Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > November > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLive blogging: McCain warns that he’s an example of what Democratic organization can do
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5:53 p.m.: John McCain has left the building, and is headed for a big-dollar, Saxby Chambliss fund-raiser at the 191 Club in downtown Atlanta. A few wrap-up points:
First, the former presidential candidate was a fairly soft-edged when it came to his criticism of Democrats. My AJC colleague Jim Tharpe pointed out something I hadn’t noticed — that McCain never mentioned Barack Obama by name.
Perhaps most important, McCain warned Republicans in Georgia that he serves as an example of what Democratic organization accomplished this political season, and urged them not to take the Dec. 2 runoff lightly.
5:50 p.m.: Defeated Republican nominee John McCain cracked jokes with an enthusiastic Cobb County crowd here, telling them that he now sleeps like a baby.
“Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry,” McCain said. He told the same joke on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” two nights earlier.
He also listed the presidential candidates from Arizona: himself, Barry Goldwater, Bruce Babbit, and Mo Udall. “Arizona may be the only state in the union where mothers don’t tell their children they can grow up to be president,” he said.
On the Republican incumbent: “Saxby Chambliss has been doing what we Republicans should have been doing for these past eight years, and that’s cut spending,” McCain said.
“I ask you to go into battle one more time. The eyes of the country and the world will be on the state of Georgia on Dec. 2.
The first praise from McCain about Chambliss was on agriculture exports…
5:26 p.m.: Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain is on the stage. Saxby Chambliss is speaking. Boos from the crowd of 1,500 when he mentioned President-elect Barack Obama. Chambliss says he’d pray for him — but not his agenda.
“It only takes one U.S. senator to stop that,” Chambliss said.
5:25 p.m.: Until this evening, Zell Miller had stayed out of the U.S. Senate race — and the presidential race, too, for that matter.
But he just unloaded on Democrat challenger Jim Martin, and gave Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss an unqualified endorsement.
“It’s critical for us to keep Saxby’s voice and vote in Washington,” Miller said. “Saxby could well be the last man standing between us” and the Democratic agenda.
Now, there’s some irony here, because Miller, when he was a senator, constantly expressed frustration at U.S. Senate rules that allowed Democrats — then in the minority — to stop the Bush administration with a cloture vote.
Miller told of his proposal for a $100 million tax cut when he was governor, and named Martin as “the very first legislator” to speak out against it.
“And another thing. I don’t like this spread-the-wealth, income distribution. To steal from Peter even if it gets Paul to vote for you is wrong, wrong, wrong,” Miller said.
“I’ve served with both of these men in the race. And there’s no question in my mind which one is best to serve our state and our country,” he said.
4:58 p.m.: A number of heavyweights have climbed to the stage — foremost among them former U.S. senator and governor Zell Miller. Public Service Commission candidate Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, also in a runoff, is on the stage.
Gov. Sonny Perdue is not here — he’s at the Republican Governors Association in Miami. U.S. Rep. Tom Price has joined Westmoreland here. U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, over from South Carolina, is here as well. Big ally of McCain in D.C.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson named as being here as well. But darned if I can see them.
4:30 p.m.: Authorities at Cobb Energy Center have already closed the ballroom doors on the 5:30 p.m. event, and an overflow crowd is already spilling into the hallway. There’s a 1,500-person limit to the room.
Very crowded, and hardly enough room to move. Reporters very much a presence — TV cameras number 18. But no one dares move, for fear of losing his seat.
Alec Poitevint, who was the McCain chairman in Georgia, just brushed by — and said this event for Saxby Chambliss, the Republican incumbent, would be larger then the final McCain event held in the same spot last February. And he’s right.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is here. So is U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland. Many suits here — a rush-hour crowd on their way home to Cobb County.
Big emphasis here on absentee voting. Many volunteers out front, filling out applications.
• Full election coverage: News, photos and more
• Get instant notification of Political Insider updates: Sign up on Twitter
Services »
Comments
By Hola Georgiafornia
November 13, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
Somebody ask him about illegal immigration? PLEASE?
By Bill J.
November 13, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
I just threw up in my mouth.
By .$axby -Broken Promises,Broken Borders,Broken Economy.Broken War
November 13, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS ‘W’ AND CHENY?,- -BAIL-OUT $axby,- Because the people have spoken!8
By .$axby -Broken Promises,Broken Borders,Broken Economy.Broken War
November 13, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS ‘W’ AND CHENY?,- -BAIL-OUT $axby,- Because the people have spoken!
By .$axby -Broken Promises,Broken Borders,Broken Economy.Broken War
November 13, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS ‘W’ AND CHENY?,- -BAIL-OUT $axby,- Because the people have spoken! Bail Out COBB EMC ,BAIL OUT COBB ENERGY
By .$axby -Broken Promises,Broken Borders,Broken Economy.Broken War
November 13, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS ‘W’ AND CHENY?,- -BAIL-OUT $axby,- Because the people have spoken! Bail Out COBB EMC ,BAIL OUT COBB ENERGY——MAX CLELAND IS A REAL PATRIOT-
By .$axby -Broken Promises,Broken Borders,Broken Economy.Broken War
November 13, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS ‘W’ AND CHENY?,- -BAIL-OUT $axby,- Because the people have spoken! Bail Out COBB EMC ,BAIL OUT COBB ENERGY——MAX CLELAND IS A REAL PATRIOT———————JIM MARTIN IS A REAL VETERAN!
By koala
November 13, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Max Cleland is an idiot who blew himself up while drunk and high in Vietnam! what a fool.
By REPUBLICANS FOR MARTIN....thanx $axby.......
November 13, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
SENATOR TED STEPHENS WOULD BE PROUD OF THIS GANG.
By PORT WENTWORTH SUGAR WORKERS.....
November 13, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
SENATOR TED STEPHENS WOULD BE PROUD OF THIS GANG.
By Spanky
November 13, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
I’m pretty surprised that John McCain would stand by this guy who had the nerve to paint someone who gave up so much for his country (Max Cleland) as unpatriotic. That’s shameful behavior, and I’m surprised that McCain would stand by this guy. Then again, maybe McCain has sold out…
By PORT WENTWORTH SUGAR WORKERS.....
November 13, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
THANKS FOR THE INVESTIGATION SAXBY! koala is a draft-dodger too!
By minutemen for border enforcement
November 13, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
$axby security at the border
By Zig Zag at it again
November 13, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
In the 90’s Zell was for Jim Martin, now he’s against him. Six years ago Zell was against Saxby, now he’s for him. First Zell was against the 60-vote requirement in the Senate now he’s against it. Spit Balls have more integrity.
By ZigZagZell
November 13, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
If there’s a chance to grab a headline, snuffy smith, the grandstanding hillbilly will be there. He still calls himself a Democrat, but is a traitor to everybody who ever helped him get elected except for the other yellow-belly turncoat deserters. He was a marine - not in wartime - who is siding with a guy that got 5 deferments to avoid service while Martin was man enough to serve his country in Vietnam. Zig Zag is siding with a guy that basically wants to turn our state into MexiGeorgia. He’s been zigging since he ran Maddox’s office to smooching the rears of Julian and his brother, James Bond, till he zagged and fell in love with the Clintons and then that AWOL “war president” W who has screwed up our country. Anybody who would listen to this disloyal traitor pretend patriot has my deepest sympathy. He’ll be grandstanding at the Libertarian convention next.
By FUBU
November 13, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
I didn’t know that James Bond was Julian’s brother.
Man, I wonder if he drives one of those Aston Martins….
By Martin for Senate
November 13, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Did Zell spit on anyone??
By Go Fish
November 13, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
Oh Zell showed up too? Great- all the losers together in one place.
Eight years of failed policies and now they are scrambling to get the GOP back on track. All this is about is blocking the legislature- and keeping the will of the people from happening. Chambliss is full of the same words that lost the election for the GOP. And he will be a wealthy man when he is finally sent back home- unlike the rest of us.
May they rest in peace.
Go Martin!
By geek
November 13, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
Chambliss is not much of a man and it is people like him that has hurt the Republican Party.
I would rather vote in a liberal democrat and then vote him out latter than support a snake like Chambliss.
Political views are 1 thing, a person who would destroy the reputation of another just to get elected is not someone who I can respect or vote for.
John Mc Cain should know better. While he has shown he would do anything to get elected, there was a line that even he would not cross, he got Palin to do that for him.
The GOP has turned into a sad lot who have lost their personal values. Georgia needs to reject this type of junk and show the country it is better than this.
By Ya Mama
November 13, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
All you liberals are a bunch of idiots !!!
By tclabby
November 13, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
I hope Saxby can’t sleep between now and 12/2. After that defaming ad he ran against Max Cleland, he should be sent to pick the crops in South Georgia for all those big industrial Ag companies he championed by trying to keep the illegals here to pick crops.GOMARTIN-we proved it could be done with Obama-let’s get it done again!!!!!!
By RJ
November 13, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
By ZigZagZell…You are dead on target with your comments. Except for Bush, who has proven to be a disaster for the country, Zell’s endorsement has been a kiss of death.
By Mission Accomplished--Saxby in a Run-Off
November 13, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this
* $axby is a Legend in his own mind. I hope the Voters run him off for good!*
By zig zag zell comes to the rescue to bail out saxy boy.HILLBILLYS FOR MARTIN
November 14, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this
snuffy smith —THAT IS GOOD—……. Thanks for the goofy memories Zell. See ya at the Democratic Convention in 2012.
By Will Jones
November 14, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this
The People of Georgia are great and good. None better in the ofher 49.
Running off Chambliss will be a feather in our state’s cap.
By ..... Georgia Republicans- For MARTIN
November 14, 2008 12:21 AM | Link to this
Senor $axby is desperate,-bringing in all the other pur$e string$ to Cobb County for $10,000 a plate Fund Raiser served by illegals getting free health care. Fear Tactics won’t work this time,-GEORGIA has SPOKEN!**
By John McCain
November 14, 2008 6:39 AM | Link to this
Saxby Works for the LOBBYIST not Georgia
John McCain opposed the farm bill. In an impassioned speech on Monday, he declared: “It would be hard to find any single bill that better sums up why so many Americans in both parties are so disappointed in the conduct of their government, and at times so disgusted by it.”
McCain has been in Congress for decades, but he has remained a national rather than a parochial politician. The main axis in his mind is not between Republican and Democrat. It’s between narrow interest and patriotic service. And so it is characteristic that he would oppose a bill that benefits the particular at the expense of the general.
By indy
November 14, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this
Saxby who be a shoo-in if he were actually a conservative or a Republican.
If the market falls or some other financial meltdown happens, that will take him out no matter how hard the GOP tries to save the Poster Boy of the ROTTEN AS HELL Republican party.
By Dontrell
November 14, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
We won—the republicans lost—get over it. Chambliss will lose in the runoff, and Obama will get the 60 votes in the Senate necessary to do what he wants. It will be a new day in washington, with the Obaman and the democrats running everything and telling republicans what to do with their failed policies. I’m applying for a job with the Obama administration today!
By Sissy Saxby
November 14, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Zell Mlller is like all the other lobbyists. He sold his soul for George Bush, and now for Sissy Saxby.
By nyokadavis
November 14, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
what mccain forgot to tell you is his dirty politic cost him the election and his running mate palin who didn’t know what a VP job was and still don’t and while he was trying to smear president elect Obama he to had pal around with terroristmccain gave a man name KHALIDI a spoke person for the late PLO leader YASSER Arafats a half million dollars and Ayser who he try to connect to Obama had something in common thet both gave money to this man if you want change you will vote for the democractis remember the republican went along with bush also most of the time bush had a blank check to get us into the war and run this country into the ground just you let your voice heard with electing PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA make your voice heard again to elect MARTIN FOR YOUR SENATE GEORIGA MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.
By A conservative in West Cobb
November 15, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
You can bring in all of the suits you want…It still does not change the fact that Saxby voted for the 800 Billion bailout. You sold out my great grandchildren’s futute with that vote. Bread and butter Republicans like me know that we have been sold down the river. I will be voting for the donkey and try to get the seat back in 6 years. P.S stop sending me all your Dang e-mail’s talking about how you are so great! It just reminds me to go to the polls on Dec. 2 to vote against you.