In my community, we say, “If you don’t know, you better raise your hand and ask someone.” With that sage wisdom (is that a redundant term) in mind, I ask these questions about Georgia politics.
1. Is the GOP counting on young voters and Black voters not returning to the polls this year?
2. Why won’t the political parties start with the desired result and work backwards to achieve it?
3. Is the ultimate goal a better functioning America or destruction of the other parties?
4. Why won’t Michael Steele and company consider the general election when producing primary candidates?
5. Why won’t the Democrats realize that Senator Isakson can’t be beaten, not run any candidate against him and leave his sizable war chest out of the equation?
6. Would a non-contested Isakson be free to dialog now?
7. Why didn’t the GOP help Rep. Sanford Bishop become Agriculture Secretary if they seriously wanted his congressional seat? Did they forget that the Republican governor would have appointed his replacement?
8. When the ultra-conservatives say Bishop does not listen to people, are they saying that 158,000 voters are not really people?
9. Would Rep. Jim Marshall have been an easier and more logical target for Bishop’s opponent or David Scott’s opponent? Did anyone ask Newt?
10. Would Macon, Tifton and Warner Robins see GOP candidate Dr. Deborah Honeycutt and family as southern Obamas or Huxtables? Did I just go there? Is there anything cooler than a successful family?
11. Does anyone in the GOP remember that Rep. Marshall dissed (on some level) the Obama and Hillary presidential campaigns? Can’t you all see an opportunity there?
12. If any Blue Dogs gets bounced, who should it be? (Leading question…I’m just saying)
13. Would Ray McKinney or Karen Bogans do better against Rep. John Barrow than the current candidates?
14. Will the GOP produce women candidates who can reach Democrat moderate women in the general election or will tea stains be too strong? Did I just coin the term “tea stains” to describe those supported by the strong Tea Party movement who then try to secure enough “other” voters to win the general election?
15. Is Vernon Jones the Tiger Woods of Georgia politics? Would Jones make a good congressman if Rep. Johnson did not feel well? (Best Wishes to Rep. Johnson)
16. Did I tell you that Austin Scott was a bright dude who should be running for congress? Did anyone listen?
17. Is Florida senate candidate Mario Rubio the model for the smiling southern conservative candidate? Did he learn that watching Isakson? Is Rubio the next Obama?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/35476725#35476725
18. Did anyone read this whole list?
Project Logic Ga 
Intrigued by the questions, but here are some answers from the perspective of a Georgia Republican…namely me. I’ll answer in the order that you ask:
1. Its not a question of counting on it, it is historically what happens in all non-presidential years, the numbers of ALL voters fall a great deal. The percentage of drop has always been higher among young and minority voters. It is simply a fact and it is lay of the land in which all must electorally compete.
2. In both parties minds that is what they do. However, they come at issues and campaigns with completely divergent world views. Its not possible to understand the other sides motivations and ascribe negative motives to the other side.
3. Again, each party believes they are making America better.
4. Michael Steele, Chair of the RNC doesn’t make such decisions. We have an open system and let our candidates fight it out for the votes needed to win. We don’t have smoke filled rooms deciding candidates.
5. Isakson will not be beaten, but parties aren’t built to “realize” that it is their job to contest all seats where possible, even if it means crashing and burning and making my guy spend millions to mobilize GOP voters.
6. I think Isakson is a conservative and a pragmatist. He is open to all ideas but won’t walk away from his beliefs for the sake of “making a deal”, challenged or not.
7. I doubt President Obama would have accepted much input from the GA GOP on his Ag Sec. appointment. But also, Governor Perdue would not have appointed the seat, it would have been a special election. The Governor only appoints Senators at the Federal level when openings occur. And I do think Mike Keown will win GA-2 in November.
8. Its not just “ultra-conservatives” who say Bishop doesn’t listen. Its conservatives, moderates, independents, farmers, small business people…even liberals. He’s been there to long and has become a creature of Washington. His votes have proven that. When the GOP was in charge he mixed up his votes. With Pelosi in charge is votes swerved way to the left in a way that is detrimental to the people of his district.
9. Jim Marshall has voted against cap and trade and healthcare reform, he is a better campaigner than Bishop. I think Marshall is still in trouble because politics is a team sport and he did vote for Pelosi for Speaker. I think the GOP likely needs stronger candidates against both Barrow and Marshall. It is interesting that due to the strong GOP candidate in GA2m that is the best chance for a GOP pickup in the state.
10. Successful families are a great thing. I ope she does well.
11. I think Marshall was simply reflecting his district.
12. I would most prefer to see Bishop bounced, because of those in the state, Bishop would have been seen as the least likely to get bounced…but then again, no one thought Scott Brown would win in MA.
13. I doubt it. Neither would be really strong candidates in that race.
14. Karen Handel has just as good a chance of being our Gubernatorial candidate as any of those running. The Tea Parties strongly supported Christie, McDonnell and Brown. If you view that as “stains”, we’ll take the wins that seem to be going with them.
15. Vernon’s negatives are extremely high, He would not function well as a legislator. His personality doesn’t fit the role. Johnson has several primary challengers, but I think he wins the Primary and then has a strong, energetic GOP woman he will likely face in the person of Liz Carter, who is campaigning hard.
16. Austin would be a good congressional candidate against Marshall, but his heart is in the Gubernatorial race.
17. I love me some Marco Rubio (full disclosure, part of my family is Cuban…and named Rubio), but yes a strong, unapologetic, optimistic conservatism wins in the end.
18. Yes, I read the whole list.
Hope I’ve given you some insights into how a really conservative Georgia Republican views things as they are right now. Keep up the good work on opening up the debate with your blog.
Talk about loaded questions, Ted.
I think it’s fairly obvious that the GOP under Steele is not heading in the right direction – I’m not sure it has direction anymore.
2010 will be a win for the GOP, they will make gains. But it’s going to be worthless unless they shape up.
As far as Austin Scott; having seen the other candidates – I’m glad he’s staying where he is.
Slyram, as always, probing questions to make people from all persuasions think. And at least consider their options. I also like the responses from Gabriel and Ronald too. I have to admit, I’m not as opposed to the Tea Party movement as you are, because I believe in a persons’ right to speak his/her mind and believe in what they want to believe in. I view the term Tea Party that has become a ‘negative connotation’ similar to the term Liberal and now they call themselves ‘progressives.’ These labels put people in boxes and I think there is a diverse group of people who are part of the Tea Party movement. Many of whom are simply disgusted with politics, as usual, excessive spending (from both Party presidents), our Congressmen, etc. Unfortunately, it’s the loudest, most extreme groups of people in any movement, Party, or whatever that gets the attention of the media. And it’s that segment that most people see, but I don’t think it (that extreme segment of the Tea Party) represents the majority. I may be wrong, but that is what I believe.
Wow….Thanks for the detailed responses. Of course, I love to see a discussion here. Helen, I am not opposed to the Tea Party Movement per se and feel that strong debate stimulates the process. You know I understand and appreciate the fiscal concerns of our friends in the movement but hope that they keep the others on topic and punching above the belt—the same is true with the far left.
Big Ron…you must be salivating with the political possibilities. If you weren’t in L School, you would be a fair congressional candidate in middle Georgia and we know you know your stuff. Your comments on Peach Pundit reflect your grasp of politics and policy.
Gabriel: Thanks for breaking it down from the Right. If my memory serves me correctly, are you Gabe from Rep. Norwood’s office. If you are, you remember the civil times the Georgia congressional staff had at the Georgia Power townhouse back in the day. Political parties are political parties but Georgia worked together on issues that brought opportunities to our state. Bogans said you were doing well and that is good to hear.
Wow, in the second month of this year, I wrote that Austin Scott should be running for congress and I was right.