You asked us for ten questions to pose to Gov. Perdue when you interview him as part of the vice-presidential selection process. We had a hard time, frankly, with the ten question limit. We did not believe that this guy ran a state, or was even a Republican, based on his press clippings but we verified everything with a phone call to Ralph Reed.

1. What in the world were you thinking when you proposed the largest tax increase in Georgia's history during your first week in office?
   
   Make certain that Gov. Perdue is also questioned about the large property tax increase he sought. It may be that he just felt Georgia property taxes were too low. You need to form an opinion as to his leadership ability as he couldn't get a Republican legislature to go along with most of the huge increases, although our fellow Republicans did raise taxes by a smaller amount. Perdue prides himself on being a creative thinker so be sure if elected he won't try something dramatic the first week, like demanding a nation-wide property tax or calling for a general increase in taxes "because he can."
   
   
2. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Spiro T. Agnew Personal Tax Minimization Movement?
   
   Finish this thought: Spiro didn't release tax returns because they didn't exist. Sonny didn't release tax returns because...
   
   Although we revere Vice-president Agnew's commitment to tax reduction, both personal and political, our polling indicates that a significant number of independent voters somehow still cling to the outdated notion that public officials should not do things to preferentially cut their own taxes. (Note: our education program is slowly changing this attitude, as seen by support for tax cuts for the rich.) While Gov. Perdue escaped any fallout from a provision snuck into a bill by his personal tax lawyer and one-time legislative floor leader that resulted in a $100,000 retroactive tax break that applied only to Perdue, he should acknowledge that the U.S. Congress is a bit harder to snooker than the Georgia General Assembly, the Georgia GOP Congressional delegation notwithstanding. (Idea: have Perdue campaign with Wesley Snipes.)
   
   
3. Can you assure us that your appointment of big-time developer Stan Thomas to the powerful state Economic Development Board had nothing to do with Mr. Thomas engineering a sweetheart deal on property near Disney World for you?
   
   You should get the governor to pledge that if selected as VP he will not engage in real estate deals with Mr. Thomas. You might need to extend the prohibition to members of Thomas's family, his butler, chauffeur, and masseuse, too. You can't be too careful with them Georgians.
   
   
4. Are you willing to put your assets in a blind trust?
   
   It may sound elementary, but Perdue was the first modern Georgia governor who did not place assets in a blind trust. Perdue explained that he needed to run his agribusiness empire because he understood its operation better than anyone. Explore whether he perceives that being vice-president is a full time job, apparently unlike being Georgia's governor. (Idea: suggest some names of people who could run the trust in a manner Perdue would like -- Jack Abramoff should be pardoned by the time Perdue needs to make a selection; so should Scooter Libby.)
   
   
5. Do you understand that you cannot intervene with Secret Service personnel matters unlike your meddling with the GBI, the State Patrol, and his personal security detail?
   
   If there is any indication that he will bring the same level of low morale, turnover, internal bickering, and scandal to the Secret Service that he managed to instill in Georgia's law enforcement agencies then he shouldn't be on the VP list. (You might offer Defense, though.) In particular, both Perdue and every member of his family must agree that they will keep their hands off members of the vice-presidential security detail.
   
   
6. Can you credibly explain the creative testimony under oath during a deposition in a lawsuit regarding State Patrol transfers that some of your enemies brand as a lie?
   
   The circumstances surrounding the lawsuit and the deposition could be potentially embarrassing to the national ticket but nothing that can't be managed if we are forewarned. We don't expect this to be an issue if the Democrats nominate Clinton.
   
   
7. How can you explain your 2002 campaign commitment to restore the state flag to one containing a Confederate-era battle emblem?
   
   This issue may somewhat undermine our initiative to attract minority voters to the Republican club, even if only as cooks and waiters, although Perdue can claim that ultimately he decided that it was in the best interests of harmony to go back to the flag Georgia flew defending slavery during the Civil War rather than the one with segregationist overtones he advocated during the campaign. (Idea: maybe he can spin "Go Fish Georgia" as an effort to make catfish readily available.)
   
   
8. Are there any other undisclosed shell companies like the one you used to profit from the development of a state managed wildlife preserve?
   
   As Republicans we admire the entrepreneurial spirit and creative government exemplified by the use a secret shell company to buy land adjacent to the state-managed Oaky Woods wildlife and hunting preserve. When the preserve was sold to developers instead of to the Nature Conservancy the value of the land held by Perdue's secret company shot up: a three way win -- the governor profited, developers profited, tree-huggers lost. (Idea: have Zell Miller explain how a state park landed next to property he bought.) Just make sure that there are no similar companies set up next to Yellowstone, Yosemite, or Mount Rushmore. (Note: if he insists then explain the advantages of having secret companies set up by a "blind" trust.)
   
   
9. Were you really the first Georgia governor to pay a fine for violation of the state's Ethics in Government Act?
   
   We've looked hard but we cannot find any other Georgia governor who had to admit to a violation of state ethics laws. We can't even find a case where the Ethics Commission found probable cause to prosecute another governor. While saying that the fine was "itsy-bitsy" or that he was "exploring the envelope" of what was legal may have worked politically in Georgia we're not sure that it will work nationally.
   
   
10. Do you understand that the VP does not actually pilot Air Force Two?
    
    Or Marine Two. Or any other federally-owned airplane, helicopter, hovercraft, glider, re-entry vehicle, or unmanned drone. Don't even think about it. Never.
    
    Not even if the mission is really accomplished.