No Celebrations Here

Saxby Chambliss won, and with his re-election, the Republicans stave off a filibuster-proof Senate. But you won’t find any celebrations in the American Elephant household. Am I glad Senator Chambliss won? When compared to his opponent, sure. But with the RINOs in the Senate, the Democrats don’t need 60 seats to be filibuster-proof, they are basically already there.

Still, its not the balance of power that leaves me less than inspired with a Chambliss win. My problem is Senator Chambliss himself. Chambliss is hardly a RINO by any standard, but elephants have long memories, and our own party should not be precluded from criticism or reflection. Lest we forget, Saxby Chambliss was one of the Gang of 10 who stabbed all of us Conservatives in the back when Domestic Drilling was a rallying cry for Americans across the country. When we had a winning issue and momentum at our back, it was Chambliss and a few others who sought to torpedo our efforts and surrender to Democrats with a loosely veiled attempt of so-called bipartisanship. Compromise is fine when both sides have merits, but there is no place to compromise when you are right, and there is never a time to compromise your principles.

Don’t let the media fool you.  Vying for the moderate vote is a losing issue.  John McCain’s candidacy proved it.  If you don’t have any core principles or values, then you have nothing.  That lack of principles is why Americans have so little faith in our elected officials and why the Republican Party has lost so much ground.  The time for so-called moderate voices or compromise for the sake of compromise is dead.  That unprincipled pull to the center is what led our country into record deficits, ridiculous bailouts and an utter lack of domestic integrity.  Values and principles are the only way to get us back.

So congrats Senator Chambliss for holding his seat.  Here’s hoping a Domestic-Drilling Supporter and staunch Conservative will take his place in six years.  We are called elephants for a reason… and this is one elephant who won’t forget.