On Mudslinging
I have had my eyes opened. The last campaign I was involved with was the Governor's race in GA when we were able to place Sonny Purdue in office. My job was different in that campaign. First, I was a minor functionary who worked in the statistical area. Second, I was somewhat insulated from the backroom "Strategery" meetings that were held. Other than knowing that Bobby Kahn was the devil himself, I really had no idea what went on, or went into the negative campaign efforts.
An indisputable fact: Negative works, and is absolutely necessary to unseat an incumbent. It is crap-rotten, unseemly and downright nasty politics. All candidates use it, hopefully to open the eyes of the voters who blindly plod along not knowing anything other than "he's my cousin" or "ain't never done anything to me."
Another fact: If it's true, it isn't mudslinging. In a local race in which I have been involved as a supporter, we have records obtained through the open records act and other records previously obtained the same way. When questions were asked of the "other" candidate based on these records, It was characterized as lies, unproven allegations and yes, you guessed it...mudslinging. If I were the other candidate, I guess I may have done the same thing. It sure beats answering questions for which I had no answers. Both candidates always seek to stay above the fray and allow their surrogates to sling the mud for them. Lord, it has been bloody. My candidate has been on the receiving end of absolutely baseless allegations that questioned his integrity, his record of service and his motivation. No records, no facts. Just throw it against the wall and see if it will stick. I remember a noted defense lawyer telling me once that if he had the law on his side, he would hammer on the law. If he had the facts on his side, he would hammer on the facts. If he had neither on his side, he would hammer on the cops. I believe the other side in this race listened to him as well.
Will it ever change? I doubt it. In spite of all the hand-wringing about hating negative campaigning, either side will not hesitate to do it if they feel they have the truth on their side. What I find sad is when it's done just for the sake of doing it. I can tell you this. This is the last time I put a dog in the fight. My dog deserves better.
Michael
4:47 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
I guess you weren't too involved since it was "Perdue" and "Roger" Kahn.
Bill Thrasher
4:58 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Sorry for misspelling of Sonny's name but Bobby Kahn was Roy Barnes lightning rod and hatchet man. Thanks for your input
CLUBFV
5:38 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
looks like Michael tried to zap you and he ended up zapping himself LOL
Jesse Geise
7:04 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hey Bill God bless you brother hang in there. Unfortunately its a very nasty and dirty business and those whose are patriots and go in with good intentions come out of it heart broken. There is a silver lining and that is Ted Cruz won in Texas with little money and a great deal of gras roots participation that beat the establishment republican candidate. Our consersative tent needs to stay focused on the big prize and thats making both houses conservative and booting Obama out. God willing when that happens we keep their feet to the fire. God bless you all have a safe and positive week.
Bill Thrasher
9:58 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Thank you Jesse. And thank you for the job you do everyday.
Homer Fair
9:43 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Mr Thrasher, I very rarely ever post on any site, but I read and pay attention. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but from what I've read from you on this site and one other in particular, what I see in your remarks about the Sheriff's Office is a disgruntled, pissed off, former employee who is just whining and crying. By your own admission, you don't even live in Bartow, and even though you might be able see the county line from your house, you didn't have a "dog" in the fight. to begin with, unless your "Dog" (your word) promised you something in return. If that is in deed the case sir, so much for integrity first, and you still have no business running your mouth in or about our county. How about this, I promise not to come to Floyd County and butt in to Floyd County politics, that have nothing to do with me, if you will stay the hell out of Bartow County politics from now on.
You sir are no idiot, I know that, but but but, you are a loud mouthed busybody. Not mentioning any names, but why don't you talk your buddy DP into moving to Floyd County with you? Come on, what do say? I know we would be better off here.
p.s. What happened to your radio show? Just asking.
Homer Fair
11:02 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
I don't think I ever heard any malicious statement from Sheriff Millsap about Mr Knowles. The malicious comments were coming from the Knowles supporters. Now, I am aware of the questions about the credit card. The problem is , when Sheriff Millsap answered the question the first time , he admitted he knew nothing about it, but stated he would find out what actually happened. When he checked into it, he explained the charge. Most people in the county, based on voter turn out, believed and accepted the word of a man who has been honorable while in office. The people who wouldn't accept the explanation, are the people who already had a problem with the Sheriff. I geuss I can't figure out why it was fine for Knowles supporters to use every outlet possible to trash the Sheriff and make baseless allegations, especially on another site, but it was not ok for Millsap supporters to say anything bad about Knowles. To be honest with you, I didn't hear any Knowles bashing, really.
Mr Knowles did offend me by his statements about his military service. He stated his job as a drummer in the band was as every bit as important as my grandfather's job, who fought in WW2 and survived the beaches of Normandy, or my fathers job, who fought in Vietnam. I'm sure Mr Knowles and his band served a purpous, and I commend him on his service. Admittedly, I didn't serve in any form, but I'm sorry, being in an area near a war zone is entirely different than actually fighting in a war zone. Just Sayin
Homer Fair
11:08 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
It is and definitely was Mudslinging Mr Thrasher. Might have been the difference in the race, but I doubt it.
Bill Thrasher
3:55 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
It made no difference really. Sheriff Millsap did a great job of getting out the vote.
Jesse Geise
7:37 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Hey thanks Bill, I appreciate the kind comment. Plus you know what we deal with LOL, and I'm on night shift now and love it. Take care brother and God bless you.
Bill Thrasher
3:53 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Mr. Fair. I actually did have a dog in the fight and my dog got whipped by a bigger dog. That part is now history. Obviously, you have no idea what turned me from being an ardent Millsap supporter into an ardent (but ineffective) Knowles supporter and that shall remain between Sheriff Millsap and myself. As far as your personal comments about my character, you may believe what you will. I can assure you that I was not disgruntled as I was treated very well until my day of retirement by Sheriff MIllsap. Also, I would defy you to state one thing that **I** said that would be mudslinging. And a challenge to you as well. Use your real name. This is not Topix. I find the bravado of those using screen names is far more pronounced than those who travel under their real colors. I also can tell you are not an idiot, but I do have to question your spine. As far as keeping my nose out of Bartow. I shop Bartow, I pay taxes in Bartow (all taxes) and I support Bartow. My punishment is that I can't vote Bartow because of where I live. As far as being a "loud mouthed busybody", I would invite you to look at your own anonymous comments. As far as my radio show. Ask Tommy Young. I agreed to six months. I met my committment and simply ran out of gas. WYXC is a great place to be...for a younger man
Homer Fair
9:33 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Sorry it took me so long to respond. Mr Thrasher. My real name is Homer Fair. My great grandfather changed it from Fairchild to fair because he was an uneducated man and Fair was easier to spell. I know, its just five more letters but, I couldn't tell you what he was thinking, it was way before my time. Now, where Homer came from, I couldn't tell you. My birth name is Lanier, but my family and friends have called me Homer my whole life, or at least as long as I can remember. So, that being said, as odd as my name is, I am very proud to travelling under my "True Colors". I don't post on topix, too many idiots, just sayin'. If you question my spine because I have a funny or silly sounding name, so be it.
Homer Fair
9:48 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
I don't pretend to know your situation with Sheriff Millsap, but I do read and pay attention. You went from a proud and loud supporter to Knowles band wagon driver first class, but would not reveal the reason for the change. That's fine, but you have to realize, when you don't share, it's open season for speculation and assumption, (I know I know, ass u me).
Sheriff Millsap has always been honest with me and I have never had a problem with any deputy here. Now, I'm sure there are problems there just like anywhere. I have a cousin who works at the BCSO. His father retired from there. I'm sure you would know them both, they know you and have good things to say about you. Both love the department and both were very hurt by the false statements made and the crazy, stupid accusations made with no proof what so ever.
When I read your post, the first thing to come to mind was all the comments made by all the disgruntled former employees and people who have been in trouble or have had loved ones in trouble, and have a bone to pick, and made things up to make themselves feel better. If that is not the instance with you, great but, when you don't share your experience, and you have bad things to say like some of the others who post without proof, you have to understand, it all sounds the same.
Homer Fair
10:24 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
When I say disguntled former employees, I mean former empoyees who are former because of stupid things they did to make themselves former. I'm sure you know of them, one in particular in which you happened to be close when it happened. I won't go any further with this, but to this day, he still blames the sheriff for what he (former employee) did.
Another couldn't help herself, she always had to stir things up and spread lies and rumors. When it finally caught up with her, she lost her job and guess what, it was the sheriff's fault. Another had "family problems" and made some stupid threats to his spouse and got locked up and fired. Again, guess what, it was the sheriff's fault. Yet another, this one hasn't trashed the sheriff, but everyone else blames the sheriff because the former employee in question took money. Now this one is interesting to me. He took the money, admitted to the crime, was prosecuted and served time in federal prison, but according to others, it was the sheriff's fault.
Now, all that said. All these people backed Mr. Knowles, then out the blue, along comes Mr Thrasher. I'm sorry if the conclusion I reached was wrong but, you have to see where that conclusion could be reached.
Katherine M
3:19 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Bill I'm sure you would agree this is not mudslining because it's true.
Bad news for Steve Taylor - I know he hoped no one would see this, but he is being backed by the radical leftwing Obama-loving AFL-CIO labor union. Here's a copy of the endorsement letter: http://www.aflcio.georgiacontrarian.com/
Bill Thrasher
3:42 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Katherine...I stick with my statement. That however, does not mean that the truth is not inconvenient. I stuck with that in the last campaign and was pilloried by those who either were not knowledgeable of the goings-on, were totally coopted, or were somehow involved. I would also point out that it did absolutely no good :)
Bill Thrasher
9:13 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
Mr Fair, First, I apologize for thinking you were using a nom de' plume. Second, if I were to to tell the reasons that the Sheriff and I had parting of the ways, it would only seem like sour grapes, baseless allegations, rumors and lies (just like the campaign :)) I can tell you that it didn't happen until I left the office after retirement. I can also say that I understand why the Sheriff engenders so much loyalty from within. It's because he treats his employees well. The issues that were raised in the campaign, in my opinion, were legitimate issues that should have been vetted. The Sheriff's side did a good job of dismissing them as baseless allegations, lies and rumors from disgruntled former employees. I am not a disgruntled former employee. Actually, I am a "gruntled" retired Deputy Sheriff who thoroughly enjoyed my service with the Sheriff's Office with a few exceptions at the hands of wrong-doers, i.e. wrecks, fights, injury etc. I was recently at a training session and one of the Sheriff's command staff members was also present. This particular member provided inside information to us throughout the campaign (for all the good it did). In my opinion, as soon as it became clear in this person's mind that our side could not win, a complete backflip occured--and when I tried to shake the person's hand afterward, this person walked off. I find that despicable (more)
Bill Thrasher
9:18 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
But having said all the above, our side lost, and lost convincingly. Let me say that I truly regret having got off on the wrong foot in our initial dialogue. I am truly not a bad person, and it's now even more apparent to me that you are not either. Maybe, just maybe, some of the issues that Mr. Knowles raised will be dealt with by the Sheriff. If he does that, the BCSO can be a better place for all the citizens (and half-citizens) of Bartow County. Good luck to you Sir