GOP Convention Wrap-Up

It wasn't quite the holding of hands and singing Kumbaya, but the 2003 convention was darned near it in love and understanding for fellow Republicans. Quite the change from the 1999 and 2001 conventions, leading us to believe that sometimes, anointments of leadership can be a good thing.

Rumors has it that in the Nominating Committee, each candidate was humorously subjected to the interrogation list of questions provided last week by the Political Vine. Sadie Fields herself thanked a Vine reporter for providing her with "two questions I didn't think of" [to ask candidates].

You'll never guess who showed-up at the John Garst Beer In-A-Bathtub Party to help chug beer and wine. None other than normally holier-than-thou Cobb County Christian Coalition activists Paul Ploener, Dawn Strickland, Lew Stafford, and Frank Molesky.

It is no longer a "rumor" that Rusty Paul is running for Senator Tom Price's seat because Rusty confirmed it with us directly that he will qualify for that seat. State Rep. Tom Campbell is reportedly eyeing that seat as well.

Cobb Countian Craig Dowdy was handing-out some fine-looking push cards advertising his candidacy to claim departing Senator Robert Lamutt's seat. Cobb businessman Shawn Davis has formally announced his candidacy for Senator Chuck Clay's seat. Shawn's Website can be accessed here.

There were some quite diehard flaggers outside the convention arena all day. They are quite the dedicated bunch, suffering through sweltering heat to nicely wave to the cars coming in and out of the Macon Centroplex.

Perhaps we don't get around as much as we should, but we didn't discover that Senator Mike Crotts was running for the 8th Congressional seat (to replace Mac Collins) until we saw his sign in the convention hall. (Not the cleverest form of campaign press release, Mike.)

We have a new U.S. Senate candidate. The man who founded Godfather's Pizza and is currently president of Americans for Fair Taxation, Herman Cain, has initiated an exploratory committee. His Website is Cain for US Senate. More on Cain in later issues.

We're contemplating giving awards for the hospitality rooms with the highest number of calories in the room. Tied for this convention's honor was the chocolate smorgasborg offered-up by the new PAC, Citizens for Common Good and the Lamutt for Congress campaign's baked treats of lemon cakes, chocolate brownies, and German chocolate mini-cupcakes. The CCG may have the edge on food, but Lamutt had the requisite hot coffee available to chase down the sweet.

All in all, a fine time was had by all. In our upcoming regular publication, we will have a transcript of Governor Sonny Perdue's speech at Friday night's dinner, which was a good little roast on himself and the Republican caucuses.
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P U B L I C....S E R V I C E....A N N O U N C E M E N T

For the first time ever, the Special Olympics World Summer Games are being played in a country other than the United States.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Dublin, Ireland June 15-30, 2003. Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) is sending one of the largest delegations with 37 coaches and athletes competing! Vernon Forrest, Welterweight Champion of the World, is the Honorary Captain of Team Georgia. Click here for information on his involvement.

Click here for a roster of Team Georgia.

Special Olympics of Georgia NEEDS YOUR HELP! It is very expensive to send such a large delegation to Ireland for the 10 days that they will be there. They are perilously short on their fundraising due to this being an event that is over and above their regular budget for events here in Georgia and the United States.

All donations are appreciated, but if you could give at the $500 or $2000 level, you and/or your company will be given special recognition in all activities and publications that support the World Summer Games. The $2000 level makes you an official athlete sponsor and makes available to you a visit from one of the World Summer Games athletes!

Please click here to donate now or for more information on the Special Olympics of Georgia and/or donating, e-mail BJ VanGundy or call him at 678-291-0807.

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SOS Sham-Part 3 (AKA "Mark Taylor Will Have A Breezy Primary In 2006")

Last fall, we initiated a couple of investigative stories on the Georgia Secretary of State's office. Part 2 of that series is online at SOS-Sham. Part 1 of the series is archived somewhere. But, let's now turn to Part 3...the more immediate story...

Facts have it that SOS Cathy Cox has admitted that voter data for which her office previously charged BIG bucks for was handed-out FREE to any Democratic candidates or interests. This discovery was made as the result of the big mouth of a Democrat political operative named Steve Anthony.

Anthony was making a presentation a couple of weeks ago to a seminar class at the Kennesaw State Buress Institute of Public Policy when he told the class that "if you know where to go and who to talk to, you can obtain the voter data file without paying."

Well, this was news to Mark Davis, who owns Data Productions, and who had previously plunked-down $6000 two weeks prior to obtain the same data that Anthony and some other Dem operatives had received for free, just because they're all nice and cozy with a down-home Democrat like Cathy Cox.

Davis filed an open records request with Cox's office to discover just how many times Cox had given data away while charging other people for it. His request was met with the response from Cox's Open Records Act Officer, Tom Mishou, that the SOS's office really didn't keep records of how many times they handed out free data or to whom.

PV Puffs On A Pipe: How sweet of Miss Cathy. She is so kind to her fellow corruptors that she offers them free voter data while reaming it to other candidates and interests, namely REPUBLICANS, by charging them beaucoup bucks for the data. We detect the makings of a spontaneous combustion about to erupt in many Dem corners of the state.

Let's look at this, shall we? Attorney General Thurbert Baker cannot investigate this because, based on his record of diving to the defense of Cox before, or downright cuddling-up with her, he was probably one of the beneficiaries of the FREE DATA. And, if he was a beneficiary, then that means he would be in direct violation of the Ethics in Government Act because he accepted a contribution in-kind from a state government entity (voter data has a dollar value). Wonder what the total number of corrupt Demmies received free data...?

So, there is only one entity that should be called-in to investigate: The U.S. Justice Department. The Justice Department is the only entity who can reasonably investigate corruption in state government, especially with this partisan AG we have.

This is bullshit from Cox and her cronies. She's been raking-in dough by unfairly charging some folks for data and not charging others. Who knows how much more crap is buried in the bowels of the SOS's office? Maybe a few million here and a few million there is being quietly pocketed by some folks as well to hide the paper trail of who has and who hasn't received free data over the past 4 years...
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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P U B L I C....S E R V I C E....A N N O U N C E M E N T

The Atlanta Young Republicans kick-off their new meeting place! They will be at the 5 Seasons Brewing Co. at the back of the Prado Shopping Center on Roswell Rd (near the State GOP).

The meeting is on Wednesday, May 28th and will kick off at 7:00 PM with a social; business will begin at 7:30. Our speaker for the evening will be Chris Cummiskey with the Isakson for U.S. Senate campaign. 5 Seasons is providing drink specials for the AYRs and because this is our first meeting at 5 Seasons, the first round for all dues-paid members (members above the age of 21, that is) and members paying that night will be on us!

Topics of discussion will be potential club fund-raisers and our agenda for the upcoming months. The address for 5 Seasons is:

5600 Roswell Rd, Suite 21
Atlanta, GA 30342

Chad Wingate, AYR Chairman
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Storm Warning To Political Activists in Virginia and D.C.

Rumors have it that Ralph Reed is packing-up and moving to D.C. to set-up digs immediately. Speculation is that he may be the candidate to replace Ari Fleischer on July 1 as President' Bush's Press Secretary.

PV Offers The State GOP Some Fundraising Advice: Want to attract some long lost donors? Put out a letter that says "Ralph Reed has left the party. All you folks who said you wouldn't give as long as Ralph was chairman are hereby offically invited back to the fold."