Switchers put GOP in control - In Georgia senate, 3 Democrats cross the aisle

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 11/9/2002 | JAMES SALZER & RHONDA COOK

[FreedomPoster]

 

From left, Dan Lee, Don Cheeks and Rooney Bowen

• AJC election 2002 coverage

Georgia Republicans' roll continued Friday, as the GOP converted a third Democratic state senator and handed Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue control of half of the Legislature.

State Sen. Rooney Bowen of Cordele said in an interview he would leave the Democratic Party and join the Republicans because it would be the best thing for his South Georgia constituents.

Also Friday, Democratic Sens. Don Cheeks of Augusta and Dan Lee of LaGrange formally announced their decision to switch to the Republican Party.

Adding those three senators will give the Republicans a 29-27 majority, their first in the Georgia Senate since Reconstruction, to go along with their first governor since that era.

"We want a functioning, governing coalition of Georgians who want to work together," Perdue told a crowd in LaGrange, where Lee announced his switch at a stop on Perdue's airport "victory tour."

Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor accused Perdue of "buying off" senators with choice leadership positions and local projects.

When Lee announced the switch, Perdue introduced him as one of his floor leaders. Cheeks acknowledged he was promised funding for a cancer research center in Augusta -- for which Perdue announced his support during his stop in the city.

"I would not have made the switch if I had not had the commitment the cancer center was coming," Cheeks said after announcing he would become a Republican.

Claiming a majority in the Senate would allow Republicans to wrest much of the power from the Senate's presiding officer, the Democratic lieutenant governor, when the Legislature convenes in January.

Senate rules give the lieutenant governor the authority to make committee appointments, but those rules can be changed by the majority party. Committee heads set the agenda on which bills are considered and which are not.

"The central power of the lieutenant governor is the power to appoint committees and to appoint chairs, especially the appropriations committee chair," explained former Lt. Gov. Pierre Howard, Taylor's predecessor.

Senate Republican Leader Eric Johnson of Savannah wouldn't say whether he expects his party to use its new strength to turn Taylor's job into a largely ceremonial one.

Senate Minority Whip Tom Price (R-Roswell) suggested not all committee chairmanships would necessarily go to Republicans.

An angry Lt. Gov. Taylor, in an interview Friday, said the party switchers should resign and run for office again as Republicans.

"This struggle is not over," said Taylor, who is striving to keep waffling Democrats in the fold. "I reached out to [Perdue] on election night, promised his agenda would be treated fairly in the Senate. At the same time, he's cutting all these backroom deals. This is a continuing process and I can assure you this process will continue right up until the Senate organizes."

Democrats hold 106 of the 180 state House seats, but the GOP is targeting about 10 rural Democrats in the House to switch, Republican officials said.

"This is about building a coalition, not partisanship," the governor-elect said.

Perdue said some Democrats who aren't switching parties will still support his agenda.

Sen. Regina Thomas (D-Savannah), who attended Perdue's appearance in Savannah on Friday, said she wasn't switching parties, but that she would likely vote with the new governor at times.

"We are going to have to work together to make things better," Thomas said. "It's going to be different, but it's not going to be a bad different."

Perdue, a longtime Democrat who switched to the Republican Party in 1998, tapped Sen. Bill Stephens (R-Canton) as his floor leader Friday. Floor leaders carry the governor's legislation in the Senate and line up votes for his initiatives.

Lee and Cheeks were strong candidates for switching from the start. Both have been at odds with the state's Democratic leadership over the last few years, notably over redistricting. Cheeks was upset that his Augusta district was loaded with minority voters under the latest redrawing of political boundaries, and Lee complained bitterly about his West Georgia district being divided up in an effort to strengthen Democratic candidates elsewhere.

Also, Cheeks said Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker (D-Augusta) tried to knock him out of the Legislature by running a candidate against him this year. The candidate withdrew from the race because she didn't live in the district. Walker was defeated Tuesday.

Lowell Greenbaum, chairman of the Richmond County Democratic Party in Augusta, said Cheeks has often voted with Republicans, so his defection was no surprise.

"This is not so much a betrayal of the Richmond County party as it is a betrayal of Taylor and the good work he does," Greenbaum said. "We will put up a qualified candidate to run against [Cheeks] in 2004."

Since Perdue rode a strong rural vote to victory over Gov. Roy Barnes on Tuesday, he and Republican leaders have been working aggressively to court rural and small-town Democrats. While on the plane Friday between Albany and Savannah, Perdue was talking by phone with Bowen.

Bowen said he decided to switch to ensure that he could "bring more back to the community." He said he hoped to remain chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee.

Bowen won re-election Tuesday over Carden H. Summers, a Cordele Republican. Cheeks and Lee were re-elected as Democrats without opposition.

Speculation on who might switch next turned to state Sen. Jack Hill (D-Reidsville). Hill attended the Perdue stop in nearby Savannah, but did not acknowledge that he would go over to the Republican side. He said he showed up to support Perdue.

Some lawmakers are resisting Perdue. Sen. Peg Blitch (D-Homerville) said Friday she was sticking with the Democrats, despite pressure from Republicans.

"They haven't let up," said Blitch. "But I ran as a Democrat. Mark Taylor has done more for rural Georgia than any other individual I know. There aren't as many voters down here so they [Democrats] aren't doing it for political reasons. They are doing it because it's the right thing to do."

-- Staff writers Jim Tharpe and John McCosh contributed to this article.

[FreedomPoster]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I love extended schadenfreude.

[FreedomPoster]

GA FReeper pings.

I finally walked out to the curb to clean up the dead trees, and this was the main headline.

I love the smell of toasted Democrats in the morning. And make no mistake about it, they are toast in GA.

As someone else observed, Lt. Governor Mark "Marky-Mark" Taylor will now have the opportunity to preside over more ribbon-cuttings and funerals than anyone else in Georgia political history.

[Clara Lou]

Anything that aggravates whiney Democrats....

[anniegetyourgun]

Congratulations!

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Bye bye bye Mark Taylor, enjoy cutting ribbons for the next four years.

Sounds like "the Big Guy" is a little ticked off that things did not go his way, and like most Demonrats, he wants to change the rules mid-stream. I didn't hear him complaining when Miller was tapped to replace Coverdale. I didn't hear him complain when turncoat Jeffords switched parties to caucus with the Demonrats. But then again, it's kind of funny seeing a once powerful and now powerless Demonrat whine like a little cry baby schoolgirl when he loses power, isn't it?

[Vigilanteman]

The Lt. Governor thinks the switchers should resign and run in a special election as Republicans, eh? Jim Jeffords sure set a good example, didn't he?

[Southack]

Gee, I wonder if campaign donations to Democrats will rise or fall now that they are out of power and can't deliver...

[Petronski]

Dear Zell Miller, You remained a Democrat despite your conservative politics because Georgia was run by the Democrat party and you had to watch where your bread was buttered. But now that the Georgia's Democrat party (a kind of 'down home PRI') has been dislodged,

Please, please cross that aisle. C'mon Zell, Join the Republicans!

[FryingPan101]

I am so proud of Georgia!

[RobFromGa]

Great news for Georgia!

I wish they had changed before the election but I'll take it this way.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Does anybody remember the doom and gloom predicted for the Georgia Republican party when Ralph Reed was elected State Chairman?

[FreedomPoster]

That's my attitude as well. We've got to realize the realities of being "Murphed" that GA legislators faced for the last 25 years.

[FreedomPoster]

Someone posted on another thread that Boortz had Reed on his show yesterday or the day before. Neal was one of the ones predicting doom and gloom due to Reed, and apparently ate crow on the show, freely admitting his was wrong, and glad of it.

Imagine a Democrat talk show host doing that!

[FreedomPoster]

From Nealz Nuze 11/7/2002:

BOY – WAS I WRONG ON THIS ONE

A few years ago Georgia Republicans chose Ralph Reed as their party chairman.  My reaction? I said that this pretty much doomed them in the next election.  When I’m wrong … I’m really wrong.  Now Georgia has a Republican governor and Republicans won some House seats that were specifically created for black and Democrat candidates.  Does anyone know a good recipe for crow?

[RobFromGa]

Did you see this, Georgia Freepers?

All Freepers, Click HERE
THIS IS VERY FUNNY! It's TIME....

[Savage Beast]

Georgia's the hottest! Georgia's where it's at!!!

[Vigilantcitizen]

"Does anybody remember the doom and gloom predicted for the Georgia Republican party when Ralph Reed was elected State Chairman?"

I also remember a lot of doom and gloom predicted for Georgia republicans right on this forum.

[FryingPan101]

I think one don't have to eat crow if one utters the magic words, "Thanks, Lord." I love Ralph Reed.

[Asclepius]

... I also remember a lot of doom and gloom predicted for Georgia republicans right on this forum ...

I predicted that the last Georgia Republican would be dragged to the creek and drowned. Boy, was I wrong. Happily so. Even happier as I staked no money against the claim.

[HapHaszard]

Amen, Zell is really a Republican, he just doesn't know it yet.

[longtermmemmory]

How is this different from Jeffords Jump? Granted it happened right after the election but somehow we have to distingush thes en mass moves from the acts of jumping jeffords.

[HapHaszard]

Actually Boortz claims to be a Libertarian.

[RobFromGa]

I don't think it is a lot different than the Jeffords switch on the surface, except for the magnitude of the change. He claims to have acted on principle.

One difference is that these guys will all get re-elected as Republicans here in Georgia. Not so sure about Jeffords.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"I predicted that the last Georgia Republican would be dragged to the creek and drowned. Boy, was I wrong. Happily so. Even happier as I staked no money against the claim."

If you're gonna be wrong, it's best not to have money involved. Money just ruins the taste of crow. ; ^ )>

In all honesty, I live here and had no clue as to the extent of the coming dem purge.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I am outraged that these spineless traitors, with no allegiance to party or principle, would switch from the GOP and go over and join the Dems. I say good riddance to these . . .

What? You say they switched from the Democrat party to the GOP? Oh, well, as I was saying, these courageous heroes, willing to stand up for what they believe in and buck the old Democrat party bosses, are to be congratulated for their principled move!

[FreedomPoster]

I don't think I claimed/implied he was anything but "not a Democrat".

[Vigilantcitizen]

Thanks Rob, now I got that tune stuck in my head. ; ^ )>

[FryingPan101]

LOL! We travel there several times a year. My family lives in Spalding County.

[dansangel]

RFLMAO!!!!! Thanks for a great start to the day!

[dansangel]

I love the smell of toasted Democrats in the morning. And make no mistake about it, they are toast in GA.

LOL! And a sweet smell it is!

Don'cha just love a 5-day "high?" Oops, it's ***so*** impolite to gloat....

[***g***]

[FreedomPoster]

>>How is this different from Jeffords Jump?

As RobFromGa already pointed out, one reason is that these guys will almost certainly win re-election.

Another is that Jeffords wasn't in a single-party political environment up to the time he switched. These guys created a two party environment in the State Capitol where none existed before.

[Man of the Right]

Tom Murphy has been appointed House janitor. Georgians will appreciate this.

[Mamzelle]

re: campaign donations)))

Trial lawyers are the biggest Dem contributor. They're discovering that they can buy 'em, but will they stay bought?

Georgia has some problems with litigiousness and ambulance-chasing. If they led the south in significant tort reform, they'd have a business/economic advantage to draw new business that other area states do not.

[backhoe]

So the "Earthquake" continues to roll through Georgia?

Good! I realize there are ethical questions, and I do not dimiss them lightly, but daggone it! After being wizzed on by the clinton crowd for eight sorry years, and marginalized at state level by the Democrat Party, I'm glad to see it happen.

Locally, with a few exceptions, the incumbents were handed their heads on a platter- and I'm glad to see that, too.

We were all tired of being robbed blind by property taxes, a 3-time hike in sales taxes, new laws ( that cost money and steal freedoms ), more regulatory pile-ups ( see "new laws" ) and then the arrogant SOB's whine that aren't getting enough of our money!

And yes, they dragged "for the sake of our children" into it...

It had just become unbearable.

[FryingPan101]

This was sent to me by my sister in Griffin the night Chambliss won. I posted it yesterday. LINK

[.45MAN]

Yes! Toast burnt toast at that! would be good with a little
egg to go with that....Ha...

[Captain Shady]

We had a pretty big Republican sweep in South Carolina too.
I think Southern Democrats are gonna need to put be on the "endangered species" list. So don't disturb them while they're in their natural habitat.

[FryingPan101]

Sorry I can't get the link to work

[RWG]

Cordele said in an interview he would leave the Democratic Party and join the Republicans because it would be the best thing for his South Georgia constituents...beware, beware, beware. Sounds like an opportunist. Why not switch before the vote if it would be the best thing for contituents?

[Nuke'm Glowing]

""This struggle is not over," said Taylor, who is striving to keep waffling Democrats in the fold. "I reached out to [Perdue] on election night, promised his agenda would be treated fairly in the Senate. At the same time, he's cutting all these backroom deals. This is a continuing process and I can assure you this process will continue right up until the Senate organizes."

I have one reply to that whine I put in bold that should shut them up:

Tom Murphy

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

"Why not switch before the vote if it would be the best thing for contituents?"

Because noone ever expected the Republicans to take the Governor's mansion, and the only way an old time Southern Democrat could have remained in the majority party was to sell his soul to the Rats. Now they all can come home to the Republican party.

[ChadGore]

Thank You Georgia W. Bush

[BradyLS]

I agree. I don't see how their switching parties is really much better for us. There are plenty of RINOs that vote with the Democrats as it is.

[WileyC]

Please, please cross that aisle. C'mon Zell, Join the Republicans!

He's far more valuable where he is. Here's a well-respected democrat, pretty much immune in any re-election bid (and from any serious hounding by the press especially with democrats in a minority), who publically calls democrats idiots to their faces. This only works for us if he is a democrat.

States that don't have principled democrats (i.e. nearly all of them other than Georgia), have got to look at their choice of candidates and turn away from the left. Zell is the Jiminy Cricket of the dems, constantly telling them how stupid they are being while their noses grow and grow and grow with each new lie. Where did pinocchio end up? A jackass, of course. =)

Zell is an example for everyone who is registered democrat but votes republican. For all these people, we need at least one Zell Miller!

[Amelia]

"This struggle is not over," said Taylor, who is striving to keep waffling Democrats in the fold. "I reached out to [Perdue] on election night, promised his agenda would be treated fairly in the Senate. At the same time, he's cutting all these backroom deals. This is a continuing process and I can assure you this process will continue right up until the Senate organizes."

I don't remember Taylor complaining about "backroom deals" when it was Roy Barnes cutting them...and Roy was King of the backroom deal.

Guess it just depends on whose ox is being gored, huh Marky?

[aristeides]

I think Southern Democrats are gonna need to put be on the "endangered species" list.

The Pelosi appointment could have that effect. I wonder how many members of the U.S. House will now switch. Speaking of GA, what are Jim Marshall's politics?

[aristeides]

Democrats hold 106 of the 180 state House seats, but the GOP is targeting about 10 rural Democrats in the House to switch, Republican officials said.

Anybody got any idea what the final lineup in the state House is going to be? If the Republicans end up with at least working majorities in the two houses, can they redistrict?

[AFPhys]

I strongly suspect that there will be more switchers in GA, probably 2.

We have not heard from the rest of the country yet, but it is likely we'll have some more in the mid-States before Jan.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

"Anybody got any idea what the final lineup in the state House is going to be? If the Republicans end up with at least working majorities in the two houses, can they redistrict?"

Gut feeling says that the Republicans will have effective control of the House along with the Conservative Democrats. The Democrats will still control the house as far as the speakership and the committees go.

From what I understand, the Governor-elect can call a special session of the legislature at will and call for redistricting. He pretty much ran on a platform that he would do that. They presumably have the votes in the Senate right now to pass a new redistricting plan that puts geographical areas in the same district, and may have enough to have effective control of the House to redistrict the huge mess that Speaker Murphy and King Roy made with that map.

[FreedomPoster]

I lost an incumbent Rupublican State Senator to redistricting. The district is one of the most gerrymandered things you you ever saw. Runs from just south of the square in Roswell, down through Dunwoody, Brookhaven, West Decatur, to south of I-20. It only a few hundred yards wide in places.

I'd love to see a redistricting that puts Bart Ladd back in office.