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Posts Tagged ‘saxby’

Speculation: Sanford Bishop or Saxby Chambliss for Agriculture Secretary

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 18, 2008| Leave a Comment »

This transition period is better than Fantasy Football because President-Elect Obama is sincerely committed to bridging the partisan divide.  What happens with Senator Clinton or Governor Richardson as Secretary of State makes me wonder if there will a position available in the cabinet for Richardson above his previous status?

 

Hopefully, a Georgian will be the Agriculture Secretary and the natural selection would be Congressman Sanford Bishop but what about Senator Chambliss if he comes up short in his senate runoff.  We must remember that ag policy is more regional than partisan and does Saxby want to be in the minority in the Senate.  The farmers, ranchers, producers and ag community respects him so Ag Sec might be a good fit.  

 

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue would appoint a Republican to replace Bishop in the House if he was the pick and I can’t think of a viable African American GOPer here in southwest Georgia who could hold that seat in two years…Dylan Glenn, Deborah Honeycutt or Herman Cain moves to Columbus?  One thing is certain: the GOP needs to get some moderate congressional candidates in districts that are over 20% African American or stop wasting time, resources and energy. 

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Saxby Chambliss and the Black Community

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , , on November 16, 2008| 3 Comments »

The runoff election between Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin never should have come to this in my opinion.  As I have consistently stated, Chambliss is a good senator whose primary shortcoming is failing to develop a functional relationship with the African American community in Georgia.  Members of the House of Representatives can win elects with members of their parties only or people who look like them; but, all senators are statesmen and stateswomen literally who cover the entire state.

 

When the Republican Revolution occurred, their leadership discouraged relationship building with the other party or people who voted against them.  (The opposition of the Obama transition process today.)   While many African Americans would support Chambliss based on his regional achievements and actions, the dated GOP strategy assumes our community would never support a conservative or that their methods of energizing their base would turnoff Black voters.  The “Liberal Elite Media” is reporting that Chambliss said the rush of early African-American voters during the general election energized “our side.”  I had to find the actual quote and clearly Saxby said that Republicans were motivated to vote to balance the new Democrats voters, many of whom were Black. 

 

Saxby’s “our side” should include a coalition of African American farmers, military families, small business people, moderates and other conservative of color.  The young preppies that are the campaign staffers of the GOP know little about the diversity of Black Georgia and that is a shame.  Saxby is in a great position: the opportunity to end this rough year on a winning note.  The southern GOP had better do some soul searching to explain their base because the Blue Dog Democrats have created an attractive subsection of our party for reasonable people—Obama Republicans?   

 

 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/us/politics/30chambliss.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The development is not lost on Mr. Chambliss. “There has always been a rush to the polls by African-Americans early,” he said at the square in Covington, a quick stop on a bus tour as the campaign entered its final week. He predicted the crowds of early voters would motivate Republicans to turn out. “It has also got our side energized, they see what is happening,” he said.

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Saxby Chambliss v. Jim Martin: GA Senate Race Overtime

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 8, 2008| 7 Comments »

The nation focuses on the senate runoff election in Georgia between Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.  Of course, the big question is “Will the African American community come back out to vote with Obama not being on the ballot?”  Another question is “Does President-Elect Obama have the power to persuade the Democrats to return to the polls for the runoff?”

 

The Georgia senate runoff election has various angles and factors that should be considered.  I was always an African American for Saxby—which puzzles his GOP base.  People vote for and against candidates for different reasons.  Saxby experience on agriculture, military bases and other issues of interest to Georgia is reason enough to keep growing his seniority. People vote their regional concerns and Saxby is the only member of the Georgia congressional delegation who lives in the southern part of our state.  On regional concerns, I never would have thought that Blue Dog Democrat Jim Marshall would receive 44,000 votes in Bibb County, Georgia, while not endorsing Barrack Obama or Hillary Clinton.  Basically, the people of Macon said they are with their former mayor Marshall despite his attitude about Obama.  That was big of Macon and the same can be said for Democrat Sanford Bishop pulling 69% of the vote and Republican Jack Kingston getting 66%.  Marshall, Bishop and Kingston clearly enjoy crossover appeal after years of service.

 

Jim Martin is a respectable guy but I am still troubled that the Democratic establishment convinced him to run because they did not think African American Vernon Jones was worthy.  They turned their hoses up at Jones because he voted for President Bush during the aftermath of 911. It just occurred to me that Vernon Jones would be a better runoff candidate against Saxby because Vernon has a knowledge of agriculture, is more conservative than Martin and could get the African American voters back out without riding Obama’s coattails.

 

Am I the only person in Georgia who remembers that Jim Martin voted for John Edwards and not Barrack Obama during the primary?  Speculation is high that the big guns (Obama, McCain, Palin, the Clintons) will be in our state for this runoff.  Let me say this in no uncertain terms: If you voted for Sanford Bishop or Jim Marshall, Saxby Chambliss is closer to them politically than Jim Martin.   Republicans don’t want to hear it but moderates appreciate Georgia Senators Chambliss and Isakson efforts to work across the aisle on the Farm Bill, the energy plan and other matters. 

 

Consider this: maybe the moderate and conservative African American community should gain some crossover clout by giving Saxby our support.  In return, all I want is fair debate on the issue for the new White House—the same consideration that the Blue Dogs Democrats gave President Bush.  November is going to be awkward in the peach state because Congressmen Bishop, Barrow, Marshall and maybe Scott don’t really want to campaign against their aggie friend Saxby.   Jim Marshall will be fine because President Obama will find a position for him in the administration.

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Election Day

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 4, 2008| 6 Comments »

Rants, raves, predictions, contradictions, finger pointing, circular firing squad, kudos. 

 

Remember the Music Tab at the top of the page…for your little celebration at your desk at lunch and while watching the numbers roll in tonight…of course, the Blues is there if needed.   

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Saxby and Sanford must Save Cooper Plant

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , on October 24, 2008| 2 Comments »

We hear the term strategic voting these days.  As it relates to south Georgia, the possible closing of the Copper Tire Plant in Albany compels the African American community to consider keeping Saxby Chambliss for this important fight.  Yes, I live in Sylvester, Georgia, and I have many family and friends working at the plant—little league coaches and good church members.  Every plant or military job means two or three other jobs in the area. 

 

Senator Sam Nunn focused Georgia to protect our military bases from closure in the past and that senior congressional leadership for this coordinated Copper plant effort falls to Saxby Chambliss and Rep. Sanford Bishop.  I declare the contest between Bishop and his opponent over so he can use the campaign energy to protecting my neighbors’ jobs. 

 

Copper officials expect a decision by mid-January and getting a newly elected Senator “up to speed” is out of the question.  

 

 

 

Officials fight for plant

http://www.albanyherald.com/stories/20081024n1.htm

ALBANY — Officals with the Georgia Department of Economic Development flew into Albany Thursday to explore ways to help Cooper Tire in Albany remain open.

Citing excess U.S. production capacity, the Findlay, Ohio, company announced Tuesday that at the end of a 90-day capacity study, one of Cooper’s four U.S. tire manufacturing plants would likely be closed.

Cooper expects to make a decision within 90 days — by Jan. 19, 2009 — or less, spokesperson Curtis Schneekloth said.

While Cooper has invested “millions every year” in the Albany plant, “a likely outcome of the study is a plant closure, unfortunately,” Schneekloth said.

With the replacement tire market expected to decline 1-2 percent annually over the next three years, Cooper will examine many factors, including total cost savings, plant performance and quality, community impact and customer service, a statement from the comapny said.

Approximately 1,300 Cooper employees and some 800 temps are employed in Albany when the tire plant is at full production.

The other plants being considered for closure are in Findlay and Texarkana, Ark., where workers are represented by United Steelworkers, and a plant in Tupelo, Miss., which, like Albany, is not unionized.

Cooper will examine labor relations in the capacity study, Schneekloth said.

“It’s not a negative or a positive; we’re just going to consider labor relations overall,” he said.

United Steelworkers is now in contract talks with Cooper on behalf of workers in Findlay and Texarkana, spokesman Wayne Ranick said.

“I’m sure maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship is a top priority for both sides,” Ranick said.

In Albany, local, area and state officials returned to the plant Thursday to “further explore the scenario, the things that Cooper is looking at and looking for,” Dougherty Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard said.

“We were trying to get a better feel for putting together a package of things they may or may not be utilizing in Georgia,” he said.

“We do see this as an opportunity for Albany, and we’re trying to progress this thing forward.”

Sinyard said the “tremendous,” highly diverse work force at Cooper in Albany was a strategic asset, and calls from neighboring communities — like Sylvester, Moultrie — with “skin in the game” were rolling in.

“Cooper competes in a global economy, and there are two American tire companies left, Cooper and Goodyear,” he said. “They have forward-thinking leadership that’s making sure that they can compete.”

Heidi Green, deputy commissioner of global commerce for GDEcD, Sinyard and officials with the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission were among those who met at Cooper Thursday.

GDEcD spokesperson Alison Tyrer said the mission was an exploratory one.

“We offer a lot of assets to make them globally competitive and successful. We will do our utmost to help them understand that we’re here to help,” Tyrer said.

In recent months, GDEcD has heralded Pirelli Tire’s Oct. 2 expansion announcement in Rome, Toyo Tire’s Aug. 26 announcement of a third expansion in Bartow County and a May 12 groundbreaking for Kumho Tire in Macon

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National Sales Tax Shenanigans

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , on October 17, 2008| 3 Comments »

I just saw a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ad against Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss about the “Fair Tax” or 23% National Sales Tax.  What’s dishonest about the ad is that a real discussion on this matter should included the fact that the 23% sales tax REPLACES all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare and self-employment taxes. 

 

I am no tax expert but I would like to hear more about the Flat Tax proposal with the less than 20% single rate and the two postcard-sized forms: one for labor income and the other for business and capital income.

 

Bottomline: any intelligent discussion of the Fair tax proposal or the Flat tax proposal should included the full disclosure of taxes the new plans would eliminate—anything else is an attempt to exploit the perceived ignorance of the voters.  Not cool. 

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Georgia Debate Drama

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , on October 9, 2008| 2 Comments »

There is a big debate in Perry tonight at the Georgia State Fairgrounds.  Senator Saxby Chambliss v. Democrat Jim Martin, and Congressman Jim Marshall v. General Rick Goddard.  I can’t make it because I will be watching Survivor Africa, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, ER and CSI Las Vegas.

 

But then again, the event in Perry will produce the same drama.  Jim Marshall faces Survivor because he is trying to outwit and outlast his other opponent, Obama supporters. Can he get those polls closed on election day before they/we discover that his “Democrat” Immunity Idol is actually fake—“Jim, the tribe has spoken, time for you to go.”

 

Like Warwick on CSI, is Jim Martin’s senate bid likely dead because Georgia is to conservative for him; can Vernon Jones give him an ER trauma rescue or is Jones upset that the Democrat Party treated him like Ugly Betty for voting for President Bush. Why can Jim Martin vote for John Edwards and Jim Marshall support Bush policies that McCain admits were questionable and the Democrats run behind them like Dr. McDreamy from Grey’s Anatomy but Vernon Jones got shamed for being bipartisan? 

 

The CSI team could use all available technology and still would not discover a nanometer of support that Jim Marshall gave the Obama/Biden ticket—exile island awaits you, Congressman Marshall, because you did not perform in the challenges and flirted the rival tribe, you don’t deserve the reward.

UPDATE: Here’s the video of the Goodard v. Marshall debate

Political Forums at The Fair | 13wmaz.com | 13WMAZ

 

http://www.13wmaz.com/article/20081009/DEBATE/81008012

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