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23 MAY 04: CHATTAHOOCHEE R.F.D.

Weeks of wrangling over the District Attorney's race now appear to be over. An administrative judge in Atlanta has ruled Chattahoochee Circuit D.A. Gray Conger is an R.F.D. -- as in "Republican, Former Democrat."

A "finding of fact" by an administrative judge determined Gray Conger originally filed for re-election as a Democrat. Then he re-filed as a Republican once he discovered he had Democratic opposition. Isn't it amazing how politicians love to have all sorts of friends - as long as those friends don't run against them?

Gray Conger explained Friday he really switched to the Republican Party during filing week because it's "closer to his values." It seems safe to assume one of those values is NOT long-term loyalty....

Gray Conger says he's never seen the Democrats try so hard to keep someone from leaving their party. Well, they probably HAVE tried harder at other times - for instance, by offering road projects or big government jobs.

The Georgia Democratic Party tried to get Gray Conger kicked off the District Attorney ballot. Among other things, party leaders complained he used government stationery to change his filing status. So where were the complaints about paper when former Governor Roy Barnes signed the same bills in several cities on tours?

One of Gray Conger's opponents in the race for District Attorney accuses him of "gaming the system." But you'd think they would applaud the D.A. for his honesty. After all, he isn't changing parties AFTER the election like Sen. Dan Lee of LaGrange did.

This year marks a decade since party-switching officially began in Southern politics. I trace the start of it to Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, who turned Republican one day after the November election. Let's face it - that's one "zig-zag" Zell Miller still has yet to make.

While this fight has raged, the Alabama primary on June 1 is approaching. It's the last chance for Dennis Kucinich to steal the Presidential nomination away from John Kerry -- before Kerry refuses to accept it for several weeks.

It turns out Alabama will NOT have a U.S. Senate primary race after all. State Democratic Chairman Redding Pitt has barred Johnny Swanson from the ballot, because Swanson ran as an independent two years ago. That's what makes the Democrats so wonderful - their inclusiveness.

The dismissal of Johnny Swanson leaves Wayne Sowell as the Democrat to take on incumbent Senator Richard Shelby. Somehow I get the feeling Swanson might as well race against Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes....

Alabama Republicans also are tough with their candidate lists. Mobile's Kelly McGinley was barred from running for the state School Board, because she spoke well of another party on a radio talk show. That's what makes the Republicans so wonderful - their support of free speech.

Kelly McGinley appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but was denied a place on the state School Board ballot in the Alabama primary. She's a big supporter of Roy Moore -- and now she knows exactly how he feels.

Doesn't the Kelly McGinley case prove once and for all that "political correctness" is a two-party thing? All she did was say "Constitution Party" on a radio station, and Republicans bounced her from the ballot.

If this election year has proven anything so far, running for office isn't as easy as the proverbial "throwing your hat in the ring." You have to have the right-colored hat, with just the right wording on it ...

Let's see what else is happening on a steamy weekend:

+ An official with the Phenix City public library was placed on leave, accused of stealing library money. You'd think staff members at a library would know better - since it's their job to keep good books.

+ WRBL visited a graduation ceremony for home-schooled students - and a couple of them wore stickers endorsing guest speaker and Congressional candidate Dylan Glenn. How many Muscogee County School Board members at the Civic Center wish they'd thought of that first?

+ Instant Message to "David the Giant-Slayer" of WEAM Radio: Exactly which giants have you slain? If you're going to call yourself that on the air, shouldn't you provide a list so we can check - maybe on a web site?

SONG OF THE DAY: Or should that be the D.A.? With apologies to Gloria Estefan:

Have you heard the big news about Gray Conger?

He's not a Democrat any longer!

He thinks as Republican, he'll be stronger.

Incumbent Gray Conger's still the man to beat!

As the D.A. -- of the circuit,

He's paid to be tough on crime.

But his critics -- brought up ethics

When it came election time!

They're not pleased with -- his conversion

Over to the G.O.P.

If they can't nail -- him as two-faced....

They'll find technicalities!

COMING MONDAY: The end of the perfect game that no one put on videotape -- and why....

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