The 2021 Georgia Special Election thread

In a normal year, the Republicans would have a clear advantage. The Ds got less than the Rs in the first round meaning they have to make up ground while the Rs just have to hold on the votes they got. Also historically the Special Election electorate in Georgia has favored Rs.

However the D’s have a couple things going for them:

1) There is a black pastor on the ballot which could possibly boost black turnout.

2) Some of the Dems new pickups (college educated whites) are more reliable voters than other groups in the Dem coalition. However we don’t know if they will stay D if Trump isn’t on the ballot.

3) Both Rs are towing the Trump line that the election was stolen and that Trump actually won. If they keep that going it would take away one of their biggest selling points ‘Vote for us to keep the Dems from gaining full control.’

4) Convincing your base that their vote doesn’t matter because the fix is in is generally a bad strategy:

As to point 2, it's a matter of spin. They can hold the position "Trump really won" and "if you don't vote for us, the Democrats will effectively control the Senate with their illegitimate VP and then SOCIALISM."

Who knows how well that might play?

It seems clear to me that there were some GA Republicans who voted for the Senate candidates but for Biden. It will be interesting if those voters continue, stay at home or swap to the Senate candidates.

I fully support Republicans boycotting all elections, not just run offs.

I'm tempted to join Parler just so I can start pushing the theory that writing in Trump for the Senate seats is a backdoor way to make him president again.

Something like this:

"Sleepy Joe is going to be certified the winner, but we just have to be patient. It will take time to uncover his crimes. But we still have to trust that President Donald J. Trump will get us through this ... as long as we have his back. Here is what we have to do. Write in his name for BOTH Senate seats (he can only be seated once, but writing him in for both races is an insurance policy). Once he is elected, the Republican Senate majority will elect him Senate President Pro Tem. This is usually the longest-serving member of the majority, but that's just tradition and it can be anyone. Once Biden's crimes are uncovered, he and Harris will be forced to resign, and Pelosi will be implicated too. This makes Donald J. Trump our glorious President once again!"

... only crazier and with more spelling errors.

Plus they have Ed, oldfella and me.

Never mind, now I see that because it's a runoff, there won't be a write-in line.

Seattle-ites, San Franciscans, bite the bullet for the team, and move to Georgia.

Done. Born in Seattle. Worked in silicon valley.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Trump's antics are fucking up the GOP's chances in the Senate runoff:

https://epaper.ajc.com/html5/reader...tm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_1743665

After spending a little time looking at Georgia runoff law, apparently because it is considered an extension of the same election rather than a new election, you can only vote if you were eligible and registered on November 3.

How about I upload my absentee ballot?

I would add that Dem turnout might increase because Biden in charge but the Senate still in GOP hands is likely to deadlock him for at least 2 years.

The Dems would have a one-seat lead, no? For most things, all they need is a simple majority.

Look, I'd be happy enough just finally ripping the Infinity Gauntlet off Mitch McConnell's purple fucking hand.
Anything after that is cookie bits on the sundae.

The Dems need to win both seats to get a 50/50 Senate which with Harris being the tie breaker would give the Senate to D control.

Anything is better than Mitch but Joe Manchin would mean that only the most centrist of bills will get through.

Manchin will vote for Biden's judges and support a public option, and he's actually expressed openness on single-payer in the past.

On health care, I'm actually more worried about changes being torpedoed by the left flank in the House because they decide that helping people is less important than maintaining their ideological purity.

C'mon man! Use your imagination. Just make up some bullshit about write-ins being allowed even if there is no line, that it's a liberal plot to fuck over Trump, that only RINOs will let that stop them from voting for Trump... I mean if they believe Rudy is a legal genius, they'll believe any fucking thing...

Nah, once they get into the voting booth and don't see a write-in line, they'll just go Republican. Better to let them keep stewing in their resentment of Georgia Republican leadership and not show up at all.

I dunno about that. The leftists make up a larger share of the party than one gives them credit to. I think they could absolutely push the other half into not being spineless wimps and rolling over to appease Republicans who have made it clear the first time they will do less than nothing on this issue. Obama's original ACA was Romneycare with the serial numbers filed off.

Maybe a white president can sell them on it this time, but I doubt it bc without gay marriage to kick around anymore, it's their new favorite Communist boogeyman.

Do your part. Send letters to GA voters encouraging them to vote.

https://votefwd.org/posts/Georgia-Runoff-campaigns

Winning both seats will be a very tall order for the Democrats. If the impossible were to happen a Joe Manchin-led Democratic caucus would put a dent in the Trump judiciary. Apart from that I would fully expect him to fold on every other major issue of importance. Remember, West Virginia is one of the few states that is becoming more Republican.

It's possible, but unlikely. It's Georgia. Also democrats are less likely to turn out for a runoff.

However, democrats embrace absentee voting (my ballot is in the mail), republicans are demoralized, and there's a also black man running (Warnock) to get the black vote out. Ossoff may be riding on his coattails.

Interesting theory! Are you 100 percent sure that all republicans are demoralized? I guess we'll see what the polls start saying soon enough, they seem to have their finger on the pulse of the voters.

What’s your theory?

Well, that's certainly an interesting take on the election.

regarding the "what can I o to help?" discussion...

That Republicans need to get off their ass and vote. The Democrats are "telegraphing their punches" so if we get hit, it's on us. Stacy Abrams is all over it getting voters registered and whatnot. Celebrities are coming to Georgia to encourage Democratic voters. The MSM is (no shit) in the tank for the Democrats and social media will filter out any "disinformation" that doesn't fit their biased agenda. Every Georgia voter should be well aware of what a big deal this is, not just for Georgia but for Senate control! With Harris as a "tie breaker" Republicans are fucked-like-Chuck, dead in the water. Damn how much more of a wake-up call do we need ? Fuck being "discouraged" because Trump lost, or you think it's a rigged game or whatever. That's playing right into their hands!
Stay focused and hold the line! If as a Republican (or even undecided) you want to "sit it out" then you might as well call Stacy Abrams up and have her bring you a ballot request ya pussy!

Here's how I see the runoff playing out: the Democrats got spanked down-ballot, regardless of Trump not quite getting enough votes. That's very encouraging!
Anyway, this tells me there are a lot of enthusiastic, motivated Republican voters in general, especially here in Georgia. Other than a few counties, Georgia is quite thoroughly blue. So if (big if) the Republican voters can man-up and ignore the ever increasing political noise and just get their ass to the voting booth, we can have two overwhelming victories. Yes, metro Atlanta will be a chaotic FUBAR as it is in nearly every election * and our Achilles heel. But getting an outstanding Republican voter turnout will overcome any shifty shenanigans (or just incompetence) from metro Atlanta.
Damn if this runoff doesn't fire up every red blooded (get it?) Republican in Georgia you better check your pulse because you're already dead.

Okay I've said my piece with no personal attacks or character bashing. If anyone disagrees with my opinion that's fine. We still live in a free country last time I checked.

* before anybody screams "racist" Augusta, Savannah, and Columbus are heavily black and their voting offices have their shit together with no controversy - so what's up with Atlanta?

Ok, that’s your opinion about Republicans voting vs Democrats voting.
but..., what is it you are voting for? Why do you think Republicans, and trump, are “in the right” and why do you think Democrats are “in the wrong”?