Rumors abound today that U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss has decided to retire at the end of his term in 2014, and not seek reelection.

This Press release was sent out by the Office of Governor Deal:

Office of Communications
(404) 651-7774
Jan. 25, 2013

Deal: “Chambliss a statesman who has led on nation’s priorities.”

Upon the announcement today that U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will not seek a third term, Gov. Nathan Deal praised his service to Georgia.

“Saxby Chambliss’s tenure in the Senate saw tumultuous times for our nation, from wars against terrorists to the fiscal crisis that threatens us today. Representing us, Saxby became an expert and a leader on these most important issues. Having served with Saxby in Washington for many years, I understand the gravitational pull of Georgia soil because I too felt the call of home. Saxby didn’t wake up every morning and stick his finger in the wind; he started each day asking what he can do to ensure his grandchildren inherit a country every bit as great as the one enjoyed by our generation. History will remember Sen. Saxby Chambliss as a great Georgia leader and an American statesman; I will remember him as a friend.”

Who should replace Chambliss?

I could take the time to list all the potential prospects who should run for Saxby’s seat. But, that would be a lengthy process, involving a lot of writing and analysis, and who really needs to read all that to get to the same conclusion I have reached (inside of thirty minutes, no less, but involving approximately 1 million of my active neurons)?

Governor Deal would actually be the best replacement for Senator Chambliss if he would run for it.

While I understand there will be some people whose spitfire response to me will be “What??? What about THIS guy, and what about THAT guy, and what about so-and-so Congressman, and…blah…blah…blah…”

This is my logic: Deal has a VERY unique background in politics that no one else actually has who is a potential candidate: He served in the Georgia State Legislature, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he will have served as the state’s highest executive-level officer for 4 years by the end of 2014.

That is a powerful, political experience-based resume. Most people in the U.S. Senate have ZERO executive-level experience. It is a different brain-skill capability to think as an “executive” as opposed to a “legislator.” That’s just a fact of what happens in the job.

Any U.S. Representative who runs for Saxby’s replacement does NOT have the executive-level experience and knowledge that Nathan Deal has…which would enable Deal to personally be able to consider the impact of federal legislation on a state’s finances and operations.

He has true “hands-on” knowledge in that realm that no one else that I can think of who would be eligible to run for the position has.

This entry was posted by Bill Simon, on Friday, January 25th, 2013 at 3:16 pm and is filed under Federal and Tagged: 2014 Senate Race, Georgia Politics, Governor Nathan Deal, Nathan Deal, Saxby Chambliss
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