GOP targets Georgia districts

[Judi Lynn]

GOP targets Georgia districts

ATHENS, Ga., April 30 (UPI) -- Two redrawn congressional districts in Georgia may help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House this year, The Washington Times reported.

Georgia's 8th and 12th districts are currently held by Democratic incumbents but were redrawn last year to the benefit of Republicans.

Two former Republican congressmen are running in the districts, which now reach deeper into more conservative territory, the newspaper said.

Republican Mac Collins is running in the 8th District, currently represented by Jim Marshall. Max Burns is running to unseat Democrat John Barrow in the 13th.

"Republicans scored two of our top recruitment candidates in Collins and Burns," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Jonathan Collegio.
(snip/...)

http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/10389

[marmar]

1. I've said it a million times...

There's Atlanta, and there's Georgia. Beyond the Perimeter, it's kind of a scary place.

[brer cat]

3. There are lots of scary places in GA, true,

but Atlanta is not all that's blue. I'm a GA native, and there are a lot of liberals/progressives here outside of Atlanta. Don't write us all off.

[RebelOne]

17. I live up in Cherokee County in Woodstock

and it is almost entirely red here. Sometimes, I think I am the only Democrat in this entire county.

[onehandle]

6. Without Atlanta, Georgia is Mississippi. nt

[CottonBear]

10. You are so wrong and I bet you've never been here or met any of us.

Georgia is a diverse and very purple state. I'd do research before making a blanket statement about the largest state east of the MS River.

[onehandle]

12. Lived here all my life.

Over 40 years. I have family all over the state. The only thing that brought Georgia into the 20th century is the influx of people we've had over the last 25+ years. And they are in the Metro Atlanta area. Now we're sliding into the 19th century.

[CottonBear]

13. You must have never been to Athens or Savannah.

Jimmy Carter is from South Georgia.

Edit: I have friends who are elected Democratic officials both in Athens and in towns in rural GA. There are many Democrats and progressives, both black and white, in what are thought to be "red" areas.

[onehandle]

15. Yep. There are pockets of logic here.

You can look at a statewide map of blue and red counties and spot them. Near larger cities, universities, and diverse populations. Like most states.

My best friend was raised in Athens. He's a Democrat. So were his parents. All well educated.

Anyway, there's a reason that so many long time Democrats are becoming Republicans here. And it has to do with what you can still find on the Mississippi flag. "Sonny Lied", but they'll still vote for him. I can still remember when Klansmen candidates bought television and radio air time here. Not that long ago.

I used to think we were more sensible than most of the South, but not anymore. Between the "new" Republicans and the newly rich, I don't see us shaking them for a long time.

I've been all over the state including living in Athens to be with two different girlfriends who attended UGA. Spent a fair amount of time in Savannah as well, on trips and to consider attending the Savannah College of Art.

[Zynx]

18. A purple state? LOL! That's the reddest shade of purple I've ever seen.

[Jawja]

11. onehandle,

buh-bye!

:hi:

I just LOVE the "ignore" feature! :loveya:

[onehandle]

16. Fine. I believe that "ignore" is an ignorant feature.

I know some folks have used it to keep from being harassed, and that's fine.

Otherwise, it's just a way to ignore discussion.

Of course you won't see this, but others will and hopefully will learn from it.

[VirginiaDem]

24. I'm with you

The ignore feature is at once lazy and dangerous. If we can't stand a little diversity ("diversity" being defined here as opposing opinions) within the DU community, then what the hell hope is there for us in the real world?

.

[CottonBear]

9. I live in Athens, GA. You don't know shit about GA. GA is a great state

and a diverse state in terms of political persuasion, race, economics and geography.

We are the state of Sam Nunn, Jimmy Carter, MLK Jr., John Lewis and Max Cleland. We have many great cities and beautiful rural areas. GA is a purple state. Jane Fonda lives here too!

GA is the largest state east of the MS river and my county is the smallest east of the MS river. we are a blue city with a very low unemployment rate (under 3%) but a very high poverty rate 28%). We have a large minority population: blacks, Hispanics &, Asians in addition to many students and a large GLBT population. Of course we are majority Democratic. Our mayor is a Jewish Woman Democrat. Many blacks came to Athens for a better life and more opportunity from the surrounding rural (white) areas back at the turn of the 19th century. The university keeps wages low which accounts for some of our poverty rate.

We are not only fighting federal redistricting but also state redistricting which splits my city into two senate districts.

You can be assured that we are fighting the illegal and immoral state senate seat redistricting by Kemp, Hudgens and Cagle. I know Kemp personally and I've spoken with my current state Rep., Jane Kidd who's running for Kemp's senate seat.

I've met and spoken with Democrats Congressman John Barrow, Mark Taylor, Cathy Cox and Rep. Gov. Sonny Perdue regarding federal and state redistricting and voting rights and I'm involved in local and state politics. I'm working to get out the vote this year.

[salin]

2. Run REED and his view of GOP voters ala Abramoff

then ask - how much of x candidate is cynical rhetoric... and do the policies he push really benefit you, as an american citizen?

Play the duel theme - 1) that the GOP as evidenced by Reed are playing religious evangelicals as fools - as wackos off of whom they can make a buck as political consultants; and 2) that the real policies (beyond the grandstanding on social conservative issues) tend to put citizens' interests behind corporate and big donor interests - and have a real and large impact on Georgians day to day lives.

[depakid]

4. More off census year gerrymandering?

What a surprise.

[KingFlorez]

5. Both should be safe if they run clean campaigns

The Republicans pickup prospects in the House are just about zero, which is a plus for us meaning that Democratic seats are mostly safe.

[bluestateguy]

7. Democrats control Oklahoma, North Carolina, New Mexico and Illinois

After 2006, they may control New York too. Why on earth don't the Democrats in those states do a little "re-districting" of their own to even the socre?

[MikeNearMcChord]

8. I think I might have a cure

Especially around the military bases in Georgia, and to all those who think it is a sacred duty to enlist.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/05/01/coburn/index_np.html

[CottonBear]

14. My congressman and friend, John Barrow, is going to run in Savannah.

We will miss him here in Athens. :( I think he can win in Savannah.

[mom cat]

19. I worry that they will try to unseat Cynthia McKinney also.

[toopers]

20. I think she has unseated herself . . .

she will not need help from the repugs. The good thing is that the district will not fall to the republicans.

[Laelth]

21. I can't tell you what Georgia truly IS ...

... but for my own sanity, I have to think of it as a purple state. Our state motto is, after all, "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation," and compared to our fire-breathing neighbors in South Carolina and Alabama, we are pretty moderate. I offer the following county-by-county breakdown as evidence of our "purpleness." This is from a thread in which the OP asked about politics in Suwanee, Georgia.

Here's the thread if you're interested: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=146x2818



1. ATLANTA (Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton counties--all pretty blue).
2. Athens (blue but small, virtually covered by the number 2)
3. Augusta (Richmond county--GA's 2nd largest city)
4. Macon (Bibb county, my home, and blue--but just barely)
5. Columbus (Muscogee county and also barely blue)
6. Savannah (Chatham county--Georgia's most conservative urban area, and quite purple).
* Suwanee (Gwinnett county--still red and still Puke burbs, but going purple as ATL's population grows)

As you can see, there's a lot of blue here, and it should be noted that GA is not one of the few remaining states where * has positive approval numbers. If Georgia is a red state (shudder), I take solace in knowing that there are at least a few states that are redder.

Peace, all. :)

-Laelth

[skipos]

22. electionpredictions has those dems clinging to their seats

I am not sure how current this info is, or wether or not it is accurate.

http://electionpredictions.blogspot.com/2005/12/georgia-peach-state.html

[Laelth]

25. Nice link.

Thanks! It sort-of proved a point I was trying to make above. Election Predictions says, "Georgia is the 17th most REPUBLICAN state." Admittedly, 17th is bad, but Georgia's not nearly as red as some in this thread make it out to be.

-Laelth

[flaminbats]

23. court-approved gerrymandering..

but who cares, why should we bother winning those votes anyway? :grr: