Political Insider

By keyth

June 19, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

I hope he realize that he is going to have a challenger for his seat in 2008. People say that the district is split but it still tilts democratic & if he wins re-relection I’ll be shocked. But I think he won’t win next year depending who the candidate is.

By keyth

June 19, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

I hope he realize that he is going to have a challenger for his seat in 2008. People say that the district is split but it still tilts democratic & if he wins re-relection I’ll be shocked. But I think he won’t win next year depending who the candidate is.

By keyth

June 19, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

I hope he realize that he is going to have a challenger for his seat in 2008. People say that the district is split but it still tilts democratic & if he wins re-relection I’ll be shocked. But I think he won’t win next year depending who the candidate is.

By keyth

June 19, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

I hope he realize that he is going to have a challenger for his seat in 2008. People say that the district is split but it still tilts democratic & if he wins re-relection I’ll be shocked. But I think he won’t win next year depending who the candidate is.

By keyth

June 19, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

I hope he realize that he is going to have a challenger for his seat in 2008. People say that the district is split but it still tilts democratic & if he wins re-relection I’ll be shocked. But I think he won’t win next year depending who the candidate is.

By dbsmith

June 19, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this

Man, that’s a weird one. Not sure I’d been jumping on the George W. Bush ship before a Presidential election year if I represented a district like that.

By Steve Barton

June 19, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

“We don’t know if this means anything…” Hunh? Jacobs’s closing seems an anodyne statement to me.

And let’s see, his straightforward anouncement is a confession of wrongdoing (“‘fessed up”).

Oh, and all those words in Jacobs’s statement serving and continuing to serve all constituents of every party can’t be true because he is “abandoning” the Democrats. Y’know, I don’t think Democrats in DeKalb are really very lonely.

Nice wording of your little bit, guys. And that “We don’t know if this means anything…” is classic.

By pat

June 19, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

I remember Georgia Mike beating the pavement for the presidential candidates in 2003-2004. He was everywhere for Democrats…This switch might mean that all that work was a lie.

By Phillip

June 19, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

Let me get this straight… Jacobs is joining the Republicans because of fiscal responsibility? At a time when the R’s have lost all credibility on that issue?

And to compare himself to moderates like Jill Chambers who can actually work with Dems is just plain ignorant. Jacobs has abandoned his supporters, his constituents, and people who worked hard to get him elected. Over the past few years, he has lied countless times to supporters when he told them he would not switch.

He may not realize it, but his only allies remaining are with the far right, the most conservative of conservatives (not exactly representative of a constituency anywhere near his house). Since he has committed political suicide with moderates and Dems, now his default ideology is that of confederate-loving, religious, borrow-and-spenders. Nice job Mike.

By Craig

June 19, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

So much for that press conference on the 27th. His first campaign blunder? Mike, it helps matching dates and events first.

By RL

June 19, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Mike is and will remain very popular in his district. I think it is safe to predict that he will remain in his house seat as long as he wants to. Is his next announcement that he is running for DeKalb CEO?

I am a Democrat however I have long felt that the Georgia Democratic party is a complete mess (see 2006 election results) and don’t really consider myself a “Georgia” Democrat so I can understand why Rep. Jacobs is switching. Having said that I am a little disappointed because I feel that people like Mike Jacobs were the only hope Georgia Democrats had for a future.

Georgia Democrats… pay attention… THE SHIP IS SINKING!!! If you are losing a liberal like me you have some serious problems.

By Man

June 19, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

Wake up Atlanta, the whole state is not like Atlanta. Georgia is finally a true Republican state and it will remain so for several elections to come. The Democrats had their shot at Georgia and the failed, they failed big time. Even in Atlanta the Democrats are having a hard time holding on. Bye- bye Cynthia, ah bye- bye. Crime is out of the roof in Atlanta, the last Democratic Mayor sits in prison, the current mayor could populate a prison wing with her relatives alone that in jail or under investigation. It’s a new day in Georgia and you guys just need to wake up and smell the coffee. Sure, Bush may not be riding a wave of popularity with a low approval rating of about twenty-six per cnet but that is better than the approval rating of the Democratic held Congress and their twenty-three per cent approval ratings. As low as Bush is, the Democrats are lower.

By A Person Who Votes

June 19, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

I could care less if he still wins, I won’t vote for him again.

I’m usually very moderate with my politics. I see nothing at all moderate from the group of Republicans that now control the government.

The Georgia Democrats may very well be on a sinking ship but a one party system will be a disaster. We need leaders not quitters.

By getalife

June 19, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

Rep. Gingrey dishonors the troops by understating their losses

Chicken hawk pos.

Geez.

By sct

June 19, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Thats just plain crazy talk. The American people are just as upset with the Republicans in Congress as they are with the Democrats.

The Dems were put in power to change things. They have promised things that have not been delivered. Just as the Republicans have blocked things that the American people have demanded.

The Republicans in Congress are just as responsible for the mess in Congress as the Dems.

Remember that “allow an up or down vote” that was the Republican mantra just a few months back? What the hell happened to that?

Throw them ALL out.

By Tony

June 19, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this

Man,

I hate to break it to you but many in the GOP leadership are closet Dems. And the GOP in control has managed to do far worse in less time than the Dems ever even dreamed of. Sonny’s already bought out by special interests. Our tax money is still being diverted to pork rather than back to you and I. Why spend all that money on some fishing advertising when everyone already knows you can fish in GA? That money could have paid for more gas for me or even made some better roads. So by all means, please tell me how much better the party switching leadership is doing. Instead of real conservatives running the show, we still have the old good ol’ boy system of yesteryear running our state.

By Dude has some guts

June 19, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

I like him personally, but can those who donated to his campaign get their money back? Dude has a lot of guts to run as a Dem last Novemeber knowing he was going to switch.

Have to acknowledge him on one thing though: When it comes to fiscal responsibility by Democrats, it was a Republican, Mike’s BFF Jill Chambers, who was the first state rep or senator to comb through MARTA”s books, and force them to get their act together. And it worked. I hope she does the same for Grady one day. Be honest people, GA Dem’s have looked the other way when it comes to MARTA and Grady. They’ve enabled waste & corruption for too long (Charles Walker, etc.).

Voters do not tolerate this stuff anymore, and they shouldn’t.

By truthbetold

June 19, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

Mr. Jacobs -

We certainly respect your “right” to switch parties. Having said that, please be aware that we now expect you to show the Democratic voters who elected you the same bit of respect. RESIGN immediately. If you feel so confident in your new Republican suit, run as one in the next election. Let the voters decide who represents them and accordingly from which political party that person hails. We elected a Democrat. If you’ve been a Republican in your heart the whole time, spare us the spineless charades display. Quit and re-run for your seat as a Republican.

By Leah

June 19, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

silly Jacobs, Republicans don’t believe in “fiscal responsibility and restraint” … well except for Ron Paul, maybe. The rest manage to spend every bit as much as Democrats, it just gets distributed out to less people

By Recall Jacobs

June 19, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

What are the rules for demanding a recall election? As defrauded constituents, voters deserve a say here. Also, have Democratic contributors gotten their money back?

I can just imagine some little old lady who wrote Mike Jacobs a $10 check for his campaign. What kind of person turns their back and abandons their supporters like this?

Warning to Republicans: Be careful of what you are getting. Clearly this man is devoid of character.

By Seriously

June 19, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

This is so dishonest. You hear alot about morals from politicians, here is another example of reality.

This was a cowardly way to switch.

Go Fish.

By Leah

June 19, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

Here you go

Grounds for Recall in Georgia: act of malfeasance or misconduct while in office; violation of oath of office; failure to perform duties prescribed by law; willfully misused, converted, or misappropriated, without authority, public property or public funds entrusted to or associated with the elective office to which the official has been elected or appointed. Discretionary performance of a lawful act or a prescribed duty shall not constitute a ground for recall of an elected public official. (Ga. Code §21-4-3(7) and 21-4-4(c))

Source: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/recallprovision.htm

I don’t think the oath of office has anything to do with upholding the party, but I see that one definition of misconduct is “bad or dishonest management by persons supposed to act on another’s behalf” That looks like a winner

By Harry

June 19, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

Folks, them grapes are real sour. Do I seem to remember that a certain GOP state rep from Sandy Springs switched over to the Dems a few years ago. Where was all the selective indignation? You know, you guys have a lot more problems than just one little ole state representative switching parties!

By Scott

June 19, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this

Harry - no, I don’t remember a GOP State rep who switched to the Dems a few years ago. I do remember Nathan Deal, who switched to the Republicans. I do remember Sonnie Purdue, who switched to the Republicans.
And I do remember supporting Mike Jacobs as the Democratic nominee for his current job. Selective indignation? I voted for the man as a Democrat, and 6 months later he says, “just kidding!”
This isn’t about who’s better, Dems or Republicans. It’s about decency and honesty and doing the right thing. Today, Mike is basically a guy who lied on his resume to get a job. Unfortunately, we can’t fire him until 2008.

By bobs

June 19, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

This is from Jacobs’ website as one of his beliefs explaining his switch to the GOP: “- A commitment to individual liberty. Our government has no legitimate role in citizens’ personal lives.”

Sort of like saying you need to go on a diet and then walking into Dairy Queen for lunch.

Unless of course he doesn’t think mandatory sonograms before abortions, mandated waiting periods for divorce, or banning gay marriage constitute government interference in personal lives.

By Harry

June 19, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

Kathy Ashe switched from GOP to Democrat a few years ago. I don’t remember any indignation being expressed by Democrats or Republicans on that occasion. Get over it, move on.

By Proud Bulldog

June 19, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this

Harry, there was plenty of indignation expressed by countless Republicans when Ashe switched. But that is not the issue. Ashe never lied to me, Jacobs did.

I hope Mike Jacobs never has to feel as badly as those he has let down with this selfish move. At the end of the day Jacobs represents great disappointment and failed potential.

He is no longer the bipartisan hero to taxpayers that we can count on to represent the little guy. By selling out, he gave up the fight against Vernon, he has lost the ability to take the high road and arbitrate tough policy issues, he turned his back on common sense, moderate constituents and supporters, and he is now a partisan hack. He’s become the type of politician that he used to battle.

By Harry

June 19, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this

Wow, I think that’s way too harsh. Understanding he’s been struggling with this decision for some time. I always thought Kathy Ashe did what her conscience led her to do, and I think Mike did the same. His constituents will reward him or punish him, but it was his choice. Politicians shouldn’t necessartily be wedded to political parties until death.

By phillip

June 19, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this

As a voter in his district I say resign. He’s a fraud.

I also could care less what Ashe did.

By Mark

June 19, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this

Another blow to Al-Queda.

By Proud Bulldog

June 19, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this

I’m harsh? Don’t you think what Jacobs did was harsh? What about the hurt he has caused to all those Young Democrats, all those seniors, and all the working folks in this District that campaigned for him? Makes me so sad!

If he was a statesman he would step down and allow a special election so that voters could have a say.

In a Republic we depend on our Representatives to be honest with us, to tell us who they are and what they stand for. One of the most basic ways to communicate this in our country is by Party ID. He won this office by proudly declaring himself a Democrat and thus receiving critical support from Democrats in a 50/50 District.

In politics, leaders must have credibility to succeed. This is the core of what he has lost. Who on the left or the right could ever believe a word he says in the future? He’s done what I thought was impossible… made Vernon Jones look good by comparison (and I was on Jacob’s side in that debate).

By Jack

June 20, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this

What would it take to get a recall petition started? I worked to help get Mike elected and feel like I need to pay for my sins by working to move him out of office.

Does anyone know how to get this started?

I suspect Mike thinks he can get reelected in his district like his best friend Jill Chambers. Jill’s district is majority Dem, she was only elected because of the lack of a good or even fair Dem candidate. Did anyone notice the election tactics that Jill Chambers embraced to get elected? She is the lowest form of politician that will stop at nothing.

RECALL MIKE, RECALL MIKE, RECALL MIKE