I’m not sure if you can hang up a crystal ball but if you can, I did so after getting the 2016 election wrong. I tried to stay out of the election prediction biz, but I backslid this year by hoping for a repeat of the 1980 election in reverse. At least I got the presidential election outcome right, but it was a substantial Biden win instead of a landslide and a minor disaster in House and Senate races.
That was a long-winded way of saying I have no idea who will win the double-barreled Georgia Senate run-off today. I know who I’m pulling for: Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. As to the outcome, I will be avidly watching the returns but do not pretend to know who will win. I wouldn’t predict it even if I were an expert on Peach State politics, which I am not.
At least I know who I’m rooting for. The Impeached Insult Comedian isn’t quite sure. His rally last night was yet another celebration of grievances and himself. He barely mentioned Perdue and Loeffler even though both have placed their souls into a blind trust controlled by him. Trump spent more time bashing Georgians Brian Kemp and Raffi than praising the plutocratic Senators he was supposedly there to support. Thanks, Donald.
In normal times, the two Georgia GOPers would triumph in the run-off. The open primary system is designed to help Republicans and harm Democrats, especially Black Democrats. Low turnout is the goal. But Ossoff and Warnock have been something of a dream team. The combination of the young Jewish guy who worked for John Lewis and the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church has proved to be a formidable one. Every time the media mentions where Warnock does his pastoring, they mention Martin Luther King Jr. Talk about a win-win situation.
Then there’s the Abrams factor. The only person with a bigger grudge against Brian Kemp and Raffi than President* Pennywise is Stacey Abrams. Since her narrow defeat in the voter suppression rich 2018 governor’s race, she’s been organizing the hell out of the Peach State. It paid off for Joe Biden in November and, hopefully, will help Ossoff and Warnock win today.
The likely 2022 grudge rematch between Kemp and Abrams is apt to be the most exciting Governor’s race since Edwards-Vitter in the Gret Stet of Louisiana back in 2015. Stay tuned.
Texas Congressman Chip Roy weighed in on the Georgia runoff last night:
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) suggested Monday night that there would be dire consequences if GOP incumbents Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) lose the Georgia Senate runoffs on Tuesday, which would give Democrats control of the chamber.
“What happens tomorrow in Georgia…if we have a Democratically controlled Senate, we’re now basically at full-scale hot conflict in this country,” Roy told Fox News host Tucker Carlson. “Whereas right now we’re in a cold civil war.”
A Texas expression comes to mind. In fact, I memed it back in 2018 when Trump went to Texas to campaign for Ted Cruz:
Talk is cheap, especially threats of violence. Remember all the blood that was supposed to flow if Trump lost? There have been some droplets but no buckets. I’m not expecting any on Twelfth Night. Uh oh, that sounded like a prediction. So much for the cracked crystal ball.
The last word goes to the Toasters and Van Morrison with variations on the same theme:
Hi Peter Elias Athas, are you ashamed to use your given name, are you such a Trump hater that you might find out how many friends you don’t have? I found the article posted about Uncle Bill and your comments about your Dad almost repulsive. I’m embarrassed that we share the same grandparents. Uncle Bill a child of Greek immigrants who loved this country gave the ultimate sacrifice. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross prior to his death. I have a document testimony from one of his fellow soldiers describing his bravery to protect his men. How dare you use his memory to belittle the Greatest President in my lifetime, you are the coward who won’t even use his real name. In some ways I’m glad you don’t disgrace the name of my Grand Father. Uncle Bill fought and died so you can spew your opinion, man up. With Trump we have not have a military action, he respects the loss life. Stop spewing fake news. Your former cousin Lex
Adrastos is my pen name. I do use my real name. I’m sorry that you’re a terrible person who supports a criminal. You have not been my cousin for many years. Frankly, my dear Lex, I don’t give a damn.
When Trump falls out of favor his followers will claim they did not support him. Sadly, some promote politicians they will never meet over family members they could not have the decency to to be near in their final hours. Albeit, while news is supposedly fake the words of Pennywise are taken at gratis.
Greatest president in your lifetime?
Eisenhower created the entire interstate system. Kennedy launched the space program launching an era of scientific prowess that still affects our nation. LBJ’s domestic policy gave every American an opportunity unheard of to obtain college degrees, led us to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights of 1965. Nixon’s foreign diplomacy (minus Vietnam)…. I can go on. However, as a GOP I’d think Reagan should be held higher then Trump, or even GW Bush rallying the country post 9/11.
The “greatest president” in your life time is currently endorsing the siege of the Capital in Washington DC.
I’ve purposely focused on the academics of your statement. I would never make a personal attack against a family member and their freedom of thought, especially someone with such command of the word. I’m blessed. I was raised by an amazing mother, Godmother, and grandparents who instilled in me the ability to listen the varying ideas. In Nouna’s words, “listening to others helps us learn.” In Mom’s words, “we can always love” and more profound “sometimes it’s better to love with doors closed.”