Given your conditional intent to support the Republican nominee, you should probably leave the choosing of that nominee to those with firmer intent to support the winner of the primary.

So, it is OK to say NO to a Republican candidate in GA because of his history. But it is verboten to shirk from Mark Kirk of IL, who has a similar laundry list.

Asking a question, is it easier to get a “good R” to replace a sitting D senator or a sitting R senator?

And if you’re worried about 51-49, do we need more Snowes?

Just saying.

if Barnes wins it nullifies Republican control over the redistricting process in GA? Democrats would not be in control but they would be able to veto Republican plans. Georgia is expected to gain an additional House seat in many projections so being able to draw the district lines in the Republican party’s favor is a big deal.

I also thought that Redstate advocated supporting conservatives but ultimately voting Republican when the general election rolls around. The NY-23 situation was obviously an exception to the rule b/c there was no primary and Dede was more liberal than any Republican in Congress.

Also, based on the information presented, it doesn’t seem like Ox would totally destroy the GA Republican Party. Sure, it would be preferable to have Handel or another person running the show, but it doesn’t seem like he anywhere near the level of Blago-like corruption. Ox sounds like a slimy politician, I just wonder if that is enough of a reason to justify putting a Democrat into office.

of who you want for Governor(or any office). The lazy way is to vote for the Democrat and that can be a frighting thought. Here in Texas, that would mean Farouk Shami(I’m sure he’ll win the Democratic Nomination). That’s not good at all. The Principles of things say to write it in if the worst person wins the nomination.

I figured at some point this post was coming. You’re previous posts on the matter of GA-GOV just gave it all away. Meanwhile, I actually think of Ox as the real deal for Conservatives and should be seriously considered by the Conservative Movement as a man with a proven track record of following through with his promises and one who has shown very Conservative Leadership over the GA Insurance Department. And the Blagojevich comparison is simply beyond the pale IMO.

Thanks for the history on Ox Erik. I’m new to Redstate and appreciate your insight into Ox’s political history more than you know… and so there is no misunderstanding, I know that you get it too Erik.

I also am no fan of Oxendine and feel that the best guy to give him a beat down is GA State Senator Eric Johnson. I know him to be a standup guy who doesn’t waiver on values regardless of the audience. and a rock-solid Conservative from my hometown of Savannah, GA.

I hope that others will consider throwing their weight behind Eric as well, he’s moving up quickly with raising money, challenging Oxendine’s 1 million dollar mark with his own 1.3 million dollar fundraising amount. And did I mention that he isn’t using the clout of his office like Ox in order to do it? Eric is ALL IN on this, as he has resigned and bet his political career as a GA legislator on wining this election. We should ALL unify behind Johnson, he’s our best shot at getting a true-red Conservative in the Governor’s mansion.

Sincerely,
Stephen B. Lambeth, MBA
Political Scientist
The-Anti Federalist Papers
http://www.theantifederalistpapers.com

I remember when RedState endorsed Democrat Begich against Republican Senator Ted Stevens because of corruption issues. Ted Stevens lost the race by an incredibly small margin. Most of these corruption issues turned out to be the result of a political hit job from the Justice Department.

I’m certainly no fan of Ted Stevens, but warts and all I’ll take a Ted Stevens over a Senator Begich that’s walked lockstep with Obama’s agenda. Whatever pork-barrel nonsense Ted Stevens got for his state has been dwarfed a hundred times over by Begich’s vote for Obama’s porkulus and health care scheme. Think how much of Obama’s agenda could have been thwarted with that additional vote in the Senate?

My point is, I’m cynical and think most politicians in general are snakes, whether they’re Republican or Democrat. I’d rather have a Republican snake than a Democrat one. There has to be some INCREDIBLE corruption issues for me to vote for a Democrat over a Republican.

…the year of the squishy? I just ask because between Illinois and now this out of Georgia I get the feeling we’re not promoting the more conservative candidates early enough or something. Its as if we (R) are “settling for” something. Settling for a mod dem over a bad R, or a mod R over a horrible D. Fine I get that, but there’s got to be a way to push forward someone just a tad more C early on in the game before it gets so out of hand we’re down down to settling.

He can get the governor’s limo outfitted with emergency equipment just like he did his Insurance Commissioner urban assault vehicle. He’s been a disgrace, and for anyone to suggest that he’s a genuine conservative is hogwash. Either Handel or Johnson would be preferable. The guy who empties waste cans at the Varsity would be better than Barnes.

Erick –

I love what you have created on this site, but I really don’t get this.

What I hear you saying is that SIXTEEN years ago John Oxendine was a Democrat and so we shouldn’t vote for him.

So is it now a requirement to be a life long Republican to run for office.

Personally, I am leaning toward voting for Oxendine over Handel simply because Oxendine has been a pretty straight forward guy as insurance commisioner from what I can tell out here in little people land.

Really, I think this whole post goes against the philosophy of redstate to “Support the conservative in the primary and the Republican in the general.” You are saying that you won’t do that and you are encouraging others to not do it by your stance.

Maybe if you offerred something other than “he played hardball politics in the election (ethics complaints) and used to be a Democrat” then I would be interested in your argument.

I worked on Al Gore’s 1988 campaign back when he was the last pro-life Democrat. Heck, there are a lot of Georgians who switched to the Republican party around 1994.

Are we all permanently disqualified from running for office?

Seriously?

Erick – if you can’t come up with something more substantive than this to smear Oxendine as a political time-bomb who will bring down the GA GOP, and furthermore – can make the BEYOND CRAZY statement that ultra-left Roy Barnes would make a better Governor, you’ve lost me AND your own mind. Clearly you despise Oxendine, but I have to believe it’s for reasons other than stated here. This is old stuff and hardly worthy of the hysterical commentary with which you accompany it. If you dislike Oxendine say so, but let’s leave off the hysterical hissy-fit behavior. Have you forgotten, or are you simply ignorant of Roy Barnes’ HORRENDOUS record as Governor of GA? Oxendine may not be the ideal candidate, but to say his nomination would put GA’s GOP on suicide watch is Daily Kos-style journalism, and you should be above that.

Can we focus on the positives of the candidates running for Georgia? We never seem to look at the positive activities of the candidates. Their negative doings seem to be more important than what they can be doing for us as governor or president. I do believe we need both in order to make the right vote, but I would consider their positive effect in government and perhaps the negative as the tie breaker.

Like I mention before, I like Handel for her fight against the Feds for our voter rights. She is talking about our water problem and a possible solution. Other than that, I am trying to find more on her and the others. Ox hinted on something like a FairTax reform, but I am starting to think he is not serious about it.