Gwinnett Buzz

Fellow Gwinnetians, today is a critical day not just for Gwinnett and Georgia, but for our nation.  As you are most likely fully aware after a month of your mailbox and voicemail being bombarded with mailers and robocalls, today is the U.S. Senate runoff between our Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.  With the outcome of the Minnesota Senate race still undetermined, Saxby could be the last barrier to the Democrats getting a fillibuster-proof Senate, i.e. a blank check in Congress.  Even if you have issues with some of Saxby’s particular votes (e.g., he has taken heat over the Wall Street bailout, a package which I feel was justified in some form), I urge you to look at the bigger picture and at the realities of party politics.  America needs Saxby in office to allow the Republicans some countermeasure against ultra-liberal, big government legislation that Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will surely introduce in Congress.  Coupled with a President-elect who has a very liberal history, the need for the ability to slowdown the Democrats should be evident to the common-sense conservatives who make up the majority of Georgians.

Today, Georgia has an enormous opportunity to help America and those that support our heritage of limited government and liberty.  Gwinnett County plays a big part of that as a key conservative voting area.  Gwinnettians can help deliver the runoff for Saxby by turning out in huge numbers at the polls today.  So, Gwinnett, don’t let Georgia and America down - vote for Saxby!

As far as outcomes, there is no change in the result of the Gwinnett races this morning.  However, the near final tally in the District 5 school board race between Republican Louise Radloff and Democrat challenger Ravindra Kumar has the margin down to less than 600 votes.  Depending on the status of absentee and early voting ballot counts, this one might not be over and Gwinnett may face the reality that a Democrat has managed to get a toehold in local government.

On the state level, it now appears that Saxby Chambliss will be forced into a runoff for the U.S. Senate.  If so, turnout will be key in the December 2 runoff.  Democrats across the state are energized with the Obama victory so Republicans cannot stay at home and allow Democrat Jim Martin to come from behind and take away the Georgia Senate seat from the GOP.  Gwinnett as a base of conservative Republican votes must turn out big for Saxby.

With nearly all precincts reporting, Commission Chairman Charles Bannister and District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau have easily won reelection.  In school board races, District 1 board member Carol Boyce and District 3 board member Mary Kay Murphy both won fairly easy victories.  In School Board District 5 things appear to be a bit closer, but Louse Radloff appears headed to victory over Democrat challenger Ravindra Kuma.  Tom Lawler will hold onto his position as Superior Court Clerk.

However, not all incumbents fared well.  In a poor move by Gwinnett voters, Richard Winegarden will fall to Karen Beyers, a candidate who had no judicial experience coming into this election.

In the SPLOST vote, Gwinnett voters extended the 1-cent sales taxes by nearly 20,000 votes.

On a state level, Saxby Chambliss thankfully was relected to the United States Senate.  This was important to keeping enough Republicans in the Senate to maintain the threat of a filibuster against any extremely liberal legislation from Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their ilk.  Congressman John Linder, who represents a large portion of the county, defeated Doug Heckman handily. All three Georgia constitutional amendments appear likely to pass, though Amendments 2 and 3 are a little tight with about 10% of the precincts still out.  I supported, with some concerns, Amendments 2 and 3 and am glad to see them gain approval.  However, I am disappointed to see Amendment 1 pass with its promise of placing additional funding responsibility for local schools on taxpayers throughout the state.  Amendment 2 was very important to providing the funding needed for the TADs that Gwinnett voters approved in the primary in July.

Thus, overall, a positive night for Gwinnett amidst a sad night for America overall.  Hopefully, as Republican conservatives seek to take back our national party and win back the voters that the big spending GOP of the last six years have allowed to flock to Barack Obama, Gwinnett and it’s strong conservative base can play a role in this effort.  Winning back the wayward center right voters is so critical to protecting the freedoms and values that America holds dear and that are sure to be threatened by the liberal Democrats starting in January.

The focus of the Gwinnett Buzz is, obviously, Gwinnett County.  I have managed to keep national and state politics fairly limited on the blog.  As such, you may be asking why is the Buzz making an endorsement in the U.S. Senate race especially when the candidate you are endorsing is not from Gwinnett?

Very simple.  This is a vital race for not just Georgia but the United States as a whole.

As one of the most populous counties in Georgia, how Gwinnett votes in the senatorial race will have a significant impact on who will stand alongside Sen. Johnny Isakson as U.S. Senator from Georgia in the next Congress.  To explain the importance of this race and how Gwinnett can help Saxby fight to protect our county, our state and our country, I ask my readers to briefly indulge me a brief excursion into national politics.

First and foremost, Saxby has a strong conservative record during his tenure these last six years in the United States Senate.  He is the kind of strong, conservative Republican that has been too rare in the Congress in recent years.  He is a reflection of the core, traditional values that are characteristic of Georgia and its residents.  Saxby has done an admirable as our U.S. Senator and deserves reelection on that basis alone.  However, a second term is now at risk due to the potentially long coattails of Sen. Barack Obama.

Barack Obama is, unfortunately, a virtual lock for the Presidency at this point.  Despite having one of the most liberal records, despite openly espousing socialistic “spread the wealth” views, despite a questionable association with a radical domestic terrorist, Barack Obama is on the cusp of being the next President of the United States.  What exacerbates this threat is the who cohorts who will lead the U.S. Congress: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  As the Marietta Daily Journal wrote in their endorsement of Sen. Chambliss, this left-wing trio, if left unchecked, could lead to an “onslaught of liberal legislation unseen from Washington since the days of Lyndon Johnson’s ‘Great Society.’”  To protect America from the long-term damage from unfettered liberalism, the Republicans must hold enough seats in the Senate to raise a filibuster against radical legislation that Obama, Pelosi, and Reid would attempt to foist upon this country.  Maintaining a seat that few probably considered “up for grabs” when the election started is absolutely crucial if we are to have any hope of placing some sort of check on the Democrats’ ultra-liberal legislative agenda.  This is where Gwinnett comes in.

Gwinnett County has traditionally been a base of strength for Georgia’s conservative candidates.  Though Gwinnett’s demographic shifts suggest that there may be changes in this pattern, Gwinnett is likely one of the areas that has to come in strong for Saxby if he is to defeat opponent Jim Martin.  Thus, turnout in Gwinnett is very important if we are to send Saxby back to Washington.  In fact, this may well be the most important race in which you vote in this election.

In addition to simply voting for Saxby, Gwinnett residents can help our senator by voting early.  Why?  The State Board of Elections is saying that waits of up to six hours on election day are possible.  Lines this long could possibly discourage even the most ardent voters.  However, by taking advantage of early voting, you help reduce the lines at Gwinnett polling places on election day and possibly reduce the number of voters, voters who are likely Chambliss supporters, who may be deterred by the long lines and wind up not voting.

This is a crucial election, my friends.  If you are like me, you may feel discouraged at what we are likely to wake up to on November 5.  However, ensuring that Saxby is reelected to the United States Senate may be on the most instrumental things you can do to serve your country this election and help create a barrier to Obama, Pelosi and Reid.  Saxby has earned a second term, American desperately needs him in this dark hour.  I encourage you to support Saxby Chambliss for Senate and, if possible, to cast your ballot before election day.