances?
The campaign is over thank goodness! The people have spoken and without a doubt Georgia is one of the redest states in the nation. Was Georgia’s election a referendum on performance, vision, partisanship, values, negative campaigning, ethical bankruptcy, illegal immigration, attentiveness of the electorate or a combination thereof? Aswers to those questions will be left to the analysts. However, one thing is for certain…Democrats must begin their search as they begin the “rebirth” process.
Unfortunately, questions about Gov. Perdue’s abuse of the Governor’s office for personal enrichment and conflicts of interest linger with an impressive victory primarliy because of his misleading responses to the allegations during the campaign. The allegations are supported by facts and logic. Left unattended they have the potential of contaminating an impressive victory. Questions that still beg for answers pertain to the customized tax break Gov. Perdue received on his Florida land deal, his failure to disclose the purchase of prize land adjacent to his home, which, in one year, tripled in value primarily because of actions he took as Governor.
America is a great country and Georgia is a great state. Besides the ballot box, our national and state governments have check and balance structures designed, among other things, to ensure that no one is above the law. As one of his critics who also loves Georgia, I want Gov. Perdue to be successful in his second term and hope, indeed pray, that since he is no longer under the heavy influence of “spin doctors” he will rise to the occasion and clear the air. Notwithstanding, I place my confidence in the appropriate investigative structures, which also include the media.
By SCN
November 8, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this
Anyone who hasn’t heard the outrageous John Lewis/Shirley Franklin/Andy Young race-baiting ad supporting John Eaves for Fulton Comm Chairman needs to find it on the net and hear it - might be on boortz.com (it was on the Boortz radio show this morning)- it is unbelievable - as a City of ATL resident, the good will Shirley has earned in the post-Campbell era is now, shall we say, gone with the wind - I agree with the above: where is the AJC story on this???
By Eleanor
November 8, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this
Red state = red neck
By Elizabeth
November 8, 2006 11:24 AM | Link to this
What hurts most about the John Eaves ad? That it’s inflammatory? Or that it’s true?
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this
Kyle, you can kiss my a55! You fit right into this redneck state. Fox is about as unbiased as Al-Jezeera. You are just like lots of GOP voters, you have your head firmly planted up your butt, so much so that when you woke up this morning you couldn’t even smell the strong coffee that has been served to you. You are laughable!
By Matt
November 8, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this
The left’s intelligence is well on display here today. You should be pround of your this blog’s representation as well as your leadership in DC.
By cosmo
November 8, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this
For all of those who are praising the Democratic wins just wait until your taxes are raised. Pelosi already made a public announcement that one of the first things the Dems plan to do is raise taxes and we all know that it is the Middle Class that gets hit when they do this…..
By cosmo
November 8, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
Lauren you must be a very unhappy person!
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
If you guys don’t like the Eaves ad then you just don’t like a taste of your own medicine. The GOP loves to use fear-mongering (anti-Ford ad in Tennessee was blatant race baiting; telling voters they will be voting for the terrorists if they vote for the Democrats). You guys are shameless race-baiters and fear mongers. Stop your complaining. You sound like a bunch of whiny losers (yes, I know you won in GA but the rest of the country gave the GOP a good old-fashing butt whipping and you know it)
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this
Cosmo, you are projecting. Today I am a happy camper. And yes, the Dems will roll back some the ridiculous tax breaks that Bush gave to the super-rich and to big oil, but the Dems will not raise taxes on the middle class. That is just a right-wing fear tactic that does not work anymore as last nights results show. So unless you are Exxon or a billionaire you don’t have anything to worry about.
By Debbie
November 8, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this
The GOP did very well in Georgia because they govern like Republicans.
The GOP on the national scale governed like Democrats and they found GOP voters were not as forgiving as Democrat voters are.
Hopefully the results send a wake up call to the RNC. They can get their act together and come back in 2008.
It is unfortunate, but sometimes loss has to occur in order for change to take place.
Most of the Democrats that won ran as conservative Democrats and will have to govern as conservatives. They will vote with the GOP most of the time and against Pelosi.
Nacny Pelosi as SOH will be the best thing that happened to the GOP.
By Debbie
November 8, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
As far as the ad, I hope the GOP controlled State Legislature plays that ad next time Shirley Franklin comes to them with her hand out and asking for favors for Atlanta.
She should be told NO.
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this
Debbie, you are delusional. This state would be a cow pasture without Atlanta. Atlanta will get what she needs. HA HA
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 12:25 PM | Link to this
Debbie, the Dems have learned what the GOP has not. We have gone to the center and the GOP remains entrenched in the far right. This country has had enough of Bible thumping hypocrites who take it up the butt (literally) when no one is looking.
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this
Debbie, you really believe that the most of the Dems elected last night will vote with the GOP then you are living in a fantasy! You are hilarious! Next you will tell me you believe in unicorns.
By Mary
November 8, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this
One difference between Democrats and Republicans: a Democrat will look at candidates and pick the best one running. Republicans vote Republican regardless. And Southern Republicans - well, there’s a reason our intelligent children move elsewhere.
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this
Very true, Mary, very true!
By Rawena
November 8, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this
Debbie,
Someone needs to ban you from any keyboard. Except maybe a manual typewriter.
Stop embarassing yourself and your RepuliCON party.
By Debbie
November 8, 2006 2:49 PM | Link to this
You, Rawena, are why Democrats are in the minority in Georgia.
Trying to deprive me of freedom of speech are you now? Won’t work so don’t waste your time. Typical liberal ploy.
Lauren, time will tell. Most of the Democrats ran as conservative and will govern as a conservative to keep their job. There will be many issues where they will vote against Pelosi. You are out of touch with reality if you think otherwise. They will not vote for liberal ideas or programs.
There are conservative Democrats that very often side with Republicans now. Get a grip on reality.
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 3:04 PM | Link to this
Debbie, Nancy Pelosi will govern as a centrist as Speaker. She has already said that she will not impose her views but instead put forth maistream views of the party and of America. Listen when she speaks and then you may not make such ridiculous statements. Also,the Dems that defeated GOP incumbents last night did so because they OPPOSED the current leadership. I think you are going to see the most unified Democratic party that you have ever seen and I can see why that scares you. Dems may differ on some issues but Tester, Casey and the like have publicly vowed that they will vote with their own party. That being said, the GOP also has members who cross party lines and vote with the Democrats so you will see more of that, too. Face it, your party lost power last night and don’t fool yourself by thinking that a conservative Democrat is the same as a conservative Republican because, I assure you, it is a very different animal. But you will learn that soon enough.
By momof3
November 8, 2006 3:08 PM | Link to this
RUMSFELD RESIGNS!!! Oh my God!! Is this a great day or what! I just watched the Bush press conference and he was squirming even more than usual. Oh, happy day!
By DebbieDoesEastPoint
November 8, 2006 3:10 PM | Link to this
Hey, Debbie, the reason this state is mostly Republican is the same reason we can’t get our SAT scores out of the basement. We have too many stupid people! And you are one of them.
By Debbie
November 8, 2006 3:20 PM | Link to this
My party still controls Georgia and the Whitehouse.
There will be gridlock in Congress because the margins are very close.
I know there is a difference between conservative republicans and conservative democrats. The voters that voted for the conservative democrats thinking they were voting for conservatives will soon find that out as well.
Pelosi will be under immense pressure to pass the liberal agenda. It is rather foolish to think otherwise.
The Dems that ran as conservatives will not support that agenda.
Voters wanted a change and the national GOP did not give them a reason to vote for them. They gave voters a reason not to vote Democrat and that failed as it should have.
By nfire
November 8, 2006 3:20 PM | Link to this
I agree with Debbie on this stuff, especially on the risk the Dems are taking by putting Pelosi as Speaker. She better get her act straight, or the Dem control will be OVER with the next election. The Dems don’t need to vote with the Republicans. Obviously the Republicans don’t know WTF they’re doing, or they wouldn’t have lost in such a landslide. They DO need to govern from the center, and stay far away from left field. If the Dems make the same mistake that the Repubs made and rule with an iron fist, investigating everyone, ONLY passing legislation that will invigorate their base and ignoring everybody else, they will be OUT of power in ‘08.
By Debbie
November 8, 2006 3:24 PM | Link to this
I would love for the Dems to stay unified in their liberal agenda. They will not though.
Once Pelosi starts introducing liberal ideas, the the moderate/conservative Dems will split.
What was interesting was the fact Lieberman won by a pretty big margin as an Independent… The left wing groups still control the Democratic Party. do you think they will just sit idly by if their agenda is not introduced?
By Lauren
November 8, 2006 3:33 PM | Link to this
Lieberman was elected by a some loyal Dems but mostly by Republicans and indep. Which is fine with me. He will caucus with the Dems. Debbie, sometimes a vote is not so much FOR someone as AGAINST someone. I agree with you that the Dems have a lot to prove. If they do like the GOP and cater only to the radical faction of their party they will get voted out just like the GOP did last night. I don’t think they will do that, you think they will, only time will tell. Yes, your party still controls the White House and boasts an incredible 34% approval rating while doing it. Bravo! Nothing to brag about. Bush is a total idiot and governs like one. Leave it to the Republicans to be proud of a man who cannot even master the English language. God, he is an embarrassment. Every time he speaks, I cringe.
By Debbie
November 8, 2006 6:32 PM | Link to this
I would rather have someone like Bush that sometimes stumbles around with the English language than someone like Kerry that has mastered the English language but sticks his foot in his mouth every time he opens it.
The GOP national leadership blew the election yesterday. I know GOP voters were ticked off and did not turn out in most other states.
I have heard it was unhappiness with the Iraq war that cost the GOP Congress. I disagree.
Lieberman lost the Democratic primary because he supported Bush and the war. Lamont strongly opposed the war and got trounced by Lieberman in the general.
By Reagan Conservative
November 8, 2006 6:36 PM | Link to this
I have a news flash for you about Bush’s poll numbers. A lot of that dissatisfaction is coming from his conservative base.
It doesn’t mean the decline of conservatism. Yesterday’s election will singal the rise of conservativism again. Bush is not conservative and neither were most of the GOP that got defeated yesterday.
Some GOP Congressman and Senators that were defeated were RINOs and needed to be defeated.
By joe
November 8, 2006 9:45 PM | Link to this
RC: do you honestly believe that Santorum is not conservative?? Give me a break!!! It was a glorious day for America yesterday. Finally, balance of power…. it’s a beautiful thing!
By Sunny Pirdoo
November 8, 2006 9:54 PM | Link to this
Taylor’s total butt-whupping came as white women voted against a 300-lb. drunkard. I mean, everyone knows the only way his 3rd [trophy] wife would have him is because he has daddy’s $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. There lard-azz was, conceding, with crooked pap, strumpet and murderous drunkard whelp by his side.
By trueblue
November 8, 2006 11:07 PM | Link to this
Sober up Sunny….here’s some interesting scoop.
” Sixty-eight percent of the white vote (male and female combined) went to Republican Sonny Perdue last night and 27 percent to Democrat Mark Taylor. Conversely, 81 percent of the black vote (male and female) went to Taylor and 17 percent to Perdue. The results come from the exit poll conducted for the broadcast networks and The AP, and published on the CNN website.
Mark Taylor won about 26,000 fewer votes in Fulton last night than Roy Barnes won in 2002, and Perdue got nearly 12,000 more votes in Fulton last night compared to four years ago. In DeKalb, Taylor got 18,000 fewer votes last night than Barnes received four years ago.
This has gotta hurt: Taylor got a smaller percentage of the vote in Georgia last night than John Kerry got in 2004 (38.4 percent for Taylor last night with 97 percent of precincts counted; 41.4 percent for Kerry two years ago.) . Even Michael Dukakis got a larger percentage in 1988 - 40 percent - and Denise Majette also got 40 percent in her failed U.S. Senate bid two years ago. Last night, even Taylor’s running mate - Jim Martin - ran ahead of him with 42.4 percent of the vote..
Ouch…..Mark Taylor ruined things for some good democratic candidates in this election……
By W
November 9, 2006 1:43 PM | Link to this
Georgia has always been a one party state. In the past the politicals were fiscally and pretty much socially conservative democrats, with their own problems around individual members using the spheres of their influence for personal benefit.
All Georgia did was begin to use a different party label for the same philosophy.
What seems to be missing in both parties is leadership with a vision to solve the problems that ail Georgia and bring prosperity to all areas of the state.
Wishful thinking?
By debbie
November 9, 2006 1:56 PM | Link to this
It really sounds like Pelosi is going to govern from the middle. Sure she is..
http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Pelosi.htm