Saxby has won his second term as a senator. I thought I'd share my perspective on the matter, as someone who lives in Georgia  - in fact, Cobb County - where the GOP is supposedly strongest.

Saxby won this seat alright, by bringing in people from Alaska. Arizona.  New York. Every extra dollar in the GOP fund was handed to him. And then, Saxby won his own Senate seat during arguably the worst six years that conservatism has ever faced - with the most amount of money ever spent in the history of the GOP - by spending even more money in shadow groups that took out major campaigns on his behalf.

Saxby rained money down on this election to make sure he can take more money from lobbyists and do their will. Saxby stood on stage with Sarah Palin. And Sarah Palin stood on stage with Saxby. The 134 lobbyists that worked for Sarah Palin during the election were not on stage, but they were making sure she had some really nice suits, I bet.

But here's my quiet perspective.  He didn't really win. In this reddest of red states,  with all the star power they could muster - Saxby still lost more than 40 percent of the vote to a Democrat that had such a horribly underfunded campaign that in the early days of this election cycle he was literally being outspent by Saxby ten dollars to every one.

Jim Martin rocketed up to Saxby not because of blacks vs. whites, or straight ticket voting - Martin gained his 27 points because Jim Martin understands that Georgians want better healthcare - and Jim Martin actually opposed all the spending that Saxby rubber stamped. Jim gained leaps and bounds on Saxby and damn near almost threw him out of the senate because Saxby was and still is out of touch. Saxby "Mr. I don't know what a recession is" did what he promised to do. He went to the Senate to be a rubber stamp for George W. Bush. And despite his token opposition to immigration reform and a couple of other good photo opportunities, he made good on that promise. He went along with the president.

And Now, Saxby is going to be there to make sure the Senate has a paid vacation option they call the "filibuster" - and that the GOP that got us into all of this mess, can be around to block real reform. And they will. Belive that they will. Saxby will fight Obama tooth and nail. Because Obama doesn't mean lobbyist. And because the lobbyists don't have anyone else left now that the Bush republicans are almost all thrown out on their ears. So what have we really got? Well, lets see.. hmm...

Saxby is a good golfer. He's almost in the top ten best golfers of the Senate. Think he's almost a ten handicapper. And thats on some pretty good courses where the lobbyists just happen to show up on the golf course and pay the greens fees. 200.00 a round golf.

So at least , you know. Being here in Georgia. At least I've got that going for me.

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(cross-posted from DKos)

Jim Martin is a terrific candidate and it is thrilling that we have this second opportunity to replace the despicable Saxby Chambliss with a forthright, intelligent, experienced progressive. I'd like to encourage everyone who'd like to know more about Senator Chambliss' atrocious record to visit this site explaining his platform (www.saxby-chambliss.com). After you read up on Chambliss' voting record, refresh your memory of his campaign trickery with this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFYpd0q9 nE). And after your ire has been replenished, take advantage of this information on how you can help Jim Martin.

To start making calls now, visit: www.my.barackobama.com/call4martin

To organize a phonebank with paper call lists, sign up at: www.nationalfield.org/phonebank

Most importantly, Jim needs more volunteers on the ground. If you are interested in going to Georgia and joining Jim's team, email the campaign at: volunteer@martinvictory.com

Jim will need all the help he can get to push back against the distortions of his record that Chambliss and his Senate Repug pals are spouting on local ad buys and national media. Jim's campaign site is here (www.martinforsenate.com) and his ActBlue page is here (http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraiser s/19359).
IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR GEORGIA, please find some time to knock on doors, call voters, and get Obama and Martin supporters to the polls on December 2. Early voting begins this week, and I will update this diary with the most comprehensive link to this information that I can find. Of course, I welcome tips and helpful links in the comments.
This is our kind of candidate. Run-offs are usually low-turnout elections, and must be won on the ground. Let's prove one more time this year what the power of the netroots can do to change the shape and character of our government. Let's put Jim Martin in the Senate.

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As you may recall, there were a number of districts in Texas that were ordered redistricted by the courts.  The upshot was that, in these, districts, the winner had to get over 50% of the vote in order to not face a runoff.  In Texas-23 Republican incumbent Henry Bonilla received 48% of the vote.  

His Democratic opponent is netroot favorite Ciro Rodriguez.  This is his website: http://www.cirodrodriguez.com/ This is where we can donate to him: http://www.cirodrodriguez.com/donate/ind ex.php (ok, I can't donate cause I'm Canadian).

The runoff will be some time in December.  Lastly, remember this: WE CAN WIN THIS.  Henry Bonilla received 48% of the vote.  The combined Democratic total is 49%.

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        Desperation is setting in for Team McKinney. As most of you know, the most ineffective member of the US Congress, Cynthia McKinney, is in a runoff for the Democratic nomination for the 4th District in Georgia. And she and her Anti-Semitic father are willing to say anything and everything in hopes of her being re-elected.

Lie #1: "I will be pitted against a mostly unknown and unproven opponent, who will nonetheless have the unanimous backing of big national media and national money." - Cynthia McKinney

This is a complete fabrication that Hank Johnson is being funded by national money and the implication that Cynthia McKinney is not. According to PoliticalMoneyLine, 65% of McKinney's contributions have come from out of state. Not mentioned is that many of her contributions from Georgia have not been from her district. Conversely, only 6% of Hank Johnson's contributions have come from out of state. I will add the caveat that these percentages may have changed since the primary two weeks ago but I doubt that they have changed signficantly.

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