I used to think quite well of Rep. David Scott, a relatively thoughtful, relatively moderate Georgia Democrat, something (I thought) of a metro Atlanta counterpart of Sanford Bishop, who does a pretty good job of representing all of his southwest Georgia district.

That was then; this, with all the appropriate caveats about fired ex-employees, appears to be now. Rep. Scott needs to do more to get his house in order.

And, once again, nothing yet from the Atlanta paper.

While this story is somewhat local to Georgia, I believe that there are some interesting lessons here as it relates to partisanship.

Today, my own state representative, Rep. Mike Jacobs, has announced that he is switching parties from Democrat to Republican. This is big news. While a number of conservative rural Democrats have made the switch here in Georgia, Mike becomes the first Metro Atlanta Democrat to switch parties.

(Full disclosure: Not only am I one of Mike's constituents, but I consider Mike a friend. Mike and I did discuss this issue prior to his decision today. I encouraged Mike to do what is best for the district regardless of party affiliation.) read more »

I posted this, with appropriate links, over at Knippenblog.

An article in today's AJC describes a poll showing significant popular support for school choice in Georgia. Here are some findings taken from the executive summary:

"Georgians strongly support school vouchers, both in general and in the context of special education. When asked about a bill currently being debated by the Georgia legislature that would provide school vouchers to special education students, 59 percent said they favored this policy, while only 20 percent were unfavorable. Questions about vouchers in general produced very similar results: 58 percent of Georgians favor school vouchers, while just 22 percent were unfavorable. read more »

I posted this, with links, at Knippenblog.

Allies of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue have finally introduced a measure to amend the Georgia Constitution to legitimize the state's many contacts and contracts with faith-based organizations. I last noted Perdue's promise to do so here, where you can find links to pieces I've written on this issue in the past.

The Atlanta paper is none too pleased, making the predictable arguments against it: read more »

Today I read in the AJC that the Georgia State Legislature is considering passing a bill that would honor former U.S. Senator and Georgia governor Zell Miller with a statue on the grounds of the state capital. It appears that state Republicans are pushing this legislation as yet another way to tweak Democrats, as Miller, a conservative Democrat, has been a notable critic of the national Democratic party.

I used to think those that represented us in the state legislature or in Congress were public servants but legislation like this has almost killed my idealism and belief in the concept of a "public servant". It should be an embarrassment and stain upon the state of Georgia that every year we name a road, intersection, highway, or in some way honor a living, and sometimes still in office, politician. read more »

I posted this at No Left Turns.

We wait with bated breath for something more than these airy generalities from Keith Ellison, who, as you surely know, is our first Muslim Congressman.

Surely if hard questions can be posed to Mitt Romney and if deep suspicions about theocracy can be raised every time a conservative Christian speaks, we’re entitled to know exactly how Ellison’s faith informs his politics. read more »

The interstate system is a two-edged sword. Without it our economy would be much weaker and everything from cars to bread would cost much more. However, when the interstates were built half a century ago, the planners sliced neighborhoods in two particularly targeting areas with little political clout. Today the state Departments of Transportation have much more clout than any neighborhood, and even the fairly well to do are at risk of having their homes taken by the state so more pavement can be laid. read more »

Just wanted everyone to know that we will be liveblogging the election returns here in the comment thread today. Please feel free to join us and take part in what should be a fun evening.

Update: Good quote from La Shawn Barber: "I’ve been less than impressed with national Republicans, and I don’t see a big downside to having a Democratic Congress. That’s how jaded I am. I’ll be surrounded by liberal bloggers tonight, so if Democrats gain control, I’ll have to deal with the gloat factor, which will be unpleasant. Other than that, what’s the difference?"

Update: I'm already hearing some voting irregularity/conspiracy stuff already

Update: Amusing quote from the BBC's Gavin Esler:

"The Democrat campaign seems to boil down to one phrase: "We're not George Bush." And the Republican campaign is similarly taut: "We're not George Bush either.""

Update: Very interesting poll out today:

"Sen. John Kerry's gaffe that Americans who do not do well in school end up in Iraq has triggered deep doubts among some independent voters about voting Democratic in the elections, according to a new Pew poll."

It will be interesting to see if this bears out.

Update: Glenn Reynolds is absolutely correct on this assessment:

"IN A WAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT TURNS OUT: The message for the Republicans -- and the Democrats -- is that they need to do much better. The GOP, as I noted before, made a number of "unforced errors" that took them from a strong to a weak position -- not because they spent political capital, but because they squandered it. They were too busy stuffing their pockets and taking their base for granted, and -- whether or not they lose big or lose small -- they could have done beter, without sacrificing any of their principles, if they'd had a bit more self-restraint.

Meanwhile, the Democrats, even if they take both houses, will have to actually discover some governing principles -- and if they'd had those on display, they'd be running away with this election right now.

I've written before that technology, diminishing voter loyalty, and new media make a third party a lot more feasible than it used to be. The two big parties are depressingly inept, each arguing that the other is worse, and both make a strong case. . . .

Update: Andrew Sullivan thinks this may be an election where young people make a big difference. I can't see that as this election season and past few years could make a cynic out of almost anyone....except me. :)

Last week I attended a speaker series at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta at which Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue. As this speech was given at a university, Governor Purdue took the opportunity to give more of a motivational talk about the importance of trust. He spoke much about the importance of trust in politicans and how trust begins with those around you and then ripples outward into other relationships. read more »

A comment at PeachPundit about the influence of Christians in the Republican party here in Georgia got me thinking that few people understand how evangelical Christians came to power in the party and what the nature of that power is today. I am fortunate enough to have been involved in many of the events that led to this shift in the Republican party and would like to give my perspective. I wrote a similar article last year but thought I would write about this again with an eye towards Georgia politics. read more »