Go Mo!

It was a long haul, but Modena made it, and in style, winning the July 15th primary 57% to 43%. Go Mo!

The campaign appears to be on hiatus for a week or two while our candidate and his staff gear up for the right-hand turn that involves taking on Scotty Shepherd and the Republican apparatus. I hear all sorts of rumors, and have little trouble repeating them - they are, after all, rumors. And sometimes I have facts. To wit:

Rumor #1:

"The Republican state senators and representatives - aka Cecil Staton, Allen Freeman, Allen Peake and That Other Guy (I can never remember his name) - are actively pushing to make Bibb County's leadership all Repugnican, so they talked Scotty Shepherd into running and are backing him."

Who knows, but I've heard that one from a few sources now and am giving it credence. Yet another reason that some elections should be nonpartisan. Law Enforcement is not a Democrat or Republican issue - it is an Everyman issue. Trying to manipulate the outcome of a race so that a Republican Sheriff is in office even though he's less qualified than the current Democrat sheriff is. . . well, disgustingly manipulative and frighteningly Republican. Shepherd's campaign disclosures should be interesting. In the meantime, my main squeeze - a wonderful man who has been brought over from the dark side and now votes mostly Democrat - still gets mail from the Republicans. (Sadly, he voted for Bush.) He was the recent recipient of a letter from the Four Horsemen of the Repocalypse encouraging him to Vote Repug. And I'm thinking, That Means Scotty. And Charlie. And Saxby. (Ugh.) We had fun showing the letter around, before one hard-edged Democrat confiscated it and burned it.

Rumor #2:

"Theron Ussery is helping Scotty Shepherd."

In that case, I am no longer sorry I didn't get a chance to vote for him in the Republican primary. Go, Sam, Go!

Fact:

Scotty Shepherd explained why he switched parties, at the Porter Ellis Forum in June. He advised the crowd that the first time he ran, he wanted to be a Republican as his heart directed, but his Obviously In Hindsight Incompetent Campaign Advisors talked him into running as a Democrat. He further advised the crowd that after he lost, and got the fleas off himself, he went where his true heart lay and returned to the Republican Fold. The (who knew it, in SubSouth?) audience of mostly Democrats rightly booed him.

Rumor #3:

"Bill Lucas has yet to formally concede or congratulate his fellow Democrat on the win. He also has yet to promise to bring his support to his fellow Democrat, as is traditional and expected."

No information on that one at all, but Mr. Lucas' retirement from political life seems to be very speedy. He has yet to finish picking up his campaign signs. I offered to dispose of them, but my friend Mary won't let me touch them. She says its bad manners. Someone should mention to Mr. Lucas that it is also bad form to leave your signs up when you don't win. Anyway, his lack of support for his fellow Democrat makes me think two things: 1) he really is in cahoots with Shepherd, or 2) he really hasn't given a whole lot of thought to the idea that the main reason we have Sonny Purdue for our governor lies with the supporters of Cathy Cox. Either that, or he is a sore loser. Given his gracious public demeanor, this surprises me and disappoints me. Once again, Shepherd's campaign disclosures will be interesting. I wonder if the list of donors is alphabetized? Would save me some time.

Enough rumor-mongering! We take a short break from politics, and then we'll be in it again - and yours truly will try to be a better reporter. Go Mo!