5 NOV 08: NEW HEAD, SAME BODY

Talk about an amazing moment in U.S. history! For at least the next four days, two 'Bamas will be ranked number-one in the country - Ala'Bama of college football and O'Bama of politics.

The victory party for Muscogee County Democrats turned out to be bigger than expected Tuesday night. The crowd became too large for the storefront headquarters on Macon Road, and spilled into the parking lot. A few doors down, Kmart could have made some big bucks by holding a sidewalk sale on Barack Obama novelty greeting cards.

(I sent my older brother an Obama greeting card for his birthday in September. The fact that I found it at Wal-Mart should tell you how that department store chain has changed. The fact that Wal-Mart's exclusively selling an AC/DC album simply confirms it.)

But Georgia and Alabama remain firmly Republican, when it comes to presidential politics. John McCain won both states -- but while McCain carried Harris and Troup Counties, Columbus preferred Barack Obama. I think the area from Manchester Expressway to Airport Thruway remains the political demilitarized zone.

And to think some people smelled a sneaky plot in part of Columbus Tuesday, to keep people from voting. To the untrained eye, it looked like something else -- a road paving project....

A statement from the Columbus NAACP says President Bill Madison complained "forcefully" to the mayor and police chief, because a paving project blocked four lanes of traffic around Buena Vista and St. Mary's Roads. Madison says the construction work hindered people from getting to polling places. To him, it may have been a high-tech tarring without the feathering.

The NAACP statement says Bill Madison personally went to the paving site and persuaded Robinson Paving's "inexperienced employees" to help traffic flow better. But the statement also notes Madison wanted the work stopped completely until the polls closed. He hasn't learned the art of the filibuster, as well as Senate Republicans....

Republicans prevailed in the area's two U.S. Senate races. What's that - you only knew about one of them? The Democrats didn't do much in East Alabama, to stop Senator Jeff Sessions from winning another term. Perhaps challenger Vivian Figures's nickname should have been "It."

As of our deadline, Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss was barely holding a majority of the vote in a three-way race. That could mean a runoff in December against Jim Martin - and another windfall for radio and TV stations, from all the extra campaign commercials.

Yet for all the talk about "change" from the presidential candidates, voters didn't want a lot of it below the top of the ticket. All of Georgia's U.S. House members won re-election. So did the three incumbents on Columbus Council who had challengers. That "trickle-down" way of thinking doesn't disappear all at once, you know.

There were exceptions to that rule, of course. A big exception locally was the Muscogee County Sheriff's race, where John Darr defeated Ralph Johnson by about 10,000 votes. Mark LaJoye's effort to gain free publicity through writing this blog apparently didn't work -- but I wouldn't dare pass on that "Idiot of the Week" award he gave me.

We well could have a complete "Law and Order" shakeup, as it appears Julia Slater defeated long-time District Attorney Gray Conger. Slater may not be the only winner here. Bail bonding companies could benefit, as bonds set in Recorder's Court suddenly double and triple.

Julia Slater dominated Gray Conger in Muscogee County, leading there by more than 11,000 votes. So what did the D.A. in? Was it the impact of low bonds, in the Frank Lumpkin III case and others? Was it the way he handled the body of Richard Davis? Or was it the fact that Slater wears her hair in an up-do, like Sarah Palin?

Julia Slater may try some cases before a new Superior Court Judge. Gil McBride defeated Alonza Whitaker, even though Whitaker was backed by outgoing judge Kenneth Followill. At least Whitaker can drown his sorrows in those souvenir water bottles he offered in July, at "Thunder on the Hooch."

Speaking of judges, attorney Stephen Hyles ousted Municipal Court Judge Haywood Turner. Turner didn't help his cause by airing a TV commercial in which he struggled to say a few sentences on-camera. In the era of TV judges like Joe Brown and Greg Mathis, you need more pizzazz than that....

In Russell County, it appears Peggy Martin will keep her seat on the county commission. It also appears Tillman Pugh will return, defeating Gordon Cox. But of course, this IS Alabama - where a big box of absentee ballots could show up on a table today, and change everything.

And did you hear about the Marion County vote on general obligation bonds and a sales tax? It ended in a dead-heat tie - 1,440 votes for it, 1,440 votes against it. There's a good way to settle this tie, and attract tourists at the same time. Get the voters together for a tug-of-war in downtown Buena Vista.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Long before the polls closed Tuesday, a reader expressed concern about a couple of Muscogee County races....

Yesterday as I watched another portable classroom being added at Richards Middle School I could not help but hope all the school board members who voted for that new administration building get defeated..I know who is going to win the Presidental race. Tonight on TV I will be watching to see who becomes our new board members..I think all those running said "I put the kids first."...I sure hope so because the present board has not...

That TV viewer probably went to bed disappointed - because incumbent board members Pat Hugley-Green and James Walker were reelected. Both of them voted for the administration building. So the people have spoken, and they want private third-floor bathrooms.

As it happens, Richard Hyatt's web site reports the Muscogee County School Board is holding a private meeting today on the search for a new superintendent. Let's see - Dr. John Phillips is in his third "interim" month. Isn't it about time for Robin Pennock to have a turn in the job?

We spotted some more election e-mails at our deadline, and we'll get to those Thursday. But now for some final notes from 2008's big day of decision....

+ Which woman in Russell County showed up at a polling place, apparently for the first time - and asked which of the two lines was for Barack Obama voters?

+ Linda Pierce was reelected Muscogee County Superior Court Clerk. If you saw the campaign signs with her picture, you'd understand why. Pierce probably won 96 percent of the vote among single guys.

+ Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr consoled supporters in Cobb County. The former Congressman declared the Libertarians the "party of the future" - before an audience of about 100 people. Even the Columbus Riverdragons drew bigger crowds than that....

+ Instant Message to everyone wondering if I'm worried about a Barack Obama presidency: Now now, calm down. Mr. Obama and I share the same birthday - and now I can take comfort in the fact that sooner or later, my birthday will be a national holiday.

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