The following is an email Kyle Constable received from Lee Ferrell yesterday in response to the ongoing saga of who in the GOP will challenge Sanford Bishop for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Negative,
I said I would run it by my people and some people that asked me to run again. Then I would pray about it and let him know. In the closing prayer, which was lead by Don Cole, he thanked the Lord that the problem would be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. That is a bald faced lie that I agreed to withdraw for Mike OR him. . I said Dylan Glen was the game changer and I would step aside for Dylan. Then he goes and and posts on 2010 Georgia Race Tracker than he and Mr. Keown are considering running? So, I posted and referenced my announcement at the April 15th Lee County Tea Party being published in the Albany Herald. I’m sure that has probably been removed by now. Then he tells Cyle, I agreed? And Cyle doesn’t even check with me to see if it is true? The Thomasville paper is aware I had a sit down with Mr. Keown and Don Cole in Americus, Sunday but I did not and would not comment on what transpired. Cyle is young, inexperienced and being played like a fiddle. I forgive him but a shot has been fired across my bow and I will respond to the volly. I hearby FORMALLY announce to South West Georgia Politics that I AM running for the 2010 United States House of Representatives, GA 2 and my thanks to Mike Keown and Don Cole for making me THE major player. “Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead” I am not and will not be intimitdated by politicians. Their bullets are metaphorical. I have looked literal death in the eye many times and I am still here. I could care less about a political death. While I am firing vollies; I was offered a position as Mike Keown’s military adviser if I joined his team. That sir, IS an ethics voilation and not permissible by Federal Election Commissions regulations. He could have offered the position unconditionally but not in exchange for political favors, support, aid, assistance or money. That may be why Don Cole thinks I accepted the offer. Now, ask Don how he thinks his ambush turned out?. If Don had been a combat vet he would have remembered; “Your Kill Zone is also My Kill Zone.”DEFENSOR FORTIS
Lee R. Ferrell,
SSGT, USAF, PDRL
Republican Candidate 2010
US Congress, GA 2
Kyle has his own comments on this email, which is certainly worth a read, but I’d like to talk about it from my perspective here.
First, Ferrell says about halfway through this email that ” hearby FORMALLY announce to South West Georgia Politics that I AM running for the 2010 United States House of Representatives, GA 2 and my thanks to Mike Keown and Don Cole for making me THE major player.”
I’ve talked to Tom about this today, and he says he didn’t get this email. Nor did I, and nor did it come through any account associated with SWGAPolitics.com – the only ‘South West Georgia Politics’ Tom and I are aware of. In fact, the first I heard about this email was in Kyle’s post this morning.
As far as being ‘THE major player’, only in his own wet dreams is Lee Ferrell a player of ANY form in this race. Even before I joined the LP, and long before I started this blog, I had never heard of Lee Ferrell, and I’ve lived in the Albany area for 3 years now. When I talked to several friends around town about him, ALL either have never heard of him or describe him as a certifiable nut job whose only campaign issue is the military. This guy lost to Sanford Bishop by a 68.9%-31.1% margin – which is just about what my DOG could pull against Bishop.
I don’t know the story behind most of Ferrell’s other allegations, though I know that Don Cole read and commented on yesterday’s post, and I hope he can offer his perspective here.
What I DO know is that I was at the Lee County Tax Day Tea Party, and when I heard Ferrell announce his candidacy my honest reaction was ‘oh no, not this idiot again’. I have been at several other meetings where Ferrell was present, and nothing has yet made any slight indication that maybe he isn’t the absolute imbecile I see him as. Furthermore, Ferrell says that “I posted and referenced my announcement at the April 15th Lee County Tea Party being published in the Albany Herald. I’m sure that has probably been removed by now.” Thing is, after an extremely cursory search of the Albany Herald’s website using the date range April 14-16, 2009 and the word ‘tax’, I came across this article, which I assume is the one he references that mentioned him and his candidacy.
Furthermore, Ferrell states “Cyle is young, inexperienced and being played like a fiddle. I forgive him but a shot has been fired across my bow and I will respond to the volly.” Kyle may be young, and he may be inexperienced – I personally think he is more savvy than Ferrell at this point, but that is beyond the discussion at the moment – but he is also learning rapidly, and we all have to start somewhere. Hell, I didn’t start doing this until fairly recently – this blog was started almost exactly 6 months ago today – and Kyle is off to a better start than I was back then – and he’s nearly a decade younger than me.
But more to the point, Ferrell describes Kyle’s post yesterday as a ‘shot fired across my bow’ and vows that he ‘will respond to the volley’. So this is a nearly 60 year old man taking on a person he basically admits is a kid. Yeah, like THAT’s something to be proud of.
Let me put this as directly as I can to you, Mr. Ferrell:
I thought you were an idiot BEFORE I got involved in politics, and nothing has changed. I will not support you in any way, and indeed, I would rather see Bishop win than you – something every person reading this should know I do not say lightly.
You considered Kyle’s post a ‘shot across [your] bow’?
Consider this a nuclear tipped Tomahawk cruise missile aimed squarely at your waterline.
This entire discussion is way out of line. For someone to call another person names is quite frankly, child’s play. All parties involved need to stay focused on what is at stake here – our State, our Country and our freedom. Primaries are held for the people to choose the candidate they see most suitable. Why are some considering a run but yet, they refuse to announce their candidacy publicly? That right there should be of concern. Get your name out there, state your case and may the best man win. Stop with the accusations, rumors and hateful name calling. The American people are fed up and if Sanford Bishop is to be beaten, now would be the time for that. As for Kyle, I congratulate him on his active role in the political arena however, sources should be checked before stories are posted. I hope that this whole situation is resolved and that we can move forward with a viable, conservative, well informed candidate for Congress in the 2nd District.
Jeff, I must say that you are much braver than I am when it comes to stating the situation as it is. I completely agree with everything you said about Ferrell and I appreciate your very kind comments about me. I also think you might find this interesting, my friend who is very involved with the military told me this, “Do you have a copy of your original E-mail? Also R/SSgt Ferrell is in violation by making reference to himself as
Lee R. Ferrell,
SSGT, USAF, PDRL
When in fact he is retired. I would like to investigate this as a valid representative of U.S.A.F interests.”
I will let you know if anything comes of this!
Also, the email was only sent to nine people, all Republicans (as far as I know) that support him here in the 2nd Congressional District.
.-= Kyle Constable´s last blog ..Lee Ferrell on the Attack =-.
One thing we will promise is to report what information we have with integrity, honesty, and as Libertarians, an outsider’s eye towards keeping our politicians and appointed officials honest.
Quote from about us on your home page.
Where is your integrity ?
Jane, you asked a question and I wanted to offer an answer. Your question was, “Why are some considering a run but yet, they refuse to announce their candidacy publicly?”
The key word is “considering.” This is a big decision not to be taken lightly or made without a lot of thought and prayer. We rightly chastise members of congress for acting on bills that they have never read. In other words, they make decisions without being informed and thinking through the ramifications of their decisions.
A desirable trait in a candidate is one of thoughtful evaluation and counting the cost before making decisions. That is what I am doing. I hope that this helps to answer your question.
Thank you for your observations and question. I appreciate you taking the time to write.
Don Cole
Tom,
I gave my honest opinion of the man without hiding behind PC pleasantries and bullshit. I never once promised to be ‘nice’ – and I never will. I WILL be as honest as I possibly can in everything I write here, and if it turns out I am wrong on anything I will be the first to admit it.
For the record, that “Tom” listed above ain’t me
With all this being said Mike Koewn is a level headed, even keeled man. In my opinion he is the best candidate for the job on the Republican side of things. I hope he jumps in because I believe that he is the only hope that Republican’s have for the 2nd District.
Don Cole is a good person, but I do believe that in order to take on Sanford Bishop one has to have some experience in a legislative environment.
Lee Ferrell is a certified nut job. I voted for him before with out really knowing who he was. Basically a vote for the (R) next to his name. I can promise after meeting him at since I will never cast a vote for him again. It may be a tough thing to say but he is the worst candidate that I have ever seen go for office.
Its amazing how you can leave a comment and it is not posted
I agree with Jane. It’s a little early for a knife fight, gentlemen. Please remain focused on the rather formidable task of unseating an incumbent congressman in a district that long ago was written off by national Republicans as being unwinnable. The real goal is taking out Bishop before he and his socialist ilk can do even more damage.
He has a large war chest awaiting a time such as the upcoming election, when his sleepy constituency finally had “enough” and would mobilize against him. This man is incredibly ineffective as a Congressman. Ask yourself these two questions: 1. How many terms has he served? 2. Other than draw a paycheck, what has he done? But, don’t underestimate: Bishop; the strength required to overcome an incumbent; or public apathy.
Bottom Line: I hate to sound so cynical. But, it will take an incredible amount of money to beat Bishop or an unprecedented grass roots effort. Anything short of phenomenal will fail.
Per OpenSecrets.org, Bishop only raised $109,288 so far and only has $223,673 on hand. Hardly chump change, but if he was in the GAGOV field that number would put him ahead of only Barnes, Monds, McBerry, Scott, Porter, and Poythress.
Point being, ‘huge war chest’ is a myth, at least per currently available data. Nothing about challenging Bishop is going to be easy – but nothing worthwhile ever really is.
Jeff, its still early. I don’t think he would have any problems raising funds. But don’t misinterpret my sentiments. I think its doable and worthwhile. I just didn’t want anyone thinking it would be a cake walk. So I think we’re on the same page.
I’ve jousted at windmills myself.
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