Didn’t want to be involved in eight years of ‘ugly’ doings, says Saxby Chambliss
ATHENS — U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss said Monday that it was the prospect of eight more years of “ugly” governance — not fear of losing a Republican primary — that fueled last week’s announcement that he would not seek a third term in 2014.
“That’s just not what I want to be involved in for the next two years and six years after that,” Chambliss told reporters after his first public appearance since deciding to retire. Georgia’s senior senator also said he would not involve himself in a GOP primary to pick his successor.
”That list is going to be so long. Folks who are interested in this job — they need to follow me for a couple weeks before they make their decision. It is not an easy life,” he said.
By a coincidence of timing, the long-scheduled event required Chambliss to introduce his partner in the “Gang of Six” negotiations over reducing the nation’s $17 trillion debt — U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia.
Warner had planned a detailed PowerPoint presentation. Instead, the morning event became a celebration of the bipartisan partnership that fueled tea party hostility toward Chambliss in Georgia and guaranteed him a primary challenge next year.
Warner, a former governor of Virginia who himself has not decided whether to seek re-election to the Senate in 2014, lavished praise on Chambliss for the risk he took.
“There was no rational, political upside for a safe, sitting Republican senator from a state like Georgia to be willing to step up with a Democrat and say, ‘We need to go out and tell the truth,’ ” Warner said. “It’s going to be Georgia’s loss, and it’s going to be America’s loss.”
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t have two more years to kick some tail up in Washington,” he added.
Chambliss set a tighter deadline, declaring that a deal to reform the U.S. tax code, increase federal revenue, yet cut spending and entitlements, needs to be passed before the start of the 2014 election season. “We’ve got a window of 11 months here,” Chambliss said.
Chambliss and Warner provided glimpses into the 3-year-old, odd-couple partnership that has seen both men battle their separate political bases and their leadership. “I have spent more time with [Warner] over the last two years than I have with my wife,” Chambliss quipped.
Chambliss credited his Virginia colleague with providing support in the face of bitter opposition among some factions of the GOP. “When you’re a Republican and you have a Democrat come over and say, ‘Hey, things are going to get better’ — that’s what public service is all about,” he said.
Warner, the co-founder of the cellphone company that became known as Nextel, acknowledged that he has been the more boisterous member of the duo. “Saxby and I are two very different people. He’s the epitome of the Southern gentleman — courtly, calm, relaxed. The way he starts each day is, ‘Well, Mark, did you take your Ritalin today?’ ”
Both men expressed frustration that their joint activity has become something seldom seen in Washington. “It shouldn’t be that much of a rarity that a Democrat and a Republican, who have big issues on a lot of other issues, can come together for the good of the country,” said Warner, who told students in the audience that bipartisanship needs to be encouraged from the ground up.
“If you’re a Democrat, go support a Republican who’s willing to [increase] revenue,” Warner said. “If you’re a Republican, go support a Democrat who’s willing to [trim] entitlements.”
The lecture was sponsored by Keith Mason, the former chief of staff of Gov. Zell Miller — who, when he served in the Senate, expressed similar frustrations with Congress. Afterward, a question-and-answer session with reporters was preceded by a series of local officials who praised Chambliss. “Realistic” was the most common adjective.
Chambliss acknowledged the shower of accolades with a thank-you and a wince. “This is not a funeral, now, guys,” he said.
The Georgia senator said that, though freed from any electoral pressure, he would not change his message over the next two years. ”I think it may surprise some people, particularly my critics, to know that I’m not going to change my principles, I’m not going to change my philosophy,” he said. “Now that I’m not running, I’m going to say exactly the same thing on fiscal issues I’ve been saying for 2 1/2 years.”
Chambliss said his decision to retire wasn’t based on any fear of 2014. “The one thing I was totally confident of was my re-election. This was not a two-year decision for me,” he said. “I raised $13 million for the election in 2008. I was going to have to raise more than that this time around. I knew that I’d be able to do it.”
But dissatisfaction began to brew inside him after the 2011 fight over the debt ceiling — which produced the “fiscal cliff” deal that required Congress to come to terms with the debt or face automatic spending cuts and tax increases. One was “ugly,” Chambliss said. The deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, reached only on Jan. 1, was “really ugly.”
“It was not a lot of fun to go through, and I did not think it was the way to govern,” he said. “I can see that the next six months of this year is going to be the same sort of political arena.”
Chambliss, 69, said he had no stomach for enduring that kind of frustration until 2020.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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212 comments Add your comment
DJ Sniper
January 28th, 2013
5:29 pm
Jesus H. Christ, Voter is even more confused that I originally thought. Birth control pill do NOT kill babies. Also, the morning after pill, aka RU 486, is NOT an abortion drug. You actually have to be pregnant to have an abortion, and RU 486 is nothing more than regular birth control given in a higher dosage to prevent an egg from being fertilized. It’s simple science, which seems to evade the right these days.
As for the Catholic church, they need to clean up their own house before offering judgment on anybody else.
Lastly, CEO’s do NOT have a right to force their religious beliefs onto their employees. The courts agree, but the CEO of HL is willing to pay fines instead of allowing his employees to make their own decisions.
Soldier Boy
January 28th, 2013
5:29 pm
This just in. Retired Soldier is going to tell us where he served and how long he was in the military.
Because he’s a tough guy, that’s why.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:30 pm
@DJ Sniper – So sad, if the so called free phones story is so false, why are some of the States about to start taxing them on having the phones? Smart guy.
Russian Doctor
January 28th, 2013
5:31 pm
I have lived in three different states since coming to the U.S. in 1986.
I must say Georgia is by far the dumbest.
honested
January 28th, 2013
5:35 pm
voter,
Failure to deal with reality does not allow you to modify reality.
Just because you hear nonsense on talk radio and it makes you feel better does not make it TRUE!
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:35 pm
@DJ Sniper – I’m glad you seem to know Jesus Christ, since you called him by name. Leave the H out, He had no middle name or initial.
You miss the point, the point is GOVERNMENT mandating anything to companies or individuals especially about healthcare. Mandate. Did you read that? Mandate:an authoritative command
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:37 pm
@Russian Doctor – “I have lived in three different states since coming to the U.S. in 1986.
I must say Georgia is by far the dumbest.”
Go back to Russia or whatever State you came from. It’s a free Country,(for now)
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:38 pm
@honested – “Failure to deal with reality does not allow you to modify reality.
Just because you hear nonsense on talk radio and it makes you feel better does not make it TRUE!”
Just like talking to my ex-wife when she argues that the sky is not blue.
Dan
January 28th, 2013
5:38 pm
Obama does not respect or believe in our Constitution. He sure is full of himself.
honested
January 28th, 2013
5:39 pm
voter,
Two points:
The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act is the LAW and has passed Supreme Court Muster.
If the hobby lobby guy is a godbleever, he should follow the law, right?
I’m glad the hobby lobby guy outed himself so I can make sure not to ever patronize them again.
All the church based criminal entities should out themselves and make spending money properly an easier exercise!
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:41 pm
@Paul Ryan – “It’s only “entitlements” if somebody gets them.
When I got them it was just “temporary.”
Now that I don’t need them, no one else should be able to get them”
Well said. If all welfare was temporary, we would have less moochers and more workers. Wait, I think more workers means more taxes in the bank. Oh, we can’t have that. I believe obama campaigned on more jobs, looks like another failure since unemployment has risen.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:43 pm
@honested – “The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act is the LAW and has passed Supreme Court Muster.”
So far, still several cases to hear. I will be praying for you. Forget politics and this blog, you seem lost, so I will be praying for your soul, like they say, eternity is too long to be wrong.
honested
January 28th, 2013
5:44 pm
Unemployment has fallen.
Do you have any factual knowledge?
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:44 pm
@Dan – “Obama does not respect or believe in our Constitution. He sure is full of himself.”
Well said.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:48 pm
@honested – “Unemployment has fallen.
Do you have any factual knowledge?”
It’s called Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It was passed in Feb.2012, it over several months thru the year of 2012, dropped off anybody receiving unemployment. That’s why the numbers look somewhat better, but still worse than when obama took office. As people dropped off, still without a job, it looked like people were getting jobs but in fact they no longer counted in the stats. Most of all people who dropped off last year are STILL out of work, just no longer be counted ,so the numbers could look better for obama.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
5:50 pm
@honested – “Unemployment has fallen.
Do you have any factual knowledge?”
And yes, that is a fact. I am one who is still out of work and no longer counted as unemployed. I know many others in the same boat. FACT!
ignition
January 28th, 2013
6:00 pm
@Voter maybe you should get off the message board and look for employment.
Obama is a constitution attorney who studied at Harvard Law School, the man KNOWS the constitution. This state is so backwards and devoid of intellectualism, matter of fact intellectualism is a negative in the state of Georgia. So much that overt corrupt politicians can win governorship and become county sheriff.
hiram
January 28th, 2013
6:01 pm
Around and around she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows…
Scrivener
January 28th, 2013
6:06 pm
Ignition, another elitist who thinks they’re much smarter and better than their cow-tipping, barefoot neighbors here in Georgia. Why don’t you just leave. And Obama was a lecturer in law school. So what. He hates the Constitution. Just like most liberals, he believes it should be a living document that politicians can interpret and bend to suit their purposes. Thanks goodness our founders were smart enough to anticipate that.
Tap Out
January 28th, 2013
6:09 pm
I hope Max Cleland is smiling.
GA Voter
January 28th, 2013
6:23 pm
Did Max ever pay back that phone bill he ran up calling 900 numbers while in the GA SOS office?
td
January 28th, 2013
6:23 pm
honested
January 28th, 2013
5:39 pm
voter,
Two points:
The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act is the LAW and has passed Supreme Court Muster.
If the hobby lobby guy is a godbleever, he should follow the law, right?
I’m glad the hobby lobby guy outed himself so I can make sure not to ever patronize them again.
All the church based criminal entities should out themselves and make spending money properly an easier exercise!
How is that boycotting everything produced by the Koch brothers going for you?
td
January 28th, 2013
6:27 pm
honested
January 28th, 2013
5:39 pm
voter,
Two points:
The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act is the LAW and has passed Supreme Court Muster.
As the highest tax increase on the middle class this country has ever seen. We all knew Obama was lying when he tried to tell us that it was not a tax, we could keep our current insurance, doctors and that our premiums would go down.
How is those lies working out for you?
Voter
January 28th, 2013
6:38 pm
@ignition – “Obama is a constitution attorney who studied at Harvard Law School”
So what? He knows socialism and wants to bypass the Constitution.
And if you don’t like this State, move somewhere else.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
6:42 pm
@ignition – “@Voter maybe you should get off the message board and look for employment.”
I look and apply every day. Trust me the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, has done wonders for us unemployed. Boy, the jobs created were massive and tax cuts, whoa, man so many, this Bill helped so many. NOT!
Why don’t you wake up and smell what you are shoveling!
hiram
January 28th, 2013
6:55 pm
I’ve figured it out – Jim Galloway is td, cc,asshop, and now voter,and possibly others. We’re on to you Jim.
Donv
January 28th, 2013
6:57 pm
Average Georgian @ 4:06- THANK YOU for a sensible blog post. While I do not agree with all your positions, it is apparent you are a thinking person. I would like to hope this is really true for ALL average Georgians.
William Smith
January 28th, 2013
7:02 pm
A Washington insider talking about the evils of D.C.. How strange can it get? Both parties will do anything to get elected, and then talk about how dirty the system is. The only thing worse than them is the public that keeps putting them back in office. On this blog people on both sides claim the other side is responsible for all the problems. This is a team effort both parties are responsible for the mess we’re in. I fell at times like I know how the people of Poland felt in the 1930’s Hitler on one side and Stalin on the other. No matter which side comes it’s going to be bad.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
7:06 pm
@hiram – “I’ve figured it out – Jim Galloway is td, cc,asshop, and now voter,and possibly others. We’re on to you Jim.”
Dream on.
mark
January 28th, 2013
7:06 pm
I think the GOP ran him out. This is one of the most tea party state with money around. He was too moderate. I hope the neocon who runs against a dem, this rape is ok. More dems in the Hausssssss.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
7:07 pm
@William Smith – “Both parties will do anything to get elected, and then talk about how dirty the system is. The only thing worse than them is the public that keeps putting them back in office. On this blog people on both sides claim the other side is responsible for all the problems. This is a team effort both parties are responsible for the mess we’re in.”
Agreed.
Donv
January 28th, 2013
7:13 pm
JHS @ 4:25: While I agree with your overall assessment regarding the tome of the first few posts to this blog, there have actually been some well thought-out comments in the blog. I am one of those that receives a government check (military retirement), soon to be two (Social Security)- both more than paid for in advance (thankfully, Mitt forgot about that part before running his mouth about the 47%). And I do not mind a bit, thank you.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
7:36 pm
@Donv – “I am one of those that receives a government check (military retirement), soon to be two (Social Security)- both more than paid for in advance (thankfully, Mitt forgot about that part before running his mouth about the 47%). And I do not mind a bit, thank you.”
To clarify a bit, Mitt wasn’t condemning ALL that received retirement or social security. It was taken out of context. Obviously those of us who have served and/or worked the past 20,30 or 40 years, EARNED, their retirement and/or social security. Mitt was referring to the leeches and moochers who have never served this Country or worked 10+ years to receive retirement or sociakl security. People who keep having babies without fathers collecting welfare and food stamps and never worked a day in their lives.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
7:38 pm
@Donv – “I am one of those that receives a government check (military retirement), soon to be two (Social Security)- both more than paid for in advance (thankfully, Mitt forgot about that part before running his mouth about the 47%). And I do not mind a bit, thank you.”
To clarify a bit, Mitt wasn’t condemning ALL that received retirement or social security. It was taken out of context. Obviously those of us who have served and/or worked the past 20,30 or 40 years, EARNED, their retirement and/or social security. Mitt was referring to the leeches and moochers who have never served this Country or worked 10+ years to receive retirement or social security. People who keep having babies without fathers collecting welfare and food stamps and never worked a day in their lives.(resent for misspelled word, corrected, sorry)
Scrivener
January 28th, 2013
7:41 pm
Donv, Mitt was NOT referring to people’s retirement or Social Security. He was talking about Medicaid, food stamps, Section 8 housing, etc. If you believe otherwise, you did so because the media and the dem talking heads lead you to believe it. And he was right, by the way. Those people would never vote for him.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
7:46 pm
To put it in perspective, Example A- a young man referred to as a “entrepreneur”. Why? He has 13 children from 9 different women. All of who receive welfare/food stamps/gov’t assistance. None of the girls or young man has graduated from high school or even hold down a job but they get their money each month for as long as they live.
Example B – Young man or woman graduates from High School and joins the Army,Navy,Air Force,Marines or Coast Guard. They are injured and return home after 1 year of service, I have no problem paying for this young person’s care and livelihood for the rest of his life.
frank
January 28th, 2013
8:16 pm
Radical left commentors. Get over it. But since you make your, innane vitriotic comments about Chambliss as being true, you only convinced yourselves.
Serious Robuck
January 28th, 2013
8:30 pm
Saxby got himself elected by ugly doings. What a colossal crybaby and coward he is. Good riddance.
Serious Robuck
January 28th, 2013
8:31 pm
frank, get over it. You lost, Sweetie.
Soon To Be Means Tested
January 28th, 2013
8:43 pm
I’m right of center, but one of the things that kills me is when people talk about Social Security and Medicare as entitlements and suggest that they deserve getting the money.
The fact is, the average person takes out 3 times what they put in. And, it is only gonna get worse. Take my mother-in-law (please!), she worked 30 years at Sears as a vacuum salesperson in the 70s, 80s, and 90s (read: when wages were relatively low and, ergo, she wasn’t paying much in SS taxes). She has been retired for 17 years and still going strong. Estimated payments in: $50K. Money received ($2,000 per month based on her husband that was killed in Vietnam 40 years ago): $200K and counting.
I have been paying the maximum into SS and Medicare for 25 years (six figure income). What do you think my odds are of collecting much in SS…where I paid in about $200K? The leftwingers will look and say, “Gee, you worked, and saved, and didn’t blow all your money. Therefore, we’ll need to cut your SS payments to pay for those that didn’t.”
Voter
January 28th, 2013
9:20 pm
@Soon To Be Means Tested – I hear ya. Here’s a worse scenario. Most likely, anyone 55 or less will never see their Social Security Benefits by time they are 65. Certain projections show 2017, some say 2021, they will be taking in less than they are paying out. The Government started “borrowing” from Social Security in the 60’s and have continued. Like I said before, Government is the problem. Why would any sane person believe they can make something work, like The Affordable Healthcare Act?
Voter
January 28th, 2013
9:23 pm
@Soon To Be Means Tested – And I consider “entitlements” as welfare, food stamps for life, Gov’t housing for life, Internet for life, cell phone for life, etc. These should have a time limit and help these people get to work. Like JFK said “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
JSH
January 28th, 2013
9:23 pm
Donv- I congrauate you on your two checks. I hope one day to get my own SS check. I think you know of the people I was referring to. Able bodied people who are able to work, on their second or third generation getting a check. Atlanta is full of these people. It’s a shame they are able to vote.
double
January 28th, 2013
9:30 pm
Hiram @6:55 I do not believe Jim would put in 16 hr.7 days wk..
Comments
January 28th, 2013
9:57 pm
It is amazing to read all of these negative comments about someone who had the courage to run for office and try to help our State, Country and all of you. You may not agree with all of the decisions but you would never put yourself out there to take all of the criticism and ridicule you’re willing to dish out. If we want to get OUR COUNTRY out of this mess, we must all learn to compromise. You were taught this as a child and it was not a “bad” word so grow up!
Thank you for your service, Senator Chambliss!
yag kosha
January 28th, 2013
10:12 pm
Georgia is a political sh8thole. Filled to the top with republican, tea party, conservatives. He would have been challenged in the primaries? Of course he would have! The neanderthals in this state accept no less than full-on ethic hating, bible-thumping, second amendment humping idiots to represent them. Pass the red man, git the dawg and fire up the pickup, Ma, we’re goin’ huntin’ fer librals!!!
Doug
January 28th, 2013
10:32 pm
No matter how much the media tries to make Saxby Chambliss look like a a good guy, he is still the man who maligned a war hero and has yet to apologize. That makes him a corrupt, contemptible person.
Voter
January 28th, 2013
10:47 pm
@Comments – Well said.
woodrow
January 28th, 2013
10:49 pm
If it is true the Chambliss is retiring because of the Tea party, then I think it is time to take down the Tea party. It doesn’t seem to have the interest of the country in mind. All these yokels care about is saving money on taxes. That is their only holy grail. I think they are missing the bigger picture. This experienced statesman, Chambliss, knows the bigger picture. The path to improving the economy is not to cut taxes. It never was.
Kris
January 28th, 2013
10:59 pm
Bye and good riddance Sax.. Remember you help create “” ‘ugly’ doings, “”.
All too often we confuse facts with rhetoric and conspiracy
Still could not find a legal cure for stupid.
Having said that, I leave with this…
There is a cure for greed and corruption.
Impeach/recall DEAL, RECALL Reed
Help derail the crooks. Vote the GOP scum out 2014
Wonder if former President Jimmy Carter is up for a run for Governor or Senator?
If anyone drops their wallet in near the Gold Dome, I’d suggest they kick it to B.F. Egypt before bending over to pick it up.