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All opinions are those of The Republican Gazette and its editor, Gary Abernathy, except letters or commentary signed by others, and do not reflect the views of anyone else, including clients of Abernathy Strategies.
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Having Fun
With Mojo
Hey Kids! Mojo here! Not much room left for me today! Hope I don't run out of space, because I have a very exciting an-
From the desk of Gary Abernathy
"Democrats are the Greatest!"
August 29, 2007
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Senate
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Clinton,
First, let me thank you for running for President of the United States. As you can tell from my letterhead, I am a die-hard Democrat, and I can only say that your candidacy is the most exciting development that could be imagined for people like myself.
You are such a natural fit for West Virginia. I would like to invite you to come here frequently on the campaign trail. The people of this state are very excited to hear you speak on issues important to you, like abortion, gay marriage, guns, religion, and coal.
I hope you will not hesitate to share the attention you are deservedly bound to draw each time you visit. Our other great Democratic candidates really need your help. Please make sure to invite the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Senate President, and all our wonderful West Virginia Democratic candidates to accompany you on every stop you make in the Mountain State. I know they will be excited to campaign with you, and grateful for the chance to be photographed with you at every opportunity.
My good friend, State Senator John Unger, is running for Congress, and he could particularly use your help. I encourage you to contact him as soon as possible to arrange several joint appearances. He is in a tough race, and a close association with you might be the boost he needs to put him over the top.
I know that during your last visit, several sudden appointments kept the Governor very busy and he could only spend a few minutes with you. But if you give him a little more advance notice, I am sure he will clear his busy schedule and escort you all around the state. The Governor is very popular, but even he can use a little help now and then. It would be really nice if you would have him introduce you at every campaign rally or fundraiser. He can be a little shy, and doesn't like to ask for help, so don't be put off if he refuses several times at first. Keep calling, and make sure to give him all the help he needs.
Please let me know if there is anything you need, or if your nomination ever seems in jeopardy. I assure you, I have many friends who will join me in doing everything in our power to assure that you are the Democratic nominee in 2008.
Your Democrat Friend,
Gary Abernathy
Latest USA Dream Team on right track
Back in 1992, the United States finally allowed its professional basketball players to compete in the Olympics, after it became clear that the USA's college players could no longer compete with pros from around the world.
The original Dream Team was exactly that, featuring luminaries like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, who made short work of all comers, racking up victories by never less than margins of 30, 40 or even 50 points.
Over the years, each subsequent Dream Team was a little less dreamy, often featuring a couple of true stars, supplemented by good, but not great, NBA stars. In recent years, the USA has settled for silver or bronze medals in international play.
This year, thanks to the commitment of the game's best players, a true Dream Team seems to be back, with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmello Anthony, etc., rolling through the Tournament of the Americas Olympic qualifying round by margins reminiscent of the '92 squad -- as it should be.
Elvis wouldn't go record, so studio came to him
By the mid-1970s, RCA found it was like pulling teeth to get its biggest star into the recording studio. From 1954-1975, Elvis Presley had recorded more music than any artist in history in a comparable span of time.
By '76, Elvis came up with one excuse after another to cancel recording sessions, urging the record company to just record selections as he performed them live in concert.
The trouble was, Elvis wasn't performing anything RCA hadn't already recorded and put out to the buying public. So in 1976, RCA twice sent its big, red mobile recording unit to Graceland, turned Elvis' living room -- now known as the Jungle Room -- into a makeshift studio, flew in the musicians, and waited for the star to come downstairs and lay down some tracks.
Elvis did indeed manage to record a few
tunes, the last "studio" cuts of his life. While most of the songs he agreed to do reflected his mood -- sad, downbeat, lonely songs -- they also included a couple of solid rockers, including one called "Way Down," his best upbeat number since "Burning Love" four years earlier.
Two albums emerged from the Jungle Room sessions. One was called, "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee." Today's question: What was the name of the other album, the last Elvis album released during his lifetime?
Tuesday's question centered on the three Grammys Elvis won during his lifetime, two of which were for different recordings of the same song. What was that song? The answer: "How Great Thou Art," for which he won in 1967, and again for a live version in 1974. Correct answers came from Tommy Phillips and Lisa Peana.
