THE FLAGGING.....Russ Huffman and I met at Jeaneane's shortly 11am to secure a premium parking spot visible to the site of the "rally" as Perdue's website called it....then we mosied inside to have a good lunch after securing a parking spot in the shade for Russ' four legged assistants, The Black Flaggers. See their photo below.

After we ate lunch (the catfish and the country fried steak at Jeaneane's were Excellent!), we went outside and got Russ an even better parking spot, then secured the Black Flaggers at a good location in the shade of the trees in the median, then got out our lawn chairs to watch as Perdue's Posse, AKA Sonny's Sycophants, began to assemble. A few of them were eyeing us nervously. Heh heh heh.

Shortly before the 12:30 appointed time, we decided the assembly had settled on the spot (with a lectern & mic/sound system), we decided to unveil our position. Russ unfurled a 3x5 '56 flag and stood it in the cargo area of his pickup. We positioned a SONNY LIED sign in his passenger side window, then got out our flags and SONNY LIED signs.

One of Sonny's sycophants started littering the median with SONNY signs. As he came near us, we asked is he had any extra stands so we could put up a few more of our signs. "No" was the answer. It would have been hilarious to have about 50 SONNY LIED signs with stands, but...we didn't.

As the assembly grew restless with breathless anticipation, Bud Cranford arrived with his loud Harley and brought out his flag.

Russ was wearing his Jesus sandles and thus decided that he needed to cross the street to mingle with the sinners. Bud eventually joined him and I stayed on the median sidewalk to keep an eye on the black flaggers...though they were fairly non-chalant about the whole thing. Russ and Bud paced back and forth between assembled Perdue Posse engaging them in conversation.

The LIAR-Mobile turned the corner at Second and Mulberry and tooted it's horn as the assembled sycophants inhaled with excitement. Then he rolled up to the designated spot and parked in the street...reducing the open lanes to one and slowing traffic.

Russ and Bud were standing near the door to the restaurant (where we understood the party was going to eat after the rally). Russ was telling all the folks that the catfish was especially good today.

Bud and Russ were trying to crowd in closer to the Gov when a Macon Police officer and two of Perdue's body guards asked Bud and Russ to step across the street to the median. Russ pointed out that there were other people on the sidewalk and that it wasn't right. The officer said, "I know, but just please move." Asked so nicely, Russ decided to comply ....slowly....holding his sign for visibility of the cameras and the Liar.

Bud on the other hand whipped out his notebook in which he had a printed 8x10 photograph of himself holding a '56 flag standing with the Liar. [Sidebar: Bud, James Bruce & Jim Wood had flagged Perdue just two doors down at 544 Mulberry, the entrance to radio station. Perdue approached them as he exited the building and he posed for a photo with Bud holding a '56 flag in October 2003.]

Bud told the officer that he just wanted to get Perdue to autograph his photo. The bodyguard promised that he'd get Perdue to sign it, but please just stand on the median sidewalk. Bud complied. I suppose we made these guys nervous...like Bud was gonna stab the governor with his sharpie pen.

Perdue was introduced and made a brief speech about all his accomplishments, bla, bla, bla {gag} while from across the street there were the sounds of "Watch Out, folks, his lips are moving" and "I think I see his nose growing" and "Let us vote, Governor" and "Does he have his fingers crossed?" and "Sonny Lied". Then Perdue gave his standard acknowledgement of the flaggers present, how this is a great country, and we should not discourage dissent because the men in Iraq are fighting to defend Freedom of Speech, etc., etc. I suppose we were the Elephant in the Living Room, he had to acknowledge us....and he did a lot of acknowledging at stops all across Georgia this week. They bill it as Perdue's "Campaign Kick-off Tour"...but it more like Perdue's "Hell Week."

When his speech was over, we thought he'd go inside to eat (it's obvious Perdue doesn't skip too many meals) but instead he moved toward the bus. A news lady grabbed him for an interview and I moved to get behind Perdue in the camera's background....then the camera guy suggested to the gov that he turn so the bus was his background. Dang it! But I got the flags and signs in view later. See the photos below.

Meanwhile, Bud reminds the bodyguard about the autograph. The bodyguard goes over and whispers sweet nothings in the Gov's ear and he immediately walks toward the middle of the road to meet Bud. The bodyguards move in close keeping an eye on Bud's sharpie pen...the first lady and the Gov's son move in and grin like possums eating persimmons. Maybe Mrs. Perdue flashed back to Sonny's glory days as the Warner Robins quarterback?

Anyhow, Bud got his picture signed and said, "Governor, if you'd just let us have a fair flag vote, then we'd be working for you instead of against you." Not sure if the news camera will edit that out or let it play. As you can see from the photo below, the news camera had to get the photographer in the background holding two flags (mine & Bud's) and a SONNY LIED sign. Then Sonny, retreated to his bus and the Liar-Mobile moved on.

Several Republican acquaintances came over to chat with us and we kept it civil. As dark storm clouds were approaching, Bud decided to head home since he was on his Harley. Russ and I went inside for a dessert (coconut pie and pineapple upside down cake). It was a worthwhile flagging.

--Steve Scroggins

Click the thumbnail images below to see full size photos.
Photos by Steve Scroggins.

Russ unfurls the flags.	Steve Scroggins holds a better sign	Russ gets the Black Flaggers situated	Bud Cranford arrives with a big grin
Russ decides to go mingle with the sinners	Oops! Looks like they're videoing me photographing them	Russ and Bud mingling with Perdue's Posse and passersby and news cameras	Bud and Russ acting as door greeters
Bud snaps a shot of Russ	The Liar-Mobile turns the corner	LIAR MOBILE	Perdue exploits grandchild for photo op
"Take the kid, Mary, I have flesh to press..."	"Oh, Sonny, tell us another whopper!"	Police and bodyguards ask Bud to move...he pulls out his photo...	Russ sharing the message...
Sharing the message...	Perdue prays for a lie to cover previous lies	Rally at its peak	Perdue's lips are moving, must be lies
Lies still coming out...	Bud reminds bodyguard about his autograph	Perdue signs Bud's photo	"Oh, wait...I thought you were Mark Taylor..."

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