We Are Running for Congress -- Maybe

Congressman Billybob's Campaign Website ^ | 2 September 2003 | John Armor

[Congressman Billybob]

Thank you for pinging on this thread. You go back in the history of the United States, at one point agriculture was a principal concern of the nation and of a majority of its Districts. Now things are different.

Our farmers are more productive than any others in the world, but there aren't many of them. Only a few Districts still have agriculture as a dominant factor. But NC 11 is one of those.

The people and the Districts for which agriculture still is a primary concern have got to stick together.

Billybob

[farmfriend]

Contact the Grange halls in your district. They can't be partisan but they might be able to set up some community forums for you. Town hall kinda things. If you don't know where the local Granges are in your district, you can contact the State Grange and they should be able to help you.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[DollyCali]

Here's one from a kayaker to a canoeist (and Kay is NOT a kayaker.. It is a play of words on her name & personality).. She "teached me well" when I first joined FR in March)

Thanks for FReepMail CT.

I am excited for your candidacy CBB. I am in contact with CT & want to help if my "talents" are now useful. My son is in Tobaccoville - not in your district but a place for me to hang my hat if I come down periodically to help.

[DollyCali]

Is this a big enough bump?

yupper

[Joe Brower]

"Congressman Billybob"

[kayak]

bttt

[dirtboy]

I was an advertising executive before I became a lawyer

Cripes - ad exec, lawyer and now Congresscritter. Well, I guess we can support you anyway - there doesn't seem to be any kind of three strikes law in NC.

[kayak]

LOL!

[blackie]

Let's support BillyBob ... good man!

[MrConfettiMan]

Best wishes, John. Based on the few times we've met and the many columns of yours I've read, I know you'll make a fine member of Congress. I wish I lived or knew somebody in your district. The best I can offer is moral and finanical support to your campaign. Joe (MCM)

[GOPJ]

bump

[wimpycat]

BTTT

[okie01]

And the canoeist said to the kayaker, how about a new tagline? See below...

[kayak]

From a kayak who is not a kayaker, great tag line you have there ....... *grins*

[spacewarp]

Re-BUMP!!!!

[DollyCali]

Well, I am flattered you want me to help you with a new tagline.. but I think yours is fine ! *G*

[gitmo]

CBB,
How will you bring jobs into WNC? The transportation issues you discussed under tourism also hinder manufacturing, agriculture (as you noted) and most any other job-producing industry. How will you help companies overcome this handicap should they determine to establish roots in the mountains?

The larger job-producing companies in the area appear to be detrimental to the tourism industy. The Canton paper mill and the strip mines in Mitchell & Avery counties (is that in your district as well?). They are good job producers, and beneficial to the communities, but they do tend to discourage tourism to some extent.

Do you see the population of WNC tending toward the elderly? It seems a lot of people choose to retire in the mountains. How is this going to impact the economy of the area? What special demands does a populace place on the government when there is a larger representation from the gray-headed end of the bell curve?

[okie01]

Good questions. I'm glad I pinged you.

Not mine to answer, but I'm somewhat familiar with the area and its natural beauty. Y'know, the Mountain and Western states (e.g., Colorado, Montana, Utah, Nevada, et al) are also huge tourist destinations. And, at the same time, they maintain large mining and timber industries (though, admittedly, less large than they used to be).

But the point is: tourism and extractive industries can co-exist. And I wonder why the enviros (and the politicians who respond to the greens) don't believe they can. Could it be because they have another agenda...???

[kayak]

bttt