By RP Nation, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 12:30 PM ET Last Friday, we posted dedicated from the RP Nation to the recently diseased, one-of-a-kind politician, Gatewood Galbraith. This one came in late, but it was so lovely that we wanted to share it.
I first met Gatewood Galbriath in early October 1994. He was speaking in Glasgow, Kentucky. I drove out with several of my friends, and we weren’t sure exactly who was speaking that night at the meeting we were attending. I don’t even remember who organized the meeting. But when I heard the speaker introduced as Gatewood, I thought, “Cool! The pot guy!”
I don’t remember exactly what Gatewood did speak about, but I remember hearing the great quote from him, concerning did his father’s generation hit the beaches of Normandy so he could urinate in a cup in order to get a job?
I approached Gatewood after his speech was over in order to shake his hand, which he quickly obliged me, with his toothy smile shining down on me. I knew I’d vote for him in next year’s race. Unfortunately, I couldn’t, because I missed the deadline to change my registration to Democrat.
Of course, Gatewood wasn’t finished in his quest for public office.
Five years later, I’m working for a community paper in Bullitt County. I received a tip to come to a meeting one rainy morning in Louisville. I replied I would come, but couldn’t report on it because it was out of our limits. Come anyway, I was told.
Again, Gatewood was the chief speaker. And once again, I approached him after the meeting and asked him if he would be stumping in my county anytime soon. He said he was hoping to attend the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot later that day. I told him if he did, I’d give him coverage that he was certainly unaccustomed to getting in the press, and he readily agreed.
After the meeting was over, we sat down for lunch. It so happened I was seated next to Gatewood. A mutual acquaintance told Gatewood to watch out, he was sitting next to a reporter, and he knew how those people loved to twist what he said. Gatewood looked up and said, “That’s OK, he was up-front with me. I can tell he’s one of the few honest ones left.”
Needless to say, that was one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever been paid.
As it happens, Gatewood wasn’t able to make the shoot, but I didn’t know that at the time. I had other things to do that day, and when I finally made it to the soggy shoot and couldn’t find Gatewood, I feared I missed him. I went to bed that night, deeply ashamed of myself, thinking I let him down.
Well, Gatewood and I never had our interview, but we would meet several other times. And each election I could, I dutifully cast a vote for the “Last Free Man.”
Farewell, Gatewood, you’re already missed.
By John Y. Brown III, on Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 4:00 PM ET  John Y.’s Closing Argument
[John Y.’s Provocation; The RP’s Rebuttal #1; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #2; Rod Jetton’s Rebuttal #3; Krystal Ball’s Rebuttal #4; John Y.’s First Defense; Rod Jetton’s Response #1; Jeff Smith’s Rebuttal #5; John Y.’s Second Defense; Ron Granieri’s Response #1; John Y.’s Third Defense; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #6; Jeff Smith’s Response #1; Rod Jetton’s Response #2; Jason Atkinson’s Rebuttal #7]
Final counter, counter, counter rebuttal.
 I’ve enjoyed mixing it up and teasing it out—for fun and with friends.
We’re all tired and need a wrap on this. Look, all I’m saying is that I won’t be surprised if Mitt Romney shows up at the next NH debate with a headset mic a la Anthony Robbins.
He can pull it off, look great, impress listeners. Heck, I’ll even buy his CD set. He’ll score points for fashion and suave, but lose votes—again.
Or, as Krystal Ball so succinctly put it, instead of convincing voters “he’s perfect” to be their next president, Mitt will seem “too good to be true.” A subtle but important distinction for recovering politicians.
So, no, Mitt probably doesn’t need to punch out Rick Santorum Tony Soprano style (even if he wants to). But he darn sure better muss his hair and stay away from headset mics as America focuses in to finally decides if Mitt is real enough — and not too good enough — to be president.
Remember, we voters can sometimes steal a page from Goldilocks, as we all look for the presidential candidate that is neither too big nor too small, neither too hot nor too cold. But just right. And just right for the times we face.
By Jeff Smith, on Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET  Rebuttal #5: Jeff Smith
[John Y.’s Provocation; The RP’s Rebuttal #1; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #2; Rod Jetton’s Rebuttal #3; Krystal Ball’s Rebuttal #4; John Y.’s First Defense; Rod Jetton’s Response #1]
Love reading everyone’s posts…especially Rod’s, because unlike most of you, I can hear the accent and it makes me feel as if i’m back home in Missour-ah.
It’s really hard to top the insightful analysis you all provided. So I’ll just say this, at the risk of offending: Most campaigns can largely be reduced to sex appeal.
Oh sure, there are a few voters who read a candidate’s seven white papers, and the opponent’s seven white papers, and decide that they agree with Candidate A on four and Candidate B on three, and so they’re gonna vote for Candidate A.
But those voters are regrettably rare. The majority are like Rod’s harem and vote on appearance. This is why I find it so mystifying that the RP ever got elected dogcatcher. [ED’s Note: HEY?!?!]
Campaigns are largely about likeability and, implicitly, sexuality. I hired attractive, appealing college kids in part to lure other kids to volunteer. I flirted with women in senior centers. Did I hone my policy chops? Sure, but unfortunately, I probably winked at ten times more guys in the Pridefest parade than I gave policy answers to. Sorry, I’m 5’5″; I had to WORK it, baby.
Read the rest of…
The RPs Debate Presidential Leadership: Jeff Smith Rebuts
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
I was at a political rally in Somerset at the National Guard Armory.
It was the governor’s race in which Martha Wilkinson started but dropped out. Ms. Wilkinson provided a potted plant for a door prize.
As luck would have it, Gatewood won the plant. He was outside and rushed in to accept the plant.
Someone yelled from the crowd, “Why don’t you give away one of your plants Gatewood?”, to which he promptly replied, “Mine are too expensive to give away.”
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 2:00 PM ET I remember Gatewood attending a Transportation Forum in either 1995 or 1999 in Lexington and speaking to a large crowd of contractors, Transportation Cabinet employees and others.
He said that he had a clear Transportation plan: for someone who had been ran out of towns in Kentucky as often as he had, he had better know every way out of town there was.
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET Gatewood had asked me to run as his Lt Gov back in 2007, and for several weeks we had a great relationship and laughed and shared ideas but ultimately I couldn’t make it happen.
I felt terrible when I had to tell him, but Gatewood just smiled and said, “no problem brother”.
Needless to say, I have several great stories about Gatewood that I can share with you. But the one theme they all have is the constant love Gatewood had for people and Kentucky.
The first time I got to meet Gatewood was at Fancy Farm years back around 2006? He had a table set up on the Democrats’ side and had a pile of his autobiography books lying on the table.
I walked up and asked “how much for your book Gatewood?” He quickly spouted off something like “do you believe in the freedom of and that Government shouldn’t and constitution this..,” he spoke so fast that I couldn’t tell you exactly what he said but I liked the words that stood out the most so I simply replied, “Damn Right”! He stopped and looked at me and said “they’re free, take one and let me sign it for you, brother”.
We talked for some time about Wille Nelson, and I shared with him the times I hung out on the movie set with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, during the remake of the classic movie “Stage Coach.” (My father was Waylon’s double.) I could tell he was skeptical at first, until I told him how Willie was very funny and comical, and you don’t see that when he plays music. During one scene where Willie (Doc Holliday’s character) has to deliver the baby that the pregnant Lisa Crosby’s character (Yes, she had recently shot JR on Dallas) is having, he says: “I have to take a look down there now,” and as he reaches between her legs, he suddenly pulls a rabbit out of his sleeve and holds it up and declares, “I believe it’s a boy.” Even the director was rolling on the floor.
We talked about how tough it is win an election without money, and that was why he decided to finally write his autobiography and to give it to anyone in the political arena so they would get to know the real Gatewood, not just some legalize marijuana caricature.
He really had a good idea to promote himself and much better than just some 30 second commercial. About that time a preppy fellow walked over and as he was eyeing the books there was something about his demeanor and when he asked Gatewood “how much for your book”, dryly Gatewood replied, “Fifteen Bucks”! Gatewood sure could call them!
During Governor Beshear’s 1st inauguration, Gatewood and I sat together, and as the Governor was being sworn in, I asked Gatewood what it would feel like to him to be up there instead. Gatewood started beaming with that Gatewood grin and said, “Marksberry, if I ever win the lottery, look out”!
We miss you brother and we promise to keep your spirit alive!
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 11:00 AM ET I did not know Gatewood well, but I do have a story about him.
While in private practice, I was with a firm that maintained office space in the same building as Gatewood. I remember I first saw him in the parking lot after his run. A gangling man in his fifties, sweating profusely and wearing nothing more than a very small pair of running shorts and shoes. It was not the kind of sight that goes easily unnoticed, nor was his periodic tai-chi routine.
Always a very likeable man, I once offered to buy him a drink at Lynagh’s. He slowly turned to me with his characteristically big smile shaded by the brim of his trademark fedora and responded boisterously, “Buddy, I haven’t had a drink for over 20 years…it messes with my buzz too much.”
I also watched as he explained to his friend Willie Nelson, why he chose an office across the street from the police department… “so we can keep an eye on each other.”
Gatewood was a very bright and witty man who was very comfortable in his skin and not afraid to stand up for everything he believed in. For this (and for my brief elevator ride with Willie Nelson) I admired him very much. The world will definitely be a little less pleasant without him.
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 10:30 AM ET When I was a senior at UK in 1977, with my roommate, I attended a Halloween party held at Gatewood’s house which was in the old YWCA located somewhere in downtown Lexington.
My roommate’s father was the sheriff of Casey County, so we borrowed two deputies uniforms and attended the party. I recall that there was a goodly contingent of bikers and others in attendance who were not happy with law enforcement, and we got a number of evil stares.
I recall walking into rooms and hearing toilets flushing, small parcels being thrown under furniture, etc. It was big fun, but we were not the hit of the party.
I last saw Gatewood at the Master Musician’s Festival here in Somerset. I told him that he was like Elvis-he was everywhere. We had a good laugh and talked about his Halloween parties.
I will miss him. He was unique. He always had a good story and I smiled everytime I was around him. He will be missed.
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
The author, C. Josh Givens, in a 2008 Halloween costume. No person can truly dress as a Kentucky punk without a "Gatewood for Governor" t-shirt. As a community newspaper journalist in Kentucky since the mid-90s, I came to understand Gatewood was someone most media types would expect walking into the lobby each campaign cycle. Whether a race was on for governor, Congress, or even the local city council, Gatewood was expected, whether he was running or not.
Some called him a “perennial” candidate, but I have never liked that tag. It always sounded a tad bit back-handed to me, like the big papers and television talkers were saying, with some snarky inside wink-and-nod, “Here comes Gatewood … again and again and again.”
With Gatewood, somehow folks tried to make the very word — “perennial” — some type of curse word.
Perhaps those that used it the most were part of the “petrochemical-pharmaceutical-military-industrial-transnational-corporate-fascist-elite SOBs” crowd, which Gatewood convinced many of us were a threat to our Constitutional freedoms.
Then again, perhaps those who used it the most were part of what is mainstream, conservative Kentucky.
Gatewood always answered questions, which can be a novel ideal when considering Kentucky campaigns and the often too-comfortable relationship between hometown media and candidates.
Genuinely good guy Gatewood, you were comfortable with him, yes, but there always seemed to be an unspoken — “I am here to get my message out. If you don’t ask the right questions, I will still give you the answers. It’s an important message.”
Gatewood made you smile, whether you knew who in the Hell he was or not.
In what would be his final campaign, Gatewood and his running mate Dea Riley, fought a huge uphill battle in the Kentucky Governor race. But despite this uphill battle, Gatewood and Dea were keen to come to smallish Butler County — a heavily Republican county — and talk with me. We ran his story on the front, we ran his picture, we published a 30-minute video interview.
It lit a small fire of sorts. My phone rang, my email inbox filled — “Who is this Gatewood? I like the way he thinks.”
Now, memorializing with a tear in my eye, I enthusiastically agree with them. I sure did like the way that genuinely good guy Gatewood thought … which was for himself.
Rest in peace, Gatewood. You have shown us all, coming back year-after-year creates lasting marks. Your Commonwealth will long remember your impact.
You have made the path smoother for those will continue to come back and back and back.
By RP Nation, on Fri Jan 6, 2012 at 9:30 AM ET I’m mourning the loss, at age 64, of my friend, author and frequent Kentucky political candidate Gatewood Galbraith.
Anyone who wants to be a best-selling author needed to spend time around Gatewood. He had knack for understanding his audience that few others had.
My first book fair event ever was the 2006 Kentucky Book Fair. When I walked into the arena, I found they had me sharing a table with Gatewood, who was promoting his excellent autobiography, The Last Free Man in America.
I was horrified that I was perched next to a perennial gubernatorial candidate who advocated the legalization of marijuana and was known to take a toke or two on his own.
Read the rest of…
Don McNay: Book Marketing Lessons from “The Last Free Man in America”
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The Recovering Politician Bookstore
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