Congressman Nathan Deal (R-GA) is resigning from the House of Representatives to focus on his gubernatorial run in Georgia. At least that is what he is saying.
At a time that every vote counts on health care, Deal resigning means the Democrats have one less vote they have to pick up to take over 1/6th of our economy.
There is a larger issue here that I think people are missing. Nathan Deal is under an ethics investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives relating to questionable contracts between a business Deal owns and the Georgia state government.
The Ethics Committee found Charlie Rangel in breach of ethics rules and never likes to just find on party at fault. The odds are really good that the Ethics Committee would use Deal to show it was bipartisan and evenhanded.
Because Deal is resigning his seat, the investigation into his business *poof* goes away. He won’t have to deal with a finding that he breached ethics rules to complicate his gubernatorial run.
What he will have to deal with, however, is upending Georgia politics to make it all about himself.
There will now be a special election to fill the rest of his term. Under Georgia law, if an elected official runs for another seat with a term starting before the existing office’s term ends, the candidate must resign from his present seat. Two state representatives are running for Deal’s congressional seat. If they decide to run in the special election too, they will have to resign from Georgia’s legislature while it is in session. That would raise the costs of special elections.
And to bring this all home, it also means the Democrats have one less vote they have to struggle to get to pass health care. Nathan Deal decided to make it all about himself and in the process is making it easier for Democrats to pass Obamacare and harder for Georgia to save money.
Well played. Deal, by the way, was a Democrat who jumped to the GOP in order to save himself back in the mid-90′s.
Aaron Gardner
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
March 8
AndrewHyman (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 1:04PM EST (link)Deal is officially leaving on March 8, says his office. Maybe he could be persuaded to delay a bit.
Here's the link
AndrewHyman (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 1:04PM EST (link)http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33690.html
Deal Returns
ginamarie Saturday, March 6th at 10:46PM EST (link)So Sonny has convinced Deal to stay in the House until after theHealthCare vote. Now Dist.9 is now in limbo..when will this costly Special Election take place? We should hold out for the primary in July…hold the special and the primary at the same time. Would save these counties at least $15,000…but it is only money., and Deal has missed so many votes this year a few more probably won’t matter.
I am confused about one less vote?
pilgrim (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 1:23PM EST (link)If there are vacant seats in the House does that mean you do not need 218 votes to pass something? I thought you always needed 218.
NO
Erick Erickson (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 1:36PM EST (link)In the House you need a majority. So with Deal gone, they only need 217.
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
thanks Erick. I learned something new. nt
pilgrim (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 1:39PM EST (link)216 now needed
jdp Monday, March 1st at 2:19PM EST (link)I think with the three democrats out, the magic number was 217 and it now is 216. That’s important because I don’t think the dynamic has changed as much as some are suggesting. With Deal last time around there were 215 “no” votes. Cao says he’s now a “no” vote as is Stupak unless they find a way to fix the abortion language. Thus, before this news, we had 217 “no” votes for the Senate bill in the House – exactly the number needed to defeat it. After Deal leaves, we will have 216 votes, but that becomes exactly the number needed to defeat it. Until a record no vote changes to yes, the dynamics today are no different than yesterday, IMO.
What about party switch in AL
WoodstockRedCat Monday, March 1st at 3:09PM EST (link)Does Parker Griffith in AL affect any math?
No - Griffith Voted No The First Time
IJB Monday, March 1st at 3:16PM EST (link)So his switch does not affect the math in any way.
What does affect the math is that Stupak probably has 10-15 other “Yes” votes who are “No” votes on the Senate’s much more pro-abortion bill.
By my rough count, San Fran Nan is lucky if she has 200 “Yes” votes on the Senate bill RIGHT NOW, and she probably has even less than that.
I'm Surprised
SE-779 (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 4:25PM EST (link)I thought for sure Deal would stay in Congress until he served out his term. This will only give Oxendine ammunition against Deal. It helps Ox because he can attack him for putting his interests before the state. To me, he comes off as a political opportunist for this. Oxendine, however, has not resigned and is doing the job that the people elected him to do. This proves Ox can multitask, and that Deal can’t. He has been proven servant to the State of Georgia for 16 years. Deal has been for 18 as a Country Club GOP Congressman. Ox has run a small business, Deal hasn’t to my knowledge. Ox has proven himself to be the real Conservative in the race, while Deal is one of these people that loses his soul when a Republican is President and finds it when a Democrat is President. Here’s where Ox stands on the issues and his solutions to the problems: http://www.redstate.com/se779/2009/09/08/why-i-am-supporting-john-oxendine-for-ga-gov/ . In the end, I seen no real option besides Ox, but that’s just me.
“Earnesty is stupidity sent to College”-PJ O’Rourke
“If you vote based on who has more election signs, you’re an idiot.”-Glenn Beck
“Stupid is what stupid writes.”-Yogi Berra
“It ain’t over til’ the sodaholic passes a gall-stone.”
“If I am going to stick a knife in you I am going to do it up front in your chest, I am never going to do it in your back. You will always see it coming.”-John Oxendine
“If wishes were horses, we’d be knee deep in crap.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“Yeah, try to hide your wild enthusiasm at my return. I find overt displays of emotion embarrassing.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“If you want something cuddly to keep you company, buy a hamster, don’t have a child.”-Jesse Ventura
Ox is a "questionable candidate as a result of his time as Ins. Commissioner".
Bill Monday, March 1st at 8:37PM EST (link)Deal in my opinion is really no deal at all, just a political opportunistists! I have had personal one on one conversations with Karen Handel and Ray McBerry. I really like Karen Handel and respect her “guts in running in this race”. However, I am really impressed with Ray McBerry and his strict vision of the U.S. Constitution and enforcing the 10th Amendment to allow the states to take away power from the Federal Government and return it to each state. I am really torn between Handel and McBerry. Erick says McBerry has no chance of winning because he has run before and got no support. I believe that if more people went to see and hear McBerry and his positions and campaign ideas, there would be more support. Either way, Ox is like smallpox to me. Deal is a No Deal the way I see it. Check them all out very carefully.
Thank God! November 3, 2010. U.S. House, GOP 290, DEM 145; U.S. Senate, GOP 70, DEM 28, IND 2. Keep on praying!
McBerry
SE-779 (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 8:46PM EST (link)If Ox manages to lose my support, McBerry will be my guy. He’s got it nailed on States Rights and Abortion. He’s also an impressive speaker that can connect to the people like Obama did, albeit McBerry ain’t gonna govern like him, which is a blessing!
“Earnesty is stupidity sent to College”-PJ O’Rourke
“If you vote based on who has more election signs, you’re an idiot.”-Glenn Beck
“Stupid is what stupid writes.”-Yogi Berra
“It ain’t over til’ the sodaholic passes a gall-stone.”
“If I am going to stick a knife in you I am going to do it up front in your chest, I am never going to do it in your back. You will always see it coming.”-John Oxendine
“If wishes were horses, we’d be knee deep in crap.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“Yeah, try to hide your wild enthusiasm at my return. I find overt displays of emotion embarrassing.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“If you want something cuddly to keep you company, buy a hamster, don’t have a child.”-Jesse Ventura
So, why not jump off the Ox Cart now and get a
Bill Monday, March 1st at 9:12PM EST (link)Handel on yourself or climb on the McBerry tree full time. Don’t get gored by the Ox if you can help it!
Thank God! November 3, 2010. U.S. House, GOP 290, DEM 145; U.S. Senate, GOP 70, DEM 28, IND 2. Keep on praying!
FairTax
SE-779 (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 9:30PM EST (link)Is McBerry for the FairTax? I’ve not hear a peep from him on that issue.
“Earnesty is stupidity sent to College”-PJ O’Rourke
“If you vote based on who has more election signs, you’re an idiot.”-Glenn Beck
“Stupid is what stupid writes.”-Yogi Berra
“It ain’t over til’ the sodaholic passes a gall-stone.”
“If I am going to stick a knife in you I am going to do it up front in your chest, I am never going to do it in your back. You will always see it coming.”-John Oxendine
“If wishes were horses, we’d be knee deep in crap.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“Yeah, try to hide your wild enthusiasm at my return. I find overt displays of emotion embarrassing.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“If you want something cuddly to keep you company, buy a hamster, don’t have a child.”-Jesse Ventura
May I suggest you check out http://georgiafirst.org/
Bill Monday, March 1st at 9:53PM EST (link)and see for yourself. Click On the Issues, then taxes and please read all he has to say about “taxes”. I believe you will be surprised how similiar to the FairTax he is. Then, if I may suggest, check out his positions on all the other issues shown there. Thank you.
Thank God! November 3, 2010. U.S. House, GOP 290, DEM 145; U.S. Senate, GOP 70, DEM 28, IND 2. Keep on praying!
Seems like a good deal to me. . .
disintelligentsia (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 4:29PM EST (link)Deal’s departure keeps the MSM from using his ethically challenged behavior as a club against R’s generally, we get rid of a RINO from Congress (and have the chance to submarine him in the primary for Governor) and have the opportunity to bring in another conservative to fill his seat (Cook’s has his district as R+28 – this is a no-brainer). This isn’t the Senate – we’re not one seat away from defeat in the House and so it shouldn’t effect the math unless others follow in exodus from the House.
“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” –Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Nicholas, 1803.
Sorry for labelling Deal a RINO . . .
disintelligentsia (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 4:41PM EST (link)He got a 100% rating from the ACU for the last two years. He had a 60 when he was a Democrat, but has consistently been at 90+ since then. But to be clear, he’s missed a lot of votes the last two years – 32% in 2008 an over 50% in 2009.
Just my knee-jerk reaction to anyone who was formerly a democrat who switches when the wind shifted. I still think it’s favorable to keep his ethical issues from tainting other R’s during an election year.
“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” –Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Nicholas, 1803.
I live in Nathan Deal's district in NW GA...
ChattDawg Monday, March 1st at 7:27PM EST (link)Who’s the best conservative to take Deal’s place? Any info would be appreciated! Thanks for letting us know all about him, Erick!
“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem — government IS the problem…” Ronald Wilson Reagan, January 20, 1981.
Here's my list of candidates I'm considering
SE-779 (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 8:26PM EST (link)Tom Graves
Bert Loftman
Bobby Reese
Bill Stephens
Jeremy Jones
“Earnesty is stupidity sent to College”-PJ O’Rourke
“If you vote based on who has more election signs, you’re an idiot.”-Glenn Beck
“Stupid is what stupid writes.”-Yogi Berra
“It ain’t over til’ the sodaholic passes a gall-stone.”
“If I am going to stick a knife in you I am going to do it up front in your chest, I am never going to do it in your back. You will always see it coming.”-John Oxendine
“If wishes were horses, we’d be knee deep in crap.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“Yeah, try to hide your wild enthusiasm at my return. I find overt displays of emotion embarrassing.”-Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano
“If you want something cuddly to keep you company, buy a hamster, don’t have a child.”-Jesse Ventura
Tom Graves
Erick Erickson (Diary) Monday, March 1st at 9:48PM EST (link)n/t
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
There is a simple solution here :) Draft Erick Erickson to take Deal's place. NT
Justin Spagnolo (standardcandle) (Diary) Tuesday, March 2nd at 9:01AM EST (link)nt.
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. “ -James Madison
Congressman Nathan Deal Has Postponed Resignation
AndrewHyman (Diary) Thursday, March 4th at 10:03PM EST (link)Congressman Nathan Deal has postponed his resignation so that he can vote on healthcare. See here. Good for him.