Vote Saxby!

There are runoffs still in three senate seats, one of the more important (and close to me since I am a Georgia girl at heart) is the runoff of Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin. This pivotal election could be key to there being the ability to keep Obama and the Democratic Party in check.

If Republicans keep Saxby in the seat there will be a greater possibility of stpping some of Obama’s legislation.

Like taxes on high wage earners, increasing capital gains, FICA, etc. Bringing back the fairness doctrine, abortion, military cuts.

But the whole Christmas list of the Democratic party may be hanging in the balance based on the Georgia runoff.

In January when the new Congress meets, Democrats will firmly control the House of Representatives with about a 75-seat majority. In the Senate, Democrats will hold 57 of the 100 seats.

Despite the strong majorities, there is a hitch — a big one for congressional Democrats.

Under Senate rules, Democrats need 60 votes to pass major legislation and cut off filibuster debate that can effectively stop a floor vote.

As of today, the Democrats don’t have the magic 60 Senate votes, but they have expressed confidence that they can persuade “two or three” liberal Republicans like Arlen Specter, Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe to cross the aisle and vote with them on key legislation.

If the Democrats succeed and take out Chambliss in the special election, replacing him with Democrat Martin, they will have 58 Senate votes, greatly increasing their chances of getting the magic 60 votes.

The bottom line: As long as Senate Republicans can muster the 41 votes required to avoid cloture (which ends a filibuster debate), they can continue to filibuster, forcing the Democrats to either amend their legislation at the bargaining table or kill their legislation altogether. – David Patten

This is proving to be an important runoff and the campaigns are going strong. Early voting may start as early as next week on November 17th with the election being December 2.

Martin is a strong supporter of Obama’s policies. Policies that as a whole are not popular with the largely conservative state of Georgia.

The fear though is that runoff elections get far few voters than a general election and that the Obama ground operation will cause a marked shift in the original vote. (Saxby won, but only had 49.2% of the vote and needs a full 50% to win)

The issue at stake here is holding onto a Republican seat to keep the Obama legistature in check.

“This isn’t a difficult race for anybody to figure out,” Martin said on Nov. 5. “I’m going to do everything I can to help Barack Obama get off to a fast start, and Saxby Chambliss has promised to do everything he can to stop Barack Obama from succeeding.”

“Keeping Saxby in the Senate would maintain a small check against a Democratic-controlled Congress that could steam roll legislation through with abandon,” says the Savannah Morning Times.

As well the Marietta Daily: “Although it does not appear that the Democrats have gained a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, the gain of Chambliss’ seat would put them closer to that mark and make it even easier, with the help of just a few aisle-crossers, to attain an effectively filibuster-proof majority.”

Show your Saxby support and most importantly make sure you vote in this very important runoff!

Victory Rally featuring Special Guest Senator John McCain
Thursday, November 13, 2008
4:30PM-5:30PM
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
Kessel D. Stelling, Jr. Ballroom
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway Atlanta, Georgia 30339