Georgia (and Jim Martin) on my mind
Carla Axtman
While our Senate race in Oregon is in the books, there's a runoff looming for the race in Georgia featuring Democrat Jim Martin and the vile Republican Saxby Chambliss. On this Veteran's Day, it seems especially appropriate to highlight this race.
Martin is a vet--and has made vets issues a centerpiece of his campaign. Martin has pledged to be a tireless advocate for the men and women in uniform as a U.S. Senator.
And yes, I'm going to ask you to send money. But that's a little later.
On the other hand, Chambliss ducked out on service, racking up a Dick Cheney-ish six deferments. His voting record on veteran's issues is ridiculously bad.
Chambliss' spurning of those who've served doesn't end there, however. He's also responsible for the heinous ad against war hero and triple amputee Max Cleland during the 2002 Georgia Senate race. Chambliss is the consumate GOP dirtbag. (But as Senate Guru notes, he's hell at golf--remind you of anyone else? Look about 8 rows down from Chambliss)
Most of us can't pick up and fly to Georgia to help Martin knock on doors or phone bank or sign-wave. But we can send money.
Don't roll your eyes at me. I know people have already given til it hurts. But I know we can do more. This is a chance to replace a shameless wretch who is symbolic of all the patriotism questioning, Blackwater embracing, Bush-voting clap-trappery that brought this nation to the brink.
You can do it, Oregon. One more time--take that card out of your wallet. Click. Give Jim Martin $50. Or $25. Or even $10..but I think you can give more than that. And you'll feel better for doing it.
Think of it as your Veteran's Day gift to our country.
Update 8:50AM: I meant to add this, as well:
Historical Quote of the Day "I'd never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield -- it's worse than disgraceful. It's reprehensible."-- Sen. John McCain, quoted by CNN, on the campaign ads used by Saxby Chambliss (R) against Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA) in the 2002 U.S. Senate race.
McCain is now scheduled to campaign for Chambliss in his Georgia run off against Jim Martin (D).
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Nov 11, '08
Yep - Saxby used to be my Congressman in Georgia and, in addition to all the despicable things already mentioned here, I'll add that he's also a complete idiot. I've already sent money to this race once and will do so again. I moved away from Georgia for a reason, but they deserve better than that asshole and Jim Martin seems like a great guy.
Nov 11, '08
You stupid whore! Saxby has the endorsement of the VFW and Vets for Freedom. He's spent more time with the troops in Iraq than Jim Martin spent in Vietnam as an "Intelligence" officer... nice try.
1:59 p.m.
Nov 11, '08
Bet that "stupid-whore" line gets you all the chicks, Billyb.
Chambliss is a disgrace. He smeared Max Cleland, a decorated veteran in 2002. He has absolutely no scruples. Chambliss voting record for veterans is abyssmal, too:
Vote Vets is supporting Martin, noting:
I'm not a guy who is quick to anger. However, for the last six years the name Saxby Chambliss has caused my blood to boil because this is the worthless excuse for a human being that accused Max Cleland, who lost three limbs leading troops on the battlefield in Vietnam, of not having the courage to lead.
Not only did Chickenhawk Saxby disrespect and disregard Max Cleland's sacrifice, he also has spent a good deal of his time in the Senate working against those of us who did serve
You'll understand when I don't go all weak in the knees over the dirtbag Chambliss. The guy is a complete waste of space in the U.S. Senate and deserves to lose.
2:42 p.m.
Nov 11, '08
chickenshit-hawks like Chambliss are always eager to go visit the troops because that allows them to pretend to be brave while hiding behind the safety of brave soldiers who are putting their asses on the line in a way that chickenshit-hawks like Chambliss never will. For that reason alone scum like Chambliss and Billyb wholely deserve our contempt.
Nov 11, '08
Saxby and his bum knee. Martin is a true progressive (great name also).
http://www.progressiveelectorate.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=669
Nov 11, '08
I agree that Chambliss should go, I'm just not convinced it will happen. Martin is going to need a high turnout in the runoff election, especially among African-American voters.
Given his speech after the election, I don't think Obama will be able to go down there and campaign for Martin as it would hurt his creditablity. The only possible way around it would be to use Obama's listserv to try to encourage people to send money, volunteer and vote.
5:58 p.m.
Nov 11, '08
Carla,
Good post, but it's not merely veterans issues (and need we say anything more about Chambliss than that he attracts supporters such as "billyb"?). Jim Martin ran Georgia's DHS, cares about human services, about sick people, about poor people, in sum, about everyone Sen. Chambliss has shown he doesn't care about at all. It's not just that Chambliss is an amoral opportunist, Martin's affirmative a good guy. My family, spread from Massachusetts to New York, California and Oregon are all contributing. And let's not forget, if Franken wins (and the odds aren't bad -- see 538.com's analysis -- and something happens in Alaska, this is STILL #60!
Nov 11, '08
Chambliss is a Muslim. I read it on thr Internets! :)
Nov 11, '08
I just sent Martin $100, and it took about 30 seconds. I urge you consider doing so as well -- it's like getting to vote against Gordon Smith all over again.
Here's a nice plug for him that shows an ad he's running:
http://is.gd/765Y
Let's really pour it on and get rid of as many turds like Chambliss as we can. As the link above notes, if every Obama contributor just found $10 for Martin, he'd have a great shot.
8:59 p.m.
Nov 11, '08
Wow...billyb is quite the charmer. Kudos to you for even allowing such dredge, Carla.
I could not agree more. Really great post. I think that Chambliss has a dedicated place in Hell reserved for him -- all nice and ready, complete with all of the forms of Bush-style "interrogations" he agreed with. Waterboarding, Saxby?
He's among the worst seen in modern American politics -- I can't wait to get rid of him and just sent along $100.
Nov 11, '08
What has this country come to when we can debate "heinous"? What he did to tireless Max was heinous. Nothing qualifies that, Billy Bob, ever. And you can say that on Veterans' Day? Look in the mirror when you use those expletives!
Interesting there hasn't been similar sentiment over the Franken race in MN. I'll take that as a positive that people aren't having party-based knee jerk reactions and might be considering he isn't the better candidate. Oh, and while I'm oddly conciliatory, respect to everyone that hasn't used the L word accusingly to describe either election. Probably just a symptom of third party transparency to punditry this cycle. Not the voters, though!
Nov 11, '08
I wonder if Billyb is a combat veteran. If he is, he deserves a salute on Veterans Day.
And thanks for driving me to the Vets for Freedom website. Very interesting--the group has only been organized for about a year.
http://www.iava.org/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans was founded in 2004 and played a major role in the GI Bill and other issues important to veterans. Vets For Freedom appears to be a pro-surge organization. Couldn't find any statement about the GI Bill--interesting, given how many veterans and veterans groups supported the bill. Did Chambliss support it?
VFW endorsements are always interesting---sometimes the national group disagrees with the local chapter.
Over 20 years ago, when I was heavily involved in lobbying veterans issues, I heard the statement "if there are 5 veterans in a room, it is likely there are 4 fractions and a moderator".
In a free country, veterans are allowed to belong to VFF, VFW, IAVA, American Legion, or no group at all.
But it is NEVER acceptable to say a combat amputee is "unpatriotic" or some such rot because he doesn't vote the way a politician who never served in combat tells him to vote.
Nov 11, '08
Watch or read Chambliss defend his outrageous attack on triple amputee (from combat wounds) Max Cleland here:
http://is.gd/76yB
We got rid of Liddy Dole, despite (or because of) her bizarre claim that Kay Hagan was a godless atheist. We got rid of Election-Year "moderate" Gordon Smith ("Every election year, I pretend to be a moderate").
<h2>Let's flush Chambliss down the same sewer.</h2>