THE FLAGGING.....We assembled and set up at the intersection nearest the entrance to North Gate of the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. For whatever reason (could it have been the heat index over 100??), we didn't have the same number of troopers and cars posted for our protection this year as we did in 2004.

NO MEDIA COVERAGE...
We had no media coverage this year as we did the last two years. Can't say that I blame the reporters for just staying inside in the AC...and pretending they didn't notice us. We had the infantry, the cavalry and the air force on the scene, there's NO WAY they could have missed us. Pete Giddens brought his SONNY LIED blimp to share the obvious message (SONNY LIED) with the thousands of cars passing by during our time there. Russ Huffman on his Moto Guzzi represented the cavalry...Bud Cranford was there as dismounted cavalry since his bike is under repair. Several in cars acted as our mobile cavalry keeping flags on display and in motion around the fairgrounds perimeter. I suppose another added benefit to staying in a car was to have an air conditioner. ???

THE PATRIOT CITIZEN CREW...
I'm sure I'll leave some names out but out of the twenty something the North, West and Southwest Georgia folks were represented. Elijah Coleman (Mableton) & Chase, Lum Pettit (Cleveland), Pete Giddens & Don from the South, Jim Wood, James Bruce and his family, Ben Davis, Bud Cranford, Russ Huffman, George Bell & girlfriend, Ralph Carson and me rounded out the middle Georgia regulars and there were a handful whose names I can't remember.

We didn't get a look at Perdue, he flew in on the fowlicopter, but I'm sure he could see us as they made several circles over the area around 1145. We saw at least three helicopters go in...but only one landed and stayed.

THE PROPS...
Lijah brought his large SONNY LIED sign, me and Lum and several others brought our supplies of LUV-SONNY LIED, BOOT PERDUE and SONNY IS A LIAR signs which we posted along the roadway in the area. Lum and I brought extra flags so we had plenty of props. Pete's 5x8 flag on the blimp tether was visible to everyone within a half mile or more.

Someone, we have no idea who, placed some LIAR stickers on a number of the SONNY - Georgia's Governor signs converting them into "SONNY Georgia's LIAR" or "Sonny Georgia's LIAR Governor". Several said that those signs AND stickers were already in place when they arrived around 11am that morning.

SONNY'S BOYS PITCH A HISSIE...
A few of Sonny's goons came around and started having a hissie fit (see the photo of the sticker below). They ripped off the LIAR stickers and then had a few words with Mr. Bruce who gave them back volume for volume. The one who was acting so bad, then backed off and started storming around mumbling and muttering under his breath. When he ripped the stickers off, it peeled off the blue background. Tsk, tsk....such temper. He muttered something to me then started walking off...I turned toward him and he asked me, "Do you have permission to be on this property? It's Jerry Beckham's property." I said, "No, but we're standing here on the public right-of-way." He walked away muttering about "I'll just call the law and see what they can do..." No doubt about it, we got under that fellow's skin.

THE POLICE SHOW UP...
A little while later, around 2:20-2:30 when everyone was packing up to leave, the Perry Police car pulled onto the lot and drove toward my truck where I was putting up my signs and furling my flags. He came up with a friendly "Hey Buddy"....then he asked if I knew anything about stickers being put on their SONNY signs. "No, sir," I answered, "We wouldn't know anything about that." Then Ben Davis and several others came over the join the conversation and told him that the stickers were already there early this morning. Then they told the officer that Sonny's man stole one of our signs. The Perdue campaign had freely given those signs to us and we put our own stickers on them. They stole them. Anyway, the officer was very courteous and professional and he filed his report about the whiney Perdue goons.

BLACK LADY LOVES DIXIE FLAG...
I was standing on the corner waving with my '56 flag and my "Honk for Your Flag" sign (getting lots of honks!!) and a black couple pulls up in a car. I waved. She rolled down the window and I see she has a SONNY sticker on her forehead. She says, "Do you know which way to downtown Perry?" I told that "this road will take you there" motioning to indicate Courtney Hodges Blvd. She said thanks, then added, "You know, about that flag, I grew up with the Dixie flag and nobody said anything about it and nobody thought anything bad about it. It just was. Keep the Dixie flag flying!" that last sentence he raised her fist and let out a whoop that might have been a rebel yell. I said, "Thank you, yall take care." As they drove off, my first thought was "Where was our video man?" and second that I should have said, "I wish you and others would TELL SONNY what you just told me. The Dixie flag bothers no one." This morning when I looked at the Macon Telegraph, there's a photo of that same black woman with the Sonny sticker on her forehead.

REPUBLICAN SHOWS HATRED AND BIGOTRY...
At one point, our video man was standing behind me talking to someone. A large SUV stopped for the traffic signal and lovely blonde woman in her mid 20s looks out the window...and flips me a bird. I smiled, then gestured to indicate "What? I don't understand." She glared and showed me the bird again. I smiled and pointed a her and then with my finger made the circular motion to indicate that she was crazy. She mouthed something and flipped me the finger again. As they drove off, I turned to see where our video man was and he had walked away. Dang! Missed an opportunity to document the hatred and bigotry of certain Republican children. What is it about our presence that bothered her so much?

I waved to Mac Collins when he and his wife came over to drive away in his pickup which was parked on the same lot and had the gigantic "Mac Collins" sign in the bed.

We all enjoyed the Third Annual SONNY LIED Fish Fry Flaggin' so much, it's a pity (NOT) that 2006 will be the FINAL Perdue Fish Fry Flaggin'. When he's defeated in November 2006, we'll have to start numbering all over with the new Governor...unless, the new governor wises up.

--Steve Scroggins

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

Bud, Pete and Don prep the CSAF Blimp for action.	The TRUTH for everyone to see	The crew gets set on the north side of Larry Walker Parkway.	Bud Crandford, George Bell & his girlfriend...Pete, Don & Mike in background
Lijah with giant sign talks to Pete, Ben	Ben Davis & Russ Huffman on southwest corner	Sonny Sign...if you cover the 1st "N" you see an abbreviation for Southern New York. Spooky!	Perdue sign defaced by unknown vandal
Another fun form of "tailgating" in Georgia.	Jim Wood and Bud Cranford framing the CSAF blimp	Elijah and his big sign	We were grateful for a few clouds

Macon Telegraph Coverage: Fish fry draws 2,000 for GOP cause
The article doesn't mention those of us outside....but of the estimated 2000 who went inside, THEY knew we were there.

First Annual Sonny Lied Fish Fry Flaggin' (8/07/04)

Second Annual Sonny Lied Fish Fry Flaggin' (8/06/05)

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