Some Thoughts on Outgoing Senator Saxby Chambliss

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2 min read

Last updated September 28, 2026

By Homer Scarborough from the Checkerboard Gang

Senator Chambliss shares some thoughts about his career in politics, leaving out how he got his Senate seat.

I read an interesting article from The Telegraph & macon.com by outgoing Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss, called “This I Know.”  Chambliss did not seek election to a third term in the U. S. Senate. He will be replaced by Republican David Perdue, who won out over Democrat Michelle Nunn this past November. I applaud his willingness to be nonpartisan on issues at times during his time in Congress. In this day and time it is, indeed, a rarity. I do not doubt that Senator Chambliss made some contributions that were worthwhile during his tenure in the Congress.

Despite the above, I still have a problem with forgetting how Chambliss originally got to the Senate in the 2002 election by blasting his Democratic opponent, incumbent Georgia Senator Max Cleland, and questioning Cleland’s patriotism and willingness to defend his country. Cleland, who served in the military, and obtained the rank of Captain, was a war hero, having been awarded the silver and bronze stars for valorous action in combat, and had lost an arm and two legs on the field of battle in Vietnam. Before running for and winning a seat in the U. S. Senate, Max Cleland had also served as the Administrator of the Veterans Administration under President Jimmy Carter and 2 terms in the Georgia State Senate. This war hero and military veteran is the man that Chambliss said was weak on defense. However, in the frenzy of post 9-11, the voters in Georgia bought it. To my way of thinking this was not a day to be proud of in Georgia politics, and I suspect, if the truth be known, it is something that the retiring senator had rather forget, at least we hope so.

Even Republican Senator John McCain said of the political ads used by Chambliss to defeat Cleland in the 2002 election as “I’d never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield — it’s worse than disgraceful. It’s reprehensible.” Chambliss never served in the military in any form, not active duty, national guard or reserves. Nuff’ said about that. However, for more information on the 2002 election see http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/23/1163626/-GA-Sen-Don-t-Applaud-Saxby-Chambliss-R#

I are not saying that he did not make some good decisions in his representation of Georgia in both the U. S. House, while he was there, and the U. S. Senate. Therefore, I do sincerely wish him well in whatever endeavor he chooses to follow now.