Sure, peanut. Just as I'm sure you'll agree I can drive my late Grandpa's Buick Roadmaster straight up your ass. :-)
Posted on 07/02/2003 9:38:17 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Galbraith aims to enter attorney general's race
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By DEBORAH YETTER dyetter@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal
Voters seeking another option in the race for Kentucky attorney general appear to have one.
Gatewood Galbraith — Lexington lawyer, marijuana advocate and three-time unsuccessful candidate for governor — filed yesterday to run as an independent candidate and said he expects to have no trouble getting the 5,000 signatures needed to get on the November ballot.
Galbraith, 56, said yesterday he believes he offers a refreshing alternative to the party candidates Democrat Greg Stumbo, who faces various allegations about his personal life, and Republican Jack D. Wood, who was disciplined for misconduct as a former district judge and assistant county attorney.
"I think their apparent weaknesses encouraged me to enter the race,'' Galbraith said. "I think people are ready for a change.''
Galbraith also has twice run unsuccessfully for Congress and launched his first statewide campaign in 1983, when he ran for agriculture commissioner in favor of legalizing marijuana. Galbraith said he still believes in legalizing marijuana for medical use but said he, as attorney general, would support prosecuting all violations of state law.
His entry into the attorney general race sparked amazement and amusement among observers who have acknowledged Wood and Stumbo bring some personal liabilities to the race.
"I'm speechless,'' said Frankfort lawyer Phil Shepherd, a Democrat and former state natural resources secretary. "Oh man, that adds to a cast of colorful characters.''
"Oh my gosh,'' said Republican lawyer and political consultant Ted Jackson. "Just when you think it can't be any more entertaining!''
But even with the drawbacks of the other candidates, Jackson said he isn't sure Galbraith will succeed in becoming the state's top lawyer.
"I don't think Gatewood is what people think of when they think of what we need for attorney general,'' he said.
Shepherd said that while Republican party support appears lukewarm for Wood, Galbraith is probably not what some party members had in mind when they wondered about an independent candidate as an alternative.
"I don't think that Gatewood is the candidate moderate Republicans will be looking for to give them someone to vote for in place of their nominee,'' Shepherd said.
Wood, a Valley Station lawyer, said he was pleased to learn that Galbraith — known for a quick wit and folksy demeanor — has entered the race.
"That'll make the debates lively,'' Wood said. "It might make me look good.''
Stumbo could not be reached for comment.
Galbraith may have trouble shedding his past image as a maverick even though in recent years he has — apart from the marijuana issue — adopted a more conservative tone on most issues. Galbraith opposes gun control and supports lower taxes and a crackdown on political corruption.
Galbraith, like Stumbo, has been dogged by child-support problems.
The attorney general is Kentucky's top child-support enforcement official.
Galbraith acknowledged he fell behind on child-support payments in the midst of a divorce and bankruptcy more than 10 years ago. But he said he straightened out his financial problems and supported his three children, now adults.
Stumbo began paying child support last year after the mother of his 14-year-old son took him to court, alleging he reneged on previous agreements to pay support.
Galbraith said he looks forward to raising money and running a full-fledged campaign.
"I've never been more ready in my life,'' he said.
If any state has less than 12% freaks I'd sure like to see evidence of it. Some states are majority freak; where do you think Senator Hillary! came from, a normal state? That (12%) is a tremendous compliment to Kentucky and Kentuckians.
Some folks disagree about drug laws but each is entitled to an opinion on relative freakishness of drug advocates.
Why? They are exercising their right to vote, nothing wrong with that. You or I may not like it, but I am not going to hate them for it.
There, fixed it for you.
So if someone voted for a communist or a Clinton you would pat them on the back and say "good job! you did your part for democracy! I don't like how you voted, and I think you're supporting someone who supports policies destructive to the state/country, but I won't disapprove of you because everyone should be able to say whatever they want (free speech) without anyone speaking out against them (also, you may note, free speech)."
Or is that a misreading of your sentiment?
You agree that the WOD laws have absolutely no place in civilized society whatsoever. All they bring is misery, destruction, and death for those that fall under its spell and for the unfortunates who have to deal with them??
Sure, peanut. Just as I'm sure you'll agree I can drive my late Grandpa's Buick Roadmaster straight up your ass. :-)
I certainly wouldn't pat them on the back and tell them "good job", but I'm not going to hate them for it.
Maybe it's the way I was raised, or the Christian in me, or a combination of both, but I don't hate somebody simply because of their political leanings. Not only would it go against my upbringing and my beliefs, but it would be playing right into the hands of the liberals who keep trying to divide the country up into various categories.
One more thing, I would rather see somebody exercise their right to vote, voting for a candidate I don't like, than to not vote at all. The people who take no interest in any election are worse than people voting for a candidate I don't like. I will admit that I'm unhappy with some of the candidates I voted for in 2000 and 2002 and it did cross my mind not to vote at all, but that's not right, I'll either vote for them or vote against them.
Are you capable of distinguishing between those who oppose the current War on Drugs and those who advocate the recreational use of drugs?
This is less true of marijuana than of the legal drug alcohol; do you support banning alcohol?
I don't think anyone but you said anything about hating anybody; certainly nothing along the lines of the Christian sense, which means hoping they burn. That's what's known as a "Straw Man" argument.
Tobacco, IS the legal cash crop...It's a BIG item for the Druggie/Nazi/Queens in the Media (the legalization/growth of the Weed for Eastern KY, traditional rope-growing areas)...there is too much open country in the Bluegrass Region.
Would you support prohibiting alcohol again?
You'll note I don't oppose his entry into the race, since these characters take votes from 'Rats. The more the merrier.
Why do so many Republicans bitch and moan about Libertarians (who are known for their anti-Drug War philosiphies) taking votes away from Repubs?
If you lived in Maryland, would you vote for a Democrat over Governor Robet Ehrlich?
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