I’m not sure there’s a whole lot I can say about the discussion surrounding Mike Jacobs’ switch to the Republican party today. Most of what’s out there is a bunch of meaningless political posturing and rhetoric.
But I believe there is some part of the nation that is not adequately represented by either party. Absent from Jacobs’ announcement on his new blog was any mention of Glenn Richardson. Jill Chambers’ name was mentioned twice. I tend to believe their constituents fit more within that gray area — that neither party represents their districts very well.
While the armchair political strategists of the blogosphere will debate with one another — based on meaningless numbers — the political makeup of this or that House district, it’s unlikely that either party is going to engage the people of those districts in any meaningful way. Republican = conservative; Democrat = liberal. Independent = moderate = not represented?
(I suppose Libertarian or Socialist = nutcase; and Joeventures = a complete and total nutcase)
It’s worth pointing out that New York’s Mayor Bloomberg has gone independent. Nice coincidence for all this party switching and dropping to happen on the same day. I have to wonder to what extent Bloomberg, Jacobs, Chambers, and others are of a similar mind — inadequately represented by either party. And would their ideas be strong enough (and their tent big enough) to form a viable third party?
JoeV brings up a great point…why didn’t Jacobs go independent???
For some reason, Jacobs likes and respect that sleazeball Glenn Richardson. Jacob is bigtime man crushing on Mr. Gas Gal.
JV is on it…Jacobs could’ve/should’ve gone independent.
I have a long personal story about Michael Bloomberg I won’t get into, but will say he personally helped my family through a major, major crisis.
Comment by Trackboy1 — June 19, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
Joe: great question. Here is what I told trackboy on my own blog:
That is a good question about Mike becoming an independent. I haven’t asked Mike that question, but I suspect I know the answer. The ballot access laws in Georgia are so restrictive that if Mike had decided to run for re-election as an independent, he likely would not have been able to get on the ballot. Georgia laws effectively ban independents and third-party candidates from even running for office.
Even if Mike could get re-elected as an independent, the fact that our system greatly favors a two-party system would keep Mike from having any influence in the legislative process. Short of having an evenly split General Assembly, Mike would not get any good committee assignments and would be a non-entity.
We need tremendous election reform in this state for us to have any sense of choice when we go to the polls.
Comment by Will Hinton — June 20, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Read my post again, y’all. I didn’t ask why he didn’t go independent. As Will points out, going independent would not be smart.
But I’ll rephrase.
To what extent is Jacobs like-minded with Jill Chambers on local issues?
And to what extent are Jacobs and Chambers like-minded with Mayor Bloomberg on national issues?
My speculation: there are others who are like-minded, too. If they did a better job of finding one another and sticking together, they could form a pretty powerful coalition.
Comment by Joe — June 20, 2007 @ 9:11 am