Our Opinion: Welcome back Saxby

The Valdosta Daily Times

December 04, 2008 01:10 am

— Georgia has spoken and the nation took note. Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss was returned to office in Georgia’s run-off election by a wide majority over his Democratic opponent Jim Martin Tuesday.
Chambliss’ reelection garnered national attention because it has assured that the Democrat-controlled Congress will not have a filibuster-proof majority. A Democratic presidential administration and a Democratic House and Senate can still get its way more often than not, but Chambliss’ return means the Democrats can’t simply steamroll everything it wants into being.
Chambliss’ return means the Democrats will stay face a GOP with some teeth. Not terribly effective teeth, at this point, but some opposition nonetheless.
How effective Chambliss will be for the state, and specifically his native South Georgia, in this new Congress remains to be seen.
The Democrats still have steep control of the Senate. The Senate race in Minnesota remains contested. Chambliss has made efforts this year to be a more bi-partisan senator, having worked closely with Democrats to reach a compromise on energy legislation. But many Democrats still recall Chambliss’ nasty, albeit successful, campaign against then-Sen. Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran and triple amputee, whom Chambliss painted as a traitor in league with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. And now he’s spoiled the Democrats’ opportunity for a super-majority.
It’s doubtful the Democrat-controlled Senate will embrace Chambliss’ return with open arms, and Georgia may well pay the price.
Still, as we noted in our endorsement of Chambliss, returning him to office was important because Georgians have seen, on both a state and national level, the disastrous effects of the past few years when one party has too much control. Opposition and compromise are important components of a representative government.
During the past six years in the Senate, we hope and believe Saxby Chambliss has learned when one must be applied over the other.