An Irish American for Governor of GA

Subject: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 11:55 AM

Now please, Mudcatters, be on your best behaviour when answering this question!! ;-)

I've been invited to Atlanta to perform for a series of events supporting the gubernatorial campaign of Bill Byrne. It seems Bill is a family history and US Civil War history buff - and he came across my CD and liked it. His campaign manager contacted me out of the blue and invited me to come out over St. Patrick's Day weekend for a series of shows supporting Bill, and as I write this, we have a tentative agreement.

I've seen some of Bill's campaign materials (he's a conservative Republican) but can any of you GA Mudcatters tell me what you've heard about him? Does he have shot at this, or what? What do you like about his message - what do you dislike? Again, please be civil! ;-)

Before I press the "submit" buttin, I'm thinking I oughtta have my head examined inviting political opinion on a music subject!

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 11:57 AM

buttin? buttin??

Before I press the "submit" button I oughtta check my damn spelling!!

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 12:13 PM

... and another ooops; I said Atlanta but I should have said Savannah. Ah, what does a Texan know about GA geography anyway?

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: GUEST,pc
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 12:45 PM

Jed,

According to the logic presented by "sc" in the WTC thread, you are being racist when you describe Bill Byrne as an "Irish American for Governor of GA." According to sc's logic, you are implying that all Irish Americans are running for Governor of GA.

Contrary to what logician sc might think, I know that his/her (sc wants to be known as a gender neutral Mudcatter) logic is false because I am personally acquainted with several Irish Americans who are not running for Governor of GA.

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 12:53 PM

I love Savannah......It's one of the weirdest places in the US. There ain't no describing the place. Steepd deeply in the history of the Old South with a radical twist.......Anyway......

First, Jed, I no longer live there but let me give you an opinion anyway and you can then skip it. The Dems and Repubs are about equally split in Georgia at around 40% with 20% being "other." They tend to send the Republicans to DC and elect the Dems as governors. I don't think they have had a Republican governor in well over a hundred years! The incumbent, Barnes, has developed a "kinglike" image which makes him more vulnerable than most, but the guy has megabucks for campaigning.

The guy who keeps coming up with having the ability to beat Barnes has not announced and for all I know, he won't. His name is Sonny Perdue, a major honcho, and a very effective one, in the Georgia Senate. He was a Democrat who swapped parties in the 90's and actually got by with it and kept his support from his Dem followers. He's about as statesman-like and wholesome as you get and will be a serious threat to Barnes. A general feeling is that Perdue appeals to all, has a great track record, and has no known skeletons.

Byrne has been a commisioner of Cobb County and has gotten himself into hot water on several issues, not the least of which was the gay-bashing fiasco that ended up with a move of an Olympic event out of Cobb and left Cobb with NO event. He wasn't the originator of the problem, but his efforts to fix it didn't help his reputation. He's had a few other things too but is always willing to open his mouth, often at the wrong time. You DO however always know where he stands.

Go play the gig man........Does it matter whether the guy wins or not? I think he's probably an OK kinda' guy but hasn't always been politically too swift and relies on his reputation of "telling it like it is" to gain support.

Spaw

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: Fortunato
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 12:53 PM

Hey Jed, you flushed out a mighty weird one there. (Guestpc). Having been a musician here in DC where politics are standard, if sour, fare. I can tell you that the money is green no matter which party hands it out. Unless you are STAR they just want your music not your endorsement. IMHOP. Any tacit, or unintended, endorsement by playing at there affairs is short-lived, 5 minutes and 50 feet. Just remember to cash the check RIGHT AWAY!

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 01:01 PM

Yeah, Jed, you still have a place to sleep when you come this way..........LOL. I keep telling you folks that I am trying to get out of politics after over a quarter century............hell, some of my best friends are Republicans.

Mr. Byrne is a conservative Republican. I did a quick check and he is known to be an honorable man. He is one of five candidates running against the incumbent Democratic Governor. There are 3 Republicans, 1 Green, and 1 Liberatarian. Among the Republicans, he is probably the favorite. He is up against a former State Senator (Sonny Perdue), and the current Education Director (Linda Schrenko?) who is known to be a moderate. It appears to me that he has the edge among the Republicans, but watch Schrenko. She will be strong among the moderate women. There is a good chance that he will be the candidate against the incumbent.

Can he win against the incumbent? I wasn't able to find any polling as to how he would fare. But he is a real candidate, and appears to be very viable.

Mick

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: GUEST,hrothgar
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:49 PM

Just warn him not to attend any Sherman family reunions.

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 10:47 PM

So whaddaya' gonna' do there Ace?

Spaw

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: JedMarum
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 10:57 PM

I'll take the gigs. It looks pretty good, and they've odne their homework on the venues and all - and have threatened to make a worthwhile offer. I suspect it all go according to plan.

They've taken quiet a shine to The Fighting Tigers of Ireland song, and have discussed using it as a melody for a campaign song. That sounds OK to me, too - we'll see if at all turns out though. They seem to be pretty nice folks to deal with, so I am hopeful things will go well.

Going to GA for St Pat's Day weekend, though is a sacrifce for the folks back in Dallas. I had been working on a few bookings for Eammons Kitchen but nothing had solidified yet - my going to Savannah means they work the weekend without me back in Dallas.

Anyway - thanks all for the comments. I don't understand the Sherman family comment though? I mean I understand the reference, but what has that got to do with Byrne?

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 11:10 PM

Jed, I think it was just a vague reference to the antipathy still somewhat felt toward Sherman down there. The march to the sea began in Atlanta and ended in Savannah, although the worst destruction occured afterr they headed into South Carolina. BTW, I in Sherman's hometown, well Lancaster actually (6 miles). Nice restored family home and museum there to both "Cump" and his brother Matt, author of the "Sherman Anti-Trust Act."

Spaw

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 11:13 PM

Should be "I live" near Sherman's hometown......My typos are unbelievable and I ain't worth a damn pruuffreeding.

Spaw

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: DougR
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 11:25 PM

Jed: I realize you probably know this, but since it's a political gig, get the money upfront. Doesn't matter who the candidate is, or which party he/she represents. Get the money first, and since you will be in demand in Dallas, and would suffer a loss of income from Dallas gigs, were you not to be paid for the GA gig, get it early.

My advice anyway.

DougR

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 11:31 PM

A conservative Republican from the south ... is a Democrate ... anywhere else.

............Take the gig.
......................... Musicians are whores.
We will let anyone dance as long as they are paying the piper.

pissSpaw....the only intelligent thing you've posted in the last 365 days....unbelievable and I ain't worth a damn

Amen, say it again brother!!!

Subject: RE: An Irish American for Governor of GA
From: paddymac
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 12:22 AM

Savannah is a nice town, and there's a pretty high "Irish quotient" there. Be sure to visit "Kevin Barry's". Nice people, too.