When it comes to political agendas, east is east and west is west and never shall they me. Different groups support candidates and incumbents for different reasons. To avoid awkwardness and drama, the various supporters might need separate rallies and meetings. For example, the Blue Dog Democrats in the Georgia congressional delegate enjoy traditional Democrat support and a certain amount of Republican support from individuals with particular agendas-farmers, gun owners, military families, etc.
In Georgia’s 12th District congressional district, Blue Dog John Barrow received the support of the NRA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over a GOP opponent. Conservative Democrat Jim Marshall continues to get most of Black votes in the 8th District without endorsing Obama or Clinton and he does well with some Republicans. On the other hand, Republican Rep. Jack Kingston has built a strong network in the Black community.
The mini-drama with Rep. Sanford Bishop’s family is evidently driven by envy in the Columbus Black community but notice that the agriculture industry and the Georgia GOP is not saying a word; they are more concerned with Bishop’s ability to keep the Obama White House from gutting the farm-support programs we need. Remember, did you see Bishop, Scott, Barrow and Marshall actively campaigning against Senate Ag giant Saxby Chambliss last fall and Chambliss would talk about the “liberal Democrats” in Washington—differentiating them from his moderate southern colleagues and supporters.
Recently, I decide to do a little political network by attending a grassroots town hall event for Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson. While Isakson and Obama are polar opposites politically, the senator was a state official when the Democrats ran state government so he is reasonable enough to say “no” then say “why.” I appreciate that fairness for Obama because moderate Democrats did the same for Bush.
Meeting Senator Isakson
When Isakson starts campaign for relection, our community should think about the fact that congressional Republicans or centrist Blue Dog Democrats represent every major city in Georgia outside metro Atlanta. In Macon, Columbus, Albany, Savannah, Augusta and Athens, our community votes for conservatives or moderates in the interest of our regional agendas.
To adapt Kipling’s ballard to Georgia congressional politics: East is East and West is West and never the two shall meet, but if my interests are a risk, them save me a seat.
The thought of rural Georgia without military bases and agribusiness should make any reasonable person put party bickering on the back burner. Because the center controls American politics, Michael Steele needs to steal a play from the Blue Dog playbook and target the center. Georgia GOP Senators and rural DNC House members might be on to something.
The Ballard of East and West Rudyard Kipling
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Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the two shall meet, |
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Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat; |
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But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, |
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When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth. |
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I saw Senator Isakson at his announcement in Augusta and he said to the room full of people that ‘only in America’ can be elect an African-American president. He was very respectful in his comments about our President and was appreciative of the historical significance of it. Isakson shouldn’t even have an opponent next year. But I know Slyram you have been saying that for months:)
And by the way, nice photo!!!
HBA: I met you during our effort to introduce Herman Cain to our community during his race against Isakson. I am still surprise that so many African American leaders said Isakson had a good, earned reputation with them.
I staffed in the Georgia delegation when Mac Collins came to D.C. so I thought his down-home style, small business success and knowledge tax law would get him nice numbers. Isakson won without a runoff then cruised in the general election. Georgians like the guy.
Mr. Steele is going to have to learn that the party does not want change from a conservative party to a progressive one. I see Mr. Steele’s job as a mouth-piece who can attack Obama without a hint of racism.
I’m not so sure that the center is the thing that needs to be pursued by Republicans. I think the problem is that they have pursued the center; thus deviating from a few simple concepts. More Liberty, Less Government, Reduced Spending.
In all of my travels I have yet to find one person that wants a government that is too large. I have yet to find one person who wants the government to go bankrupt. I have yet to find one person who does not seek Liberty, to some degree.
These are very simple principles that the Republican party use to be focused upon. Instead the discussion has become, tax cuts, social constraint, and spending.
Tax Cuts are cool, when you have the money to spare – not so cool when you are broke. The Social issue might be the one issue the party should attempt to both aggressively pursue and scale back on. We saw the election of a semi-liberal President and at the same time voters who voted for Obama voted to prevent homosexual marriages in California. It’s clear that there is some right-of-center value at the core of America, the GOP is just tapping into the wrong way.
Steele’s job needs to be less about crafting a message and more about fixing the delivery system. The old message was good enough, we just need to find our way back to it – then we need to get it back out to the people.
Jerry and Ron: your fathers raised real men who speak their minds and actually use their names on political blogs. It is an honor and privilege to have made your acquaintance.
Signed: Slyram
Jerry, you are corrected. When I think about my GOP friends’ position last year, I think about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ song “I won’t back down.” If you firmly believe something, you will go to your grave believing that and if the rest of the nation is wrong (like on slavery) hey, they are just wrong.
I wanted Steele in the U.S. Senate after my girl Christine Todd Whitman said he was a real dude..again her “It’s My Party Too” is an American political classic that more southerners should read. But, Steele might be too real to for this role; he is not one to bite his tongue and like CTW he is actually a moderate just over the center line from me.
Ron, I agree with you on what the GOP was designed to be, actually became and needs to get back to. Your term “the delivery system” is the key; the core ideas are sound but people feel the technique and methods should be less gotcha/combative. To be honesty, Raul, Pelosi and Reid get down like that also and Obama can’t make them change.
If the GOP moved to the center, a third party to the far right would emerge. If the people in the center get comfortable with the Blue Dog subdivision of the Dem Team, watch out the fat lady might be warming up. I am so flattered that the center is finally getting all this love and attention. The masses are tired of egotistical bickering.
Matt Towery column in the Albany paper today echoes what you are saying.
http://townhall.com/columnists/MattTowery/2009/03/13/polls_say_democrats_are_gambling_by_taking_on_limbaugh
“The mini-drama with Rep. Sanford Bishop’s family is evidently driven by envy in the Columbus Black community”
Q: Can you provide more details concerning this?
Lunch: sorry, no I can’t because this drama hopefully died a natural death and I don’t want to fan the fire (mixed metaphors.)
I will say that the “envy” comment came from the Mrs. Bishop letter that was published in the Columbus Ledger newspaper and the paper’s comment blog. It seems that inside the power circles in Columbus someone push the oversight story to create mess—haters being haters.
Of course, you can read the blog comments for yourself but Congressman “Attention to Details” would never overlook the oversight if he knew. In the Albany area, it’s called “the Street Committee” and you don’t want to be called before a hearing of that panel—take about imagination. A few years ago, a childhood friend walked up to me at a high school football game and said the Street Committee has determine that my foreign travel with no noticeable signs of wealth must be an indication that I was a spy of some sort. Wow, Double O Bro. I told him it’s called spending my pension early—if I actually grow old, I am in a pickle but hey, the stock market crash didn’t hit me at call.
Sly,
Thanks for your response.
FYI, I make a comment about Bishop at the end of this post, which you might find of interest:
http://allotherpersons.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/prominent-black-democrat-wont-endorse-jim-martin-in-georgia-senate-race/
Thanks for pointing out that blog…it’s interesting. Regarding Bishop and the Senate, if that were going to happen, it would have been in the year of Obama during that wave of new and Black voters. But, he is cool with both Georgia Senators and knows that winning in a congressional district is one thing but statewide is a completely different ball game.
They love him in Columbus with secondary regard for race (like Macon loved Jim Marshall for his service as mayor) but statewide in a red state. Then again, the Attorney General and Labor Commissioner are Black and they won with a cross collection of support.
But, Isakson can’t be beaten in 2010 and no one (in my opinion) should waste time trying.