Dear Little Miss Nora,

It seems to me you are a very confused child.  Perhaps your ear war situation has you so distraught you are not thinking clearly.  I have tried to take you under my wing.  I certainly  am not pulling the fur over anyone’s face- fiddl-dee-dee!  Now child, you must start acting like a grown up young lady and stop pouting.  Only Katie Scarlett gets to pout to get her way!

K.S

Marley,

I shall be ever so disappointed if that’s you at that seedy entertainment establishment!

K.S.

Katie Scarlett,

     Rest assured that I have never been in such an unseemly establishment.  As a true gentleman, I would never lower myself to set paw in any establishment that is in anyway demeaning to females.  

     On another note, I am greatly distressed about little Nora.  I wonder if the strain of her upcoming procedure is too much for her.  Perhaps the recovery period will be just the thing to clear her head of this conspiracy type nonsense.

Your humble servant,

Marley--Lord Dunmore the Duke of Ablemarle

Murphy Dog Campaign HQ would like to address these paparazzi pictures before they emerge in the press in some falsified way.  Murphy comments, directly from the doggy's mouth.

Just Friends. Nothing to see here.  Move along.

Here, Daisy just tripped and I was trying to get get a leaf out of her ear.  That's all.

What?  It was just a... backrub.  She was a little sore from our walkies.  A backrub.  Sure.

Uh ho. Would you believe that the duck had just broke up with her boyfriend and needed a hug?  Sure.  That's the ticket.

Why Murphy Dog, I am startin’ to believe you may have a bit of scoundrel in you!

K.S

Marley, my dear, I do believe you forgot something in your last correspondence to me.  Just look at your salutation!  Don’t you mean, "My Dearest Katie Scarlett"?  

K.S.

OMG!  Trixi has a WEBSITE!!!!!!  What a hoot.  Wow, some dogs really get into this competitve stuff, huh!  Way to go, Trix!

(Don't tell KS I said that)

My Dearest Katie Scarlett,

Thank you for your help in advertising my excellent website (weren't you impressed?) 

I have been following your campaign all along and must say that I am quite impressed with your fabulous fashion sense.  I look forward to seeing the outfits on your future campaign ads. You are quite the diva, although I see that Miss CoCo may be giving you a run for your money. 

I hope that the Rattie Nation will see more than just a pretty face in my campaign.  I am a committed candidate and will represent Ratties across the world!

Yours Truly,

Trixi

My Dear Katie Scarlett,

     Please forgive my transgression in not addressing you in manner befitting a fine southern belle such as yourself.  My only excuse, my dear Katie, is that I had been out in the sun too long.  I had been out overseeing some of my holdings this morning before I went campaigning door-to-door.  

I remain your most humble servant,

Marley--Lord Dunmore the Duke of Albemarle

Dear Trixi,

More than a pretty face?  My dear, what more could a Rattie need – a pretty face opens all sorts of doors.  However, I believe as my campaign progresses, you will see that I am  much more than a pretty face.  I am charming, gracious and putting together several policies which will be announced in the near future.  They will simply astound you.  You will merely wish you could have an agenda such as mine!

While some candidates must rely on tricks of modern technology, I find the honest old fashioned approach to be the best.  With Katie Scarlett, what you see is what you get.  And, what you see is, indeed, pure beauty.

Bless your little heart,

Katie Scarlett

My Dear Marley,

All is forgiven.  I knew there must have been a good reason.  So, you were overseeing your many holdings this morning?  How very interesting.  How very interesting, indeed!

Yours faithfully,

K.S.

Dear Melody,

Perhaps Little Nora just needs some extra attention.  I would be so happy to take her on as my project and show her some of my beauty secrets, so long as she promises not to share with any of my major rivals.  She does seem to be a dear little pup.  Do give her my love.

K.S.

This just in from the campaign headquarters of presidential candidate Marley:

          Presidential candidate Marley has announced the launching of his web page.  To view his campaign platform please visit the following web address http://lordmarley08.googlepages.com/home

          Marley would like to thank his campaign manager, Yukon Cornelius, for her efforts in his campaign.

My Dearest Marley,

I see you have also entered the world of cyber-politics.  Congratulations on your new website and thank you so much for including little ol’ me.  Mother says I cannot have a website, which is fine as I am just a simple old fashioned sort of girl.  I suppose one could say I am a tap water girl in a bottled water world.  

The train ride has been exhausting, but I have made my first true campaign appearance today and press releases will be made later.  My campaign manager had to take a spa day today due to the stress of campaigning.  Bless her heart, she got her swimmer’s cut today and dear Mother forgot to tell them not to trim her tail.  I would have laughed at her, but that would have been cruel, and I do not have a cruel bone in my petite little body.

Well, just a note of congrats.  Whatever do you think about Lola?  Surely she must have some idea as to if she is or is not in the “family way”.  Her silence on the matter is suspicious. Well, I suppose all will be revealed at a later date.  And Little Nora, bless her heart, dear Marley do be kind with her as I fear she is in a fragile state of mind these days.

Dear Marley, there are times when I feel I may be better suited as a First Lady.  Now I am trusting you with this information so you dare not leak it to a soul, as I am still very much in this race, but this policy making can become so tiresome.

Faithfully,

 K.S.

My Dearest Katie Scarlett,

     Thank you for your kind words reguarding my web page.  I must say that my campaign manager did an excellect job on her first attempt at such an endeavor.

     My dear Katie, you may be an old-fashioned girl, but you could never be simple or as ordinary as tap water.  I must say that you look quite fetching in your denim attire and the pink dress you are wearing in your new portrait.  That portrait is, indeed, worthy of a First Lady.

     As for Lola, well, what can one say?  These thing DO happen, even in the best of families.  We should not be too hard on her.  After all, it may be a FALSE alarm.  If not, we should give her all the help we can.  Little Nora is really a sweet little girl.  I am sure that the strain of her upcoming procedure is just too much for her to bear.  I think she is in need of a rest to rid her of these conspriracy theories she has been disseminating.  I promise, my dear, that I shall be kind to her. 

     Trust me, my dear Katie Scarlett, not to leak the information that you have entrusted to me.  I shall not breathe a word of it to anyone. 

     I look forward to seeing your next campaign poster and press release.  My campaign manager is hard at work on my next offering as well.

I remain your most humble servant,

Marley--Lord Dunmore the Duke of Albemarle

P.S.  The inspection of my many properties continues.  The garderns are requiring my special attention.

M. 

My Dear Marley,

I’m happy you like the photo. Perhaps you would like to put it on your bedside table so you may go to sleep and dream of me.

Yours,

K.S.

Katie Scarlett gives a major environmental policy speech at Calloway Gardens:

Today I am at beautiful Calloway Gardens in my dear Mother’s native state of Georgia to announce my Beautification Plan, if y’all do me the great honor of electing me your President.  My proposal is to plant these lovely azaleas, dogwoods, southern magnolias, wisteria, ferns and other lovely plants which can be found here at the Gardens.  Now many of you may say, “Katie Scarlett, parts of the country are too cold for these types of plants.”  Fiddle-dee-dee to that!  I have been listening to the TV and speeches made by a Mr. Gore from our neighboring state of Tennesse. He has been talking about this thing called global warming and it sounds to me like soon all the country will be warm enough for these beautiful southern plants.  I have not talked directly to Mr. Gore, but I am sure he is in support of this idea, as he lives in a big plantation home and flies all over the country in a big jet airplane doing his share to consume energy and warm the planet.  And being a southerner, he would certainly love seeing these plants all over this great land.

My fellow Ratties, this is just another example of how Katie Scarlett will work for you when elected President.

Bless our Country and Bless Ratties everywhere.

Thank you all and good day. 

Where, oh where, are all my worthy opponents?  Surely y’all are not bored already with campaigning.  The press is hounding me (no pun intended) and will be publishin’ reports of my adventures later.   Dixie is working feverishly on the campaign and I have been busy posing for photo ops.  So, what are the rest of y’all doin’.  Don’t tell my y’all are busy takin’ naps!

Marley, dear, I hope you are not showin’ your affection to some little French poodle!

Lola, what did you learn from your veterinary appointment?  We are dyin’ to hear.

Trixi, dear, surely you don’t plan on only postin’ to your website.

And, Murphy, what scandalous activity are you up to now?

I understand Winchester, Brielle, et al, are busy with the new family members.

And what about all you others?  Have my extraordinary campaign skills frightened you all away?  Fiddle-dee-dee!

Well, y'all enjoy your weekend.  I will be workin' for Ratties everywhere!

K.S.

We interrupt this forum with a special announcement from the COMMITTEE TO ELECT LOLA IN 2008:

"My fellow Ratties:

Good morning.  I would like to take a moment to thank you all for reading my press release on this fine morning in Rattieland.  I would also like to take a minute to say TAKE THAT, TABLOIDS!  to the publishers of the Rattie Record, which incorrectly published an untrue and unflattering article about yours truly.

The following is a verbatim report from my personal phyisician:

"I don't feel anything in there."

Although not in the most scientific of terms, this report nonetheless serves to dispel the myth that I am in the family way. It turns out I've just been doing a little stress eating from the pressures of campaigning for the presidency. 

As such, I would like to announce my latest campaign goal:  the introduction of a simple, fun, and effective workout plan for every Rattie by 2010.  Attached is the promotional flyer for the Turquoise Tennis Ball Workout!

Thank you for your time, and remember to vote for Lola in 2008!"

-Senator Lola (D - Eastern Rattieland)

Dear Miss Melly,

Why no – I will be flying around as much as possible in Rat Force One, as I will be needing to attend many important meetings, as well as checking in with my various fashion designers.  Plus, I want to continue to on with my plan to plant southern flora all over the country.  My dear Mother says this earth has always gone through climate changes and we are all vain to think we can have such an impact on God’s creation.  I don’t know about that, but I need to go look at myself in the mirror right now …. Tell Little Miss Nora hello .

K.S.

Dear Candidate Lola,

Bless your little heart, I am glad things worked out for you with your vet’s appointment.  These tabloids can be mean and vicious.  Why, they actually accuse me of being spoiled!  Even though we are opponents,  we agree on the issue of tabloids.

Dear, you might want to reconsider rear shots, they are not the most flattering to your figure.

K.S.

.

Dear Katie Scarlett,

What a gracious candidate you are for providing the Lola campaign with style advice! Attached is the new and improved Tennis Ball Workout flyer.

Sincerely,

-The Lola Campaign

A Special Announcement From The Campaign to Elect Marley President

     Presidential candidate Marley has launched his cross country campaign aboard the "Straight Bark Express" in an effort to promote his presidential platform for all the ratties of Rattieland.  When asked where his campaign would take him Marley replied, "I shall be stopping as often as possible to check the condition of fire hydrants nationwide.  It has come to my attention this integral part of our infrastructure is in deplorable shape.  So, my fellow ratties, it is my pledge to you that I have made this issue a priority in my campaign.  I vow to beautify this necessary part of the infrastructure of Rattieland so that all ratties will have a beautiful view while taking care of their daily business."

     Marley then boarded the "Straight Bark Express" and departed for his first stop in Ohio.

THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE LOLA CAMPAIGN:

"My fellow Ratties,

I was just so impressed by some of your campaign websites that I coerced my (very bored) human into building me one!  It is now open at http://lolatherattie.googlepages.com.

Thanks, and have a pleasant day in Rattieland!

Sincerely,
Lola"

Rattie Courier Journal                                              Sunday, June 29, 2008

Katie Scarlett makes history, being the first Rat Terrier since the days of Teddy Roosevelt to be invited to the White House.  Her final stop on this leg of her campaign tour was to visit President Bush today.  When asked why she felt it important to see Mr. Bush, KS explained, "Ratties have a very close relationship with their humans and I felt to further that relationship along I needed to meet with their president and discuss their needs.  After all, a happy human makes for a happy Rattie.  And I also wanted to check out the lovely decor of the White House." 

Katie Scarlett will be returning home today to be with her mother saying, "All Southern Belles have a strong sense of family and it is my duty to be by my mother's side in her time of need.  Dixie, of course, will be there also.  Dixie will lie on the floor next to mother.  I will snuggle on the sofa with her, as I am so petite and special."

Katie has gotten her way and a small webpage:

http://kscarlettmompres.googlepages.com/home

Geeze.

My Dear Katie Scarlett,

     I have just viewed your web page.  I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I found it to be quite charming and certainly befitting a southern bell.

     Well, my dear, my plane, The Straight Bark Express, is about to take off so that I may continue my inspection of the infrastructure of our great country.  So, I must bid you farewell for now.

I remain your most humble servant,

Marley--Lord Dunmore the Duke of Albemarle