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Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss Won’t Seek Re-Election

Jan. 25, 2013 10:25am Madeleine Morgenstern

Saxby Chambliss, Republican Georgia Senator, Wont Seek Re election

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Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) announced Friday he will not seek re-election to a third term next year.

“After much contemplation and reflection, I have decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2014,” Chambliss said in a statement on his Facebook page. “This is a decision Julianne and I have thought through and prayed about for many weeks. I am humbled by and grateful for the extraordinary trust of Georgians, who have allowed me to represent them for 20 years in the United States House and Senate.”

First elected to the House in 1994 and then to the Senate in 2002, Chambliss angered Tea Party conservatives for taking part in the failed bipartisan Senate “Gang of Six” that tried to tackle the budget and for his recent vote to avert the “fiscal cliff.”

Chambliss rejected the notion that facing a potential primary challenge had been a factor in his decision, saying he was confident he would have been able to pull off a win if he ran again. Republican House members Paul Broun and Tom Price were both considering challenging Chambliss, as was former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, according to the Washington Post.

“Instead, this is about frustration, both at a lack of leadership from the White House and at the dearth of meaningful action from Congress, especially on issues that are the foundation of our nation’s economic health,” Chambliss said.

He added, “The debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst and, sadly, I don’t see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon. For our nation to be strong, for our country to prosper, we cannot continue to play politics with the American economy.”

This post has been updated.

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Comments (26)

Tom70
Posted on January 26, 2013 at 12:53pm
I wouldn’t want to be any part of that snakes den ether

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Turin
Posted on January 26, 2013 at 8:37am
Good riddance.

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toto
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 9:52pm
The last line of article…..Spoken like a true RINO.

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zatzaowe
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 9:33pm
Do you know why all the poorest states are in the south? It’s because of southern reconstruction polices by the Federal Government. The south still is at a disadvantage because the north controls political power. Japan and Germany fared better after war with the USA than southern states. Wonder why unions are distasted in the south. Kids in the south still call northerners yankees yet New York kids don’t know who Johnny Reb is. My point is the south will never forget, the scar is that deep. Now the south is on the rise. It has taken many tears and years, but the democrats have been rejected now southerners are turning from elite republicans. The southern states have industrial and agrarian power, the north has the rust belt. The south has vast energy resources not yet tapped. Already the communist democrats struggle to keep political power. It’s just a matter of time southern conservatives will hold all the cards. God. Guns and the Constitution let freedom ring!!!

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- TAXLORDCOMETH
  Posted on January 26, 2013 at 10:13am
  That nation’s wealth is shifting to the South and Sunbelt states, and this will accelerate as Boomers flee the high taxes and progressive thuggery of Northern states. 90% of all new auto plants in the US have been built in the South since 1990. That is setting the stage for the domination of US politics by the South.
  
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- drs1969
  Posted on January 26, 2013 at 3:13pm
  Southerners’ politiical clout in DC is similar to plantation slaves forming a committee to to speak w/ the plantation owner about living conditions. It’s not much different than 1865.
  Yankees come down south and do nothing but complain about how few gov. services there are. They don’t even have sense enough to connect the lower taxes w/ lower gov. services! They hate living here, but can’t afford to go home and don’t know why. We don’t need any more stupid people here. They will just vote for Socialism, like they did up north. The Dem’s are actually hoping they’ll ‘flip’ Texas this way.
  
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MCLOVINIT
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 6:50pm
Whatever you do, don’t throw a hissy-fit.

Don’t go away mad, just go away!

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mlite9
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 5:40pm
I have known this man since I was a child, from when he was fresh out of law school, newly married and Julianne preggers with their first child. He is a stand-up, honorable man from my home town, and an inspiration to a pudgy red-headed, freckle-faced kid that tall, handsome and red-headed people did exist. Served our church, and our town. He worked hard, and eventually made it to Washington, not to cash in, but to serve his state. But like so many, good intentions go by the wayside gradually in that principality and corruption-infected place in D.C. “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” is just about right, but only in a Hollywood story does the hero win so often. I don’t imagine I’m the only one that hammers him when his votes are questionable, but he knows stuff we don’t.

That said, it is time for him to retire, since he’s gone-along-to-get-along for too long, and that’s the polar opposite of what we need right now. Will the true conservative replacement please stand up?

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- whatsallthisthen
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 6:29pm
  That’s right MLITE9, A conservative is needed, not someone that thinks conservative opposition is the problem in DC. I just don’t hear the repugnants say spending is the problem. If they ever do speak of the DC spending they’re too weak minded to fight!
  
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- Bronx
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 6:47pm
  Sir he is a “RINO” at best and he knew that he couldn’t pull off a win in 2014. Shame on this man he sold out this country and now he’s running with his tail between his legs.
  
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Southernsoul
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 5:38pm
If only we could get the rest of congress to follow suit.

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rochrealtor
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 1:46pm
Good bye, RINO! Oohh…thanks for screwing us all those years.

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GaRockman
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 12:43pm
Saxby has been going wobbly on us lately. I think he knows his future is not looking good so he is getting out. He will vote moderate rest of the way I am afraid.

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Frogdaddy
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 11:26am
He’s already done his damage. Now he’ll ride off into the sunset with a full pension and lifetime benefits while we all suffer from the results of his decision making. His work is done.

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- drs1969
  Posted on January 26, 2013 at 3:18pm
  Since he’s helped bankrupt the nation, I hope he had the good sense to get his retirement funded ‘up front’, or he may out live it!
  
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Cavallo
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 11:19am
A lot of times these people will not seek reelection when they are sure they won’t have a easy time in the primary. He’s likely worried he’d have to spend the majority of his war chest fighting against a Tea Party challenger. Time for a candidate that stands for freedom.

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barber2
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 10:42am
Another one bites the dust. The Democrat Media Character Assassination must be feeling pleased! When you have the Media , you have the people and , thus, the country ! Our radical international Left learned their lesson from another Social Democrat, Hitler ! He knew about the magic of media ! Works every time…

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- barber2
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 10:55am
  Oh, forgot to mention the needed SS types to complete the picture : remember the OWS, SEIU, union mobs closing ports and protesting police and carrying their professionally-made posters ?? Bingo. They also have their international Left Black Bloc/ anarchist friends if the going gets really tough…
  
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- Whatmeworry-never
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 11:05am
  @Barber– That is the reason they are trying to disarm us, that way those mobs have nothing to fear and can run amok creating choas that then the citizens will call out to obama, “Save us oh annointed one.”
  
  Do not disarm, do not comply, resist now or find your self on the end of the Communist fist without any resistance or the ability to resist.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 1:58pm
  WHAT: Agree. Their agenda is so “transparent” to us and yet so devious. Without the help of the media, they would never be able to pull this scam over on the naive young.
  
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ricckky
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 10:40am
Great news for real conservatives—we have to get as many rinos out as we can!!!!

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thebigquad
Posted on January 25, 2013 at 10:36am
Term Limits for ALL! If We The People must have Obamacare, then Obamacare for government employees also!

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 10:45am
  They are always exempt.http://weaselzippers.us/2013/01/25/feinstein-exempts-government-workers-who-guard-members-of-congress-from-assault-weapons-ban/
  
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- barber2
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 10:45am
  Yes. Same for all. Including those suggested gun restrictions and retirement / benefits : if it’s good for the citizens, it is good for the ” elites.” Or time for a ” change” in leadership and the elites ! The hypocrisy is becoming stifling under the Obama/ Bloomberg Big Government types.
  
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- Whatmeworry-never
  Posted on January 25, 2013 at 11:08am
  Amen, thats what I keep chanting, “Good enough for We the people then it’s good enough for You the politician, to include our Dear Leader.”
  
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- drs1969
  Posted on January 26, 2013 at 3:21pm
  Obamacare is term limits for White people.
  
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