Fox 5 Democratic Governor's Debate

If you don't want to read about the whole debate itself, simply scroll to the bottom of the page; my simple analysis is in blue at the very end. If you're deeply interested, then I went step by step through the whole hour. Enjoy!

If you were looking for game changer, I'm not sure you got what you wanted...

But if you were looking for an awesome drinking game, you should have taken a shot every time Thurbert Baker said "BINGO"!

Roy Barnes was the most noticeable candidate, mainly because he wearing a white suit, while the others were in black. He started out with the first question about Georgia's budget situation. He suggested suspending some special interest tax breaks. Only to be followed up by General Poythress, calling for a full repeal of those tax breaks. Thurbert Baker sounded like a politician in his answer, thanking Fox 5, using phrases like "lots of things" and vague answers. But there was no question that the winner of the first question was Dubose Porter. He showed an unbelievably impressive grasp of the issues dealing with sales taxes and uncollected revenue.

Candidates were also asked individual questions:

*About the budget and jobs situation, Poythress pledges to TAKE NO PAYCHECK until the state's unemployment rate is below 7% (I think this is a very honorable pledge)

*About his BINGO program, Baker had to be repeatedly asked if it was regressive tax, affecting low income families who play the lottery the most...and still managed not to answer

*About education being a long term solution to a short term job problem, Dubose Porter listed many industries (wood chips, pellets, and passenger rails) that could help with the short term problems

*About Democrats having difficulty winning in Georgia, Barnes called the state maybe "purple" or even "pink", said it would be more about message than party, and reinforced his disdain for "nuts" on both sides of the ideological spectrum

The second question addressed to all candidates was about flexibility in education funding at the local level. General Poythress spelled out a pretty good (though a bit off topic) answer about having more flexibility in the classroom and to stop blaming teachers for everything. Thurbert Baker again offered a big picture answer, including his BINGO plan while talking about the state has failed to adequately fund school systems as they should. And he is right, but there was no fundamental answer in his "answer." Mr. Porter gave a very specific answer including things that could be done AND be funded, including a very good idea about partnering 11th/12th grade students with community colleges. Governor Barnes took a hard line against having 162 day school years, against having huge class sizes and insisted that the number one responsibility of the state is to FUND EDUCATION, though there must some flexibility at the local level.

Another round of individual questions:

*About trailing Governor Barnes in the black community and about the Genarlow Wilson case, Thurbert Baker said his job is to "follow the law" and did not admit to regretting anything. He went on to speak about taking on Governor Barnes and comparing it to "David versus Goliath." Again, he avoided the heart of the question.

*About commuter rail and how it would be done, Porter said "you've got to have it go where they want them to go." He offered up de-committing motor fuel taxes from specifically going to motor fuel and applying them to all transportation purposes (specifically the "fourth penny" of the tax)

*About losing (mainly due to teachers) in November of 2002, Governor Barnes doubled down on his assertion that his ideas were not wrong, but his failure to explain them or listen to those speaking out was

*About why he was running again this year, General Poythress emphasized the need for real "leadership"

A viewer question was directed to all the candidates about school funding being based on local sales taxes and the inability of a governor to guarantee no furloughs, etc. Baker again reiterated that states must continue to fund education as the highest priority, using his BINGO plan as an example. Again. Porter explained his Salary Protection Act, putting a firewall around education and teachers, while Barnes and Poythress stuck together, making sure viewers knew that while schools are funded locally, teachers are funded by the state, and full funding must be reinstated.

Individually:

*About experience in the state's government but no executive experience, Dubose Porter rattled off his impressive credentials, 28 years legislative experience, Zell Miller's floor leader and the such, but seemed to get a little too in the trenches for me... "the subcommittee on appropriations on the appropriations committee", etc.

*About what some have called "pie in the sky" promises, Governor Barnes continued to remind voters that he has held this office before, and been told a multitude of times that something couldn't be done...and then got it done anyway

*About why he was trailing even though he's held state office many years, Baker continued to talk above the level of the debate and without specificity

*About stringent water conservation, Poythress revealed himself as a true conservationist with the highest priority (in my view) out of any of the candidates about the state's water problem

The other viewer questions were about illegal immigration, which all four candidates addressed as a federal issue over which the state doesn't have much control, and about lifting Sunday alcohol sales bans, and again all four stuck together saying that the issue was local and should be voted on.

If you wanted to watch the most interesting part, it would have been the LIGHTENING ROUND. One question posed to every candidate, with 15 seconds to respond:

1. Should illegal immigrants be allowed to attend state colleges and universities?

Baker- Immigration is a federal problem (a.k.a., he AGAIN didn't answer the question)

Porter- No

Barnes- No

Poythress- Not the Board of Regents' job, but if their status is known, no

2. Do you support offshore drilling off the Georgia coast?

Porter- No. Supports wind, solar, woodchips, etc.

Barnes- Would need safety assurances, but generally do support drilling

Poythress- Not "absolutely" no, but would need assurances for tourism's sake

Baker- Moratorium should remain in place until we've been reassured

3. On the issue of public/state funding for MARTA

Barnes- Yes, public funding from a state source but also regional sales taxes for transportation

Poythress- Yes

Baker- Yes

Porter- MARTA needs flexibility with their "own money"

4. On changing HOV lanes to toll lanes

Poythress- Not opposed in principle, would try it

Baker- "Take a hard look" at it

Porter- No, because it hurts working people

Barnes- Like Poythress, give it a shot

5. Name one Georgia Republican you admire

Baker- Johnny Isakson...he called him bipartisan. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see it

Porter- Asked living or dead, rattle off some none-Georgians, then named David Ralston

Barnes- Deceased: Paul Coverdale. Alive: David Ralston, Billy Ray, Nathan Deal's son...

Poythress- Finished with Johnny Isakson also...I just don't get it?

6. If you weren't running, which candidate would you support?

Porter- Said it wasn't a fair question because he is running, and it drew a laugh

Barnes- Demurred on the question also

Poythress- He said he was "punting as well"

Baker- Gave another politician's answer, which included a reference to his BINGO plan

They ended the debate with 3 more questions, addressed to all the candidates. The first was about regional votes for transportation taxes. Dubose reiterated his re-committment of the 4th penny plan to all transportation, Barnes advocated "light rail" in the Atlanta region and passenger rail too, but a "corridor" system elsewhere. A bit off topic. Poythress seemed skeptical about the practicality of the system for the whole state, outside of Atlanta, while Baker said that the we "must" have a statewide transportation plan. The second question was about whether there should be another federal stimulus to help out the states. Barnes said that there may need to be some kind of specific federal stimulus to the states for education, but not another whole package. Poythress and Baker said no, and that we should maximize the money we haven't even utilized yet. And Dubose Porter said that we need not become dependent on federal funding. The last question was about the burden Medicaid would put on the state due to new healthcare law. All four candidates were in agreement that the law needs to be felt out until 2014 when it takes hold, but that the state would not be able to bear the burden of a drastic increase.

ANALYSIS

If you scrolled all the way down here, I don't blame you at all. I would've only looked at the lightening round. It was the most fun. David Poythress needed a really strong showing to improve his name recognition and I'm not sure that he did it. He really did set himself apart in my opinion, focusing on issues of water and conservation, and emphasizing that everything in education CANNOT be blamed on teachers. They already carry a huge burden. He did a good job, but it wasn't election altering. Thurbert Baker. I seriously had a problem with. He barely answered any questions, he sounded like a politician running for national office and seemed to have his head in the clouds the whole hour. I think he may have actually hurt himself with people who were looking for specific solutions to the state's problems. Dubose Porter showed that with his 28 years of legislative experience he has developed a truly magnificent grasp of specific issues ranging from education to uncollected sales taxes. I think he may have helped himself the most of all the candidates on stage. People needed to see him and know who he is. He has done a lot of good work for this state, but a lot of it is unnoticed by those not in his district. I think he may get a good bump from this. He at least deserves to. I think Mr. Porter won the debate on specifics. But your overall winner by default? Roy Barnes. How? By not losing. He needs to make it through the next nine days without slipping up and saying something arrogant or egregious, and he managed to coast through this debate just fine. Can one of the other candidates take him to a runoff? I think there's a greater chance now than before, depending on how many people watched and how many people will watch the last two (On WSB-TV or GPB). But he didn't do anything to de-throne himself. And I'd call that a win in my book.