Gaffney Peach Festival Parade 2009

I had the opportunity this past weekend to attend the Gaffney Peach Festival Parade in Gaffney, South Carolina. People began to line the streets at 8:00am when the parade didn’t begin until 9:30am and when it did begin there were a lot of people. If I had to estimate, I would guess that there were around 1,000 plus people there lined up all along the streets.

There were three political figures that were in the parade and this really surprised me, Senator Lindsey Graham, Councilman Ken Ard running for Lt. Governor and Alan Wilson for Attorney General. Graham was riding in a yellow convertible BMW, while Ken Ard and Alan Wilson rode in the back of their trucks with their guests. The Ken Ard campaign had balloons and t-shirts that were handed out throughout the parade; by the time they left every child had a blue or green balloon.

The amount of candidates running for office in 2010 in the parade really shocked me; where were the gubernatorial candidates and the rest of the lieutenant governor candidates. With the recent events that have occurred in Gaffney I was sure that these candidates would have made a showing to show that they support Gaffney and are that they are there for the people. Henry McMaster was at the Water Festival in Beaufort, SC, but everyone else no one is sure where they were.

The Silver Elephant

We will update from the event throughout the evening.

Please pardon any typos as I an updating from the WordPress app on the iPhone.

7:17 pm
Katon Dawson just welcomed Rep. Moss to the Republican Party.

7:36 pm
Enjoying dinner with republicans from Lake City & Greenville @ table 14

7:51 pm
We have seen Bobby Harrell, Henry McMaster, Rick Beltram, Bill Connor, Doug Cobb, Adam Fogle, Gov. Sanford.

7:55 pm
Gov. Sanford speaking.

Never seen the excitement in the conservative movement like was seen in Tea Parties.

8:00 pm
There is no moderation in current administration.

8:03
Lindsey Grahm introduced. Receives decent applause.

Never met anyone more sincere than Sanford in politics.

8:04
Never met anyone with more potential than Bob Corker.

Thanks to Dawsons hard work and good luck to Karen.

Obama administration agressive agenda has run up more debt in 100 days than we have run up from Washington to W. Bush.

8:06 pm
We need a republican in PA and re-elect DeMont in 2010.

I wish one more person was here, Pelosi.

I don’t like Obama’s politics, but I do personally. Obama can sell, but Pelosi products are not selling.

She is trying to run the country by degrading Bush.

I do not want to be so hateful and accuse the CIA of lying.

8:10 pm
I promise you this, the patriots (CIA) ate not lying.

Nancy, here is some advice, when ur n trouble quit digging.

And If u don’t stop, I know one Senator who will callyou to the Senate for a hearing and find out what you really know.

8:12
Jim DeMint introduced.

Honored to serve with Lindsay Graham.

The party is growing, and we can show the nation how it is done.

Recognizes Kevin Hall for efforts.

Glad none of you Governor’s candidates decided to run for the Senate.

Five way primaries are difficult.

We expand the party when we discuss ideas n the primary.

8:17pm
Democrats have moved to the left of Europe.

We need to stand and fight for freedom.

We need to stop what I believe is a socialist agenda.

8:19
Introduction of Bob Corker.

We need to seven our country from some dangerous proposals. They believe n equal outcome, we believe n equal opportunity.

8:27 pm
About once a week, this administration sends us a Trojan Horse.

This administration sends attractive ideas to the people and we have to defend our values.

10 years of social spending in stimulus bill. They wan to change it permanently.

Cap & Trade, Employees Free Choice Act (ends secret ballot elections for unionization).

8:31
Next is healthcare reform. Daschle said we failed first time to pass government controlled health care because we shared it with the public.

8:34 pm
Why should American tax payer fund a private company so it can sell out to another private company.

I know every American is not as conservative as we are, nut I guarantee that they are not as liberal as they are.

8:36 pm
Our ideas have lifted millions ofnpeople out of poverty.

Administration treats financial success as it should be shameful. This thought process is not new to the world, but it is to this nation.

We need to make sure we conduct ourselves with integrity.

If we hold ourselves to a higher standard we will regai. The trust of the American people.

8:41 pm
Introduction of David Wilkins.

We are glad to be home, but I miss my job as Ambassador to Canada.

Look around this room, you can feel the energy.

8:46
Eventuall America will see what we already know, what is happening in Washington is tearing us down.

Katon has never stopped hitting me up for money.

He has done an excellent job building this party.

Dawson put SCGOP on the map.

Thanks to Katon, the Republican road to the White House starts right here.

8:56 pm
Remarks and words of thanks from Katon Dawson.

We are here because we believe we are given our liberties from God, not the federal government.

9:05 pm
Katon Dawson: Thank you, I did the very best I could.

Graham, Conley, and the Constitution Party

Senator Lindsey Graham will be at the Spartanburg County Republican Party HQ today at noon to meet with volunteers and give an update on the status of the campaign.

Later tonight, the Constitiution Party will be hosting an event at the J. Verne Smith Auditorium at 7pm.  The list of speakers includes John Langville (Candidate for SC Senate 7), Polly Nicolay (Candidate for SC Senate 1), Susie Cornelius (Candidate for Oconee County Treasurer), and Bob Conley (Democratic Candidate for US Senate).

Unfortunately, The Conservativist will not be able to make either event today, but each should have their own interesting twist.  The CP event tonight should be very interesting.

Spartanburg GOP vs Conley – Round 2

Nothing happened.

A few sly comments were made about Graham from Conley supporters in the crowd as Graham’s name was mentioned throughout the evening, but other than that, it was a relatively quiet meeting.

Beltram did take the opportunity to throw a few jabs at Reese who has refused to participate in a Spartanburg County debate on October 20th that is being hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Spartanburg County GOP.

Beltram also took the opportunity to remind the GOP that Glenn Reese is an Obama supporter.  He was very public with that support and announced his change to support Obama over Biden shortly after Obama made a stop in Spartanburg in November.

In a very conservative district, it is surprising that Reese would make that move.  In the end, when you hear the name Barack Obama; think about Glenn Reese.

Winner of Round 2 – Spartanburg GOP.

Spartanburg GOP vs Bob Conley – Round 1

The Conservativist has learned that Bob Conley supporters will be at Fuddruckers tonight for the Spartanburg GOP Executive Committee meeting.  Although they said they were going to be more tactful in their efforts tonight, expect some kind of pagentry as a minor tit-for-tat battle incurs between the two sides.

The Spartanburg GOP has been known to be kind to Graham, even after Greenville succeeded in censuring Senator Graham last year over his position on illegal immigration.  Beltram has been accused and questioned by many that he was behind the stalling of a resolution that would have censured Graham.

In a quick search of polling data found on the Internet, Conley trails by 22% with 14% undecided.  Graham is polling at less than 60%.

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