MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL: Editorial: Chambliss win vital to curbing liberals' excess

Published: 10/21/2008

The headlines in recent days have said that incumbent U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) is in "the fight of his life." They're right - and that's unfortunate both for him and the people of Georgia.

Chambliss stands a chance of becoming a victim of Obama Barack's expected coattails, which many suspect will be long enough to unseat Republicans who just a month ago were thought to be nearly impregnable. Democratic challenger Jim Martin is running an unexpectedly strong campaign. He is a good man, a diligent worker on behalf of Georgians during the Barnes administration, and though more liberal than most Georgians, he likely would be a capable senator if he were to be elected.

But should a senator so recently seen as secure as Chambliss become one of the victims of the Obama voter surge, it's a virtual lock that the Democrats will wind up with a "filibuster-proof" working majority in the Senate. With the Democrats in control of the White House and the House of Representatives as well, we should then get ready for an onslaught of liberal legislation unseen from Washington since the days of Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society."

Our form of government is predicated on built-in "checks and balances," and in this case retaining enough Republicans there to mount a filibuster is looking like the last, best hope of checking an expected flood tide of far-left moves. Otherwise, you can expect a hasty retreat from Iraq, probably two and possibly three stridently left-wing nominees for the Supreme Court, punitive tax hikes on business and so on.

In that light, a vote for Saxby Chambliss seems more important than ever. But even were that not the case, Chambliss has more than earned another term in Washington. He has voted in accordance with the wishes and desires of most Georgians throughout his term, in favor of a strong defense, low taxes and less government.

With neither Obama nor Republican John McCain enamored with the Lockheed Martin-built C-130 Hercules or the F-22 Raptor, Chambliss is strategically situated to help defend them as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, following in the footsteps of legendary Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn. He also has played a vital role as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and in keeping with what has become a Georgia tradition, sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee, where he is the senior Republican.

Saxby Chambliss has represented Georgia well in Washington, and deserves your vote for another term there.