U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss: Frustration with Washington drove him out
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, the leader of a bipartisan effort to address the federal deficit, this morning pointed to gridlock in Washington for his decision not to seek a third term in 2014.
A statement just released by his office includes this:
“I have no doubt that had I decided to be a candidate, I would have won re-election. In these difficult political times, I am fortunate to have actually broadened my support around the state and the nation due to the stances I have taken.
“Instead, this is about frustration, both at a lack of leadership from the White House and at the dearth of meaningful action from Congress, especially on issues that are the foundation of our nation’s economic health. The debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst and, sadly, I don’t see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon. For our nation to be strong, for our country to prosper, we cannot continue to play politics with the American economy.”
In a conference call with supporters that he just completed, Chambliss didn’t detail the reasons for his departure, but reviewed a career that included authorship of four farm bills and 18 defense authorization bills, during two terms in the Senate and several years in the U.S. House.
“I’m going to have a life after this,” Chambliss said. “Sitting on a back porch drinking whisky with some of y’all is exciting to think about.”
Gov. Nathan Deal said that U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss called him this morning to inform him of his decision. “I told him to make sure he served out his full term because I didn’t want to appoint someone,” Deal told my AJC colleague Greg Bluestein. The governor assured Chambliss would do so.
Chambliss’ announcement will immediately set off an avalanche of Republican candidates who will seek to replace him.
At least two GOP House members from Georgia, Paul Broun of Athens and Tom Price of Roswell, have been contemplating primary challenges to Chambliss, who has been criticized for leading the bipartisan “Gang of Six” effort to broker a deal to address a $16 trillion federal deficit.
Chambliss and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., are scheduled to speak Monday on coming fiscal negotiations during a joint appearance at the University of Georgia.
Both Chambliss and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson had voted this month for the Senate-negotiated deal that avoided the “fiscal cliff” imposed by a 2011 fight over the federal debt ceiling. All Republican House members from Georgia voted against it.
A decision from Price is expected sooner rather than later. More members of Congress – including Phil Gingrey of Roswell and Tom Graves of Ranger – are certain to consider the race now that it lacks an incumbent. In the state Capitol, one name has already popped up — that of state Sen. Ross Tolleson, a Republican who hails from former U.S. senator Sam Nunn’s home town of Perry.
Talk radio host Herman Cain, a GOP candidate for president who began his political career in Georgia with a 2004 run for the U.S. Senate, quickly removed himself from consideration this morning. But don’t rule out former House speaker Newt Gingrich.
Chambliss’ withdrawal could also awaken Georgia Democrats from the torpor they’ve been in since losing the governor’s office in 2002. This statement comes from Guy Cecil, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee:
“Georgia will now offer Democrats one of our best pick-up opportunities of the cycle. There are already several reports of the potential for a divisive primary that will push Republicans to the extreme right. Regardless, there’s no question that the demographics of the state have changed and Democrats are gaining strength. This will be a top priority.”
U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Augusta has said he wasn’t interested in challenging Chambliss. Whether or not that disinterest applies to an open seat may be another matter. State Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta, may be another name to add to the mix.
Chambliss had offered a hint that he was wavering earlier this month. From a quote in a column written by my AJC colleague Kyle Wingfield, who had asked him if the curdled atmosphere in Washington made him think twice about a third term:
“This is an eight-year decision for me. It’s two years [campaigning] plus six years” in office, he said. “And if I thought the next eight years were going to be filled with contentious debates and the wrong way to govern that we have just gone through in the last two months, it would have a significant impact on my decision. But yeah, right now my plans are to run.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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346 comments Add your comment
A
January 25th, 2013
10:30 am
BRING BACK MAX CLELAND!!!!
the cat
January 25th, 2013
10:30 am
Senator Mary Margaret Oliver has a real nice ring to it.
Please
January 25th, 2013
10:31 am
I see where all the Liberal Obuma supporters are trolling! Time to get out of bed and go to the store with your food stamp money.
GUTRAKE
January 25th, 2013
10:32 am
I met Saxby at one of his early fundraisers for Congress back in the nineties. Since I was from South Georgia, I could tell he had the same conservative philosophy I had and I worked hard to get him elected. However, he is now the perfect example of how Washington changes people. He no longer espouses solid conservatism and I think he wants out before he becomes another “Jimma’ Carter”.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 25th, 2013
10:32 am
The liberals will tell you who our best candidate is; just keep an eye on their Foam Meters whenever his name gets mentioned.
Broun seems to have the lead as of now.
Fenton Hardy
January 25th, 2013
10:32 am
That’s what he gets for being a legislator/stateman rather than just a political hack. He realizes that it’s going to take compromise – not hard line positions -to get this country back on track.
yellowdog
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
roy would be a great senator; but hes probably had it and remember it costs a fortune to run now; kasim reed not equal to the job; would take a minute to figure out who is a worthy choice; but the likes of gingrey and broun are an embarassment…….where are the sam nunns of this state? geez
yellowdog
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
roy would be a great senator; but hes probably had it and remember it costs a fortune to run now; kasim reed not equal to the job; would take a minute to figure out who is a worthy choice; but the likes of gingrey and broun are an embarassment…….where are the sam nunns of this state? geez
yellowdog
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
roy would be a great senator; but hes probably had it and remember it costs a fortune to run now; kasim reed not equal to the job; would take a minute to figure out who is a worthy choice; but the likes of gingrey and broun are an embarassment…….where are the sam nunns of this state? geez
david c
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
Sad day, indeed, when Chambliss is the Moderate of the Right Wing. Georgia continues to sink deeper into its cozy little hole, shut off from the world of Thought.
yellowdog
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
roy would be a great senator; but hes probably had it and remember it costs a fortune to run now; kasim reed not equal to the job; would take a minute to figure out who is a worthy choice; but the likes of gingrey and broun are an embarassment…….where are the sam nunns of this state? geez
yellowdog
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
roy would be a great senator; but hes probably had it and remember it costs a fortune to run now; kasim reed not equal to the job; would take a minute to figure out who is a worthy choice; but the likes of gingrey and broun are an embarassment…….where are the sam nunns of this state? geez
yellowdog
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
roy would be a great senator; but hes probably had it and remember it costs a fortune to run now; kasim reed not equal to the job; would take a minute to figure out who is a worthy choice; but the likes of gingrey and broun are an embarassment…….where are the sam nunns of this state? geez
dawggirl
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
Good. There are plenty of better options and many were already considering running against him in the primary. He’s done very, very little while there and it’s time for a Senator who actually wants to shake things up and be productive.
dawggirl
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
Good. There are plenty of better options and many were already considering running against him in the primary. He’s done very, very little while there and it’s time for a Senator who actually wants to shake things up and be productive.
dawggirl
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
Good. There are plenty of better options and many were already considering running against him in the primary. He’s done very, very little while there and it’s time for a Senator who actually wants to shake things up and be productive.
We Won’t Have Saxby to Kick Around Anymore | Blog for Democracy
January 25th, 2013
10:33 am
[...] Jim Galloway is reporting that Saxby Chambliss will announce his retirement today. [...]
Milly
January 25th, 2013
10:35 am
Party affiliation aside, all Americans would be better served by term limits. Saxby has done the right thing. Now let’s see who else is willing to put their own agenda away and do the right thing for America.
lynnie Gal
January 25th, 2013
10:36 am
Not a Saxby fan but he was more reasonable than tin-foil hat wearers like Paul Broun. And, he answered letters if you wrote to him, even if he disagreed with you. A Tom Price or Phil Gingrey would have you investigated by Homeland Security if you send a letter that disagrees with them. The black helicopter anti-gument gun toting crowd may win in Georgia unfortunately, but national trends show that they’ll be marginalized in Congress if they do win.
So long Saxby. Hello Herman? | Hotspyer – Breaking News from around the web
January 25th, 2013
10:37 am
[...] who won his Senate seat by comparing triple amputee Vietnam veteran Max Cleland to Osama bin Laden, is retiring. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will announce this morning that he’s dropping plans to run for a third [...]
the cat
January 25th, 2013
10:37 am
Saxby is not doing the right thing for his country. I’m sure he has a juicy lobbying job all lined up.
d
January 25th, 2013
10:37 am
I’ve not liked Saxby since his first campaign. That being said, with the threat of a primary challenge, I was planning to vote in the Republican primary to make sure that I could live with either party’s candidate. The people whose names are being thrown around right now as possible candidates scare the he** out of me.
Mike
January 25th, 2013
10:37 am
Paul Broun is a moroon. He believes the earth is only 6000 years old!!! Well, at least when he’s talking to other moroons, he does.
Synonymous
January 25th, 2013
10:37 am
Karen Handel should not run for Senate. She should run for Tom Price’s House seat when he stupidly decides to run for Senate…
frank
January 25th, 2013
10:41 am
This is where my party, the repubilcans, will get it wrong and some crazy right winger like Paul Broun or Phil Gingrey or Tom Price will run and end up screwing the people of GA in the long run. Its high time the Republicans wake up and start running people that are more moderate and will compromise at some point! But these idiots that are foaming at the mouth to run will do nothing more but hurt our state and the nation. We are becoming the party of stupid and it has started with people like this that are in office now that have no concept on compromise or what the people they are supposed to represent want!
lynnie Gal
January 25th, 2013
10:41 am
Not a Saxby fan but he’s better than tin foil hat wearers like Paul Broun. If any of the anti-guvment, gun toting, black helicopter crowd of Georgia Republicans happen to win, looking at national trends, they’ll be marginalized in Congress.
Weetamoe
January 25th, 2013
10:41 am
Saxby’s dispute with poor stonedorfragged Max was over federalizing the TSA employees. I must say Saxby was absolutely correct on that issue. But I had not intended to vote for him, so to me his decision is not significant.
ASanePerson
January 25th, 2013
10:42 am
Why alla the negativism about him. I hope next election we see a new and younger face. Not just the rotation we have seen in the past.
HighFive
January 25th, 2013
10:42 am
Hopefully changing demographics in Georgia mean that common sense will prevail and that a viable moderate Democratic or Republican candidate will emerge.
Bobby
January 25th, 2013
10:42 am
Unfortunately I don’t know of any Democrats in Georgia that can successfully win against a Republican challenger for Senate. Atlanta Mayor Reed is out of the question. We’ve already seen he is willing to vote for taxes to fund buildings for Arthur Blank. It was dubious he could have mounted a successful challenge anyway. Now it’s impossible. I’m sure the replacement for Chambliss will be more along the lines of a Klan supporter, which is unfortunately the way the State of Georgia votes now.
Synonymous
January 25th, 2013
10:43 am
And those of you calling Saxby a ’statesman’: I’ve met him on many occaisions, and he’s the most arrogant jerk I know. He was in DC because he’s about the power. If he has to work too hard to maintain that power, then he’s not interested. Fine by me, Senator. Just don’t resign before we can have a fair competition for an OPEN seat. If you resign early so your buddy Deal can appoint one of his mafia to the seat (and hence be able to run as an incumbent with all the advantages therein), then you will cement your legacy as a useless POS.
Susan
January 25th, 2013
10:44 am
Lordy, this will give Chip Rogers another “job opportunity”! Just think if we had debates like the Republican debates of last year with Rogers, Broun, Price and Gingrey. Once again the Repuiblicans will perform as usual and eviscerate each with great gnashing of teeth and name calling before it even gets to the point of knowing who the Democratic opposition will be. As much as I would hate to lose the Kaseem Reid as Atlanta’s mayor he sure would be a good possibiity.
Saxby, thank you for being on of the few in either part who was willing to work together in the spirit of compromise in order to accomplish good things for our country. I do not agree with all of your positions but you made a terrific effort to recognize there are many views in this wonderful country of ours and no party gts its way all of the time. Enjoy your retirement.
DS
January 25th, 2013
10:44 am
The GOP is a victim of its own success in gerrymandering. Now that only the most extreme wingnuts can win a GOP nomination, they have no hopes of fielding a more reasonable person who might actually be effective once in office.
I don’t care for Chambliss (that Max Cleland smear was pathetic), but I can understand why he’s jumping ship.
Maybe Sam Nunn can be persuaded to throw his hat in the ring?
Jbill
January 25th, 2013
10:46 am
How about John Smoltz…..Would be great!
So long Saxby. Hello Herman? | The Penn Ave Post
January 25th, 2013
10:46 am
[...] who won his Senate seat by comparing triple amputee Vietnam veteran Max Cleland to Osama bin Laden, is retiring. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will announce this [...]
JoeC62
January 25th, 2013
10:47 am
Woo-Hooo! Maybe we can get someone in Washington who will do something besides fall in with the party line.
Jenn
January 25th, 2013
10:47 am
Kasim Reed for Senate!!!!
Carolyn
January 25th, 2013
10:47 am
PTL. I’ve never been a Saxby fan. I wish him well but I am glad he’s leaving.
Maybe now we can someone in who’s not so darn conservative and who represents more than just the far right; and who reponds to citizen inquiries with answers instead of requests to donate to his campaign.
Taxi Smith
January 25th, 2013
10:48 am
We don’t need a Far Lefty or a Far Righty. Let’s jetison all these nutballs and go for someone who possesses sound reason and a willingness to be “statesmanlike.” Kasim Reed? Phil Gingrey? God, no, please.
DawgFan
January 25th, 2013
10:49 am
How about Ga electing thier first female US Senator, Carol Porter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calliope
January 25th, 2013
10:49 am
Enter Kasim Reed…. Why do you think he has been on Meet the Press so much?
Tech Troll 13
January 25th, 2013
10:49 am
I agree with Milly. Professional politicians are the worst thing to happen to American politics.
Why do only Rupublicans need to compromise? I have seen NO compromise from the Democrats in years, especially the last four.
AtlantaAllen
January 25th, 2013
10:49 am
Please, some intelligent libertarian jump in here. As a fiscal conservative and native Georgian I am very concerned that the flat earth branch of the Republican party that supports people like Paul (basic scientific principles are “lies straight from the pit of hell”) Broun, who continue to cost us national elections and local embarrassment with their ignorant pontificating, will get this seat. Can we just find someone who will focus on reducing waste and deficit spending and not waste time and tax money promoting personal beliefs.
Red State
January 25th, 2013
10:50 am
Thanks Senator for your service to our State and the country. For all the liberals drooling over Sen. Chambliss’s retirement…this is still a very Red State.
Glenn
January 25th, 2013
10:50 am
My guess is that Chambliss has been inundated with complaints by people who are SUPPORTING the ban on assault weapons and COMPLAINING about the Republicans, NOT supporting them, and he’s tired of having to be reelected, especially with the change of “climate” in GA. Anyone who thinks there will be a “shoo in” for another Republican Senator, especially one whose only agenda is to block every attempt to promote bipartenship, then they should be prepared for a huge fight and a big disappointment after the election. Most Georgians have become sick and tired of the Washington BS, and think it’s high time to find a group in Congress who will work together.
Weetamoe
January 25th, 2013
10:51 am
Mike: Barack Obama in April of 2008 answering a question about what what he would tell his daughters about creation gave the interviewer essentially the same answer as Broun’s—and Broun was speaking to believers in some church somewhere, not a public interview. A maroon is a maroon is a maroon, I guess.
Just Saying..
January 25th, 2013
10:52 am
“The State of Georgia is a wide and diverse entity that is far greater than that cesspool that is Atlanta.”
Because I, nor my family, ever shop or attend events in Atlanta…
yuzeyurbrane
January 25th, 2013
10:52 am
I told you so although I thought that he would wait until some rightwingnut declared his candidacy.
USC
January 25th, 2013
10:53 am
Senator Chambliss knows when to bail. The psychosis known as the Tea Party, N.R.A., KKK, etc. is destroying what’s left of the Republican Party. Maybe, they will put up some rape expert (can we say Phil Gingrey) and finally commit suicide. Both parties have educated, thoughtful candidates who could provide Georgia with leadership and respect at the National level. Enough with the red neck buffoonery.
Harry Callahan
January 25th, 2013
10:54 am
Chambliss is nothing but a RINO, i.e. Democrat Lite, and Isaakson isn’t much better. Good riddance.