The Cobb Prob
The Cobb Prob
The Cobb Prob
The Shadow Chair
Leading from the Back… of the Room, with Snacks.
No meetings were called though the months drifted by,
Just silence and stillness beneath a red sky.
Petitions were filed with respectful intent —
But into the void those papers were sent.
A figure was placed where the leader should be,
But spoke not a word, like a stump of a tree.
They sat with a title but no sense of spark —
While choices were made from somewhere in the dark.
The halls once were lively with voices and cheer,
But something had shifted — the purpose unclear.
Though one held the gavel and sat in the seat,
The real voice of power stayed out of the heat.
The watchers grew puzzled — “Was this meant to be?
Is this what it means to lead openly?”
But answers were scarce and motions ignored,
And the people grew tired, confused, and bored.
When questions were asked, they were brushed to the side,
With murmurs of “peace” and “we must all abide.”
Those who stepped forward to offer their say
Were gently but firmly pushed far, far away.
Then rumors began in the quiet of night,
Where calm masks were worn to conceal quiet spite.
They called dissent dangerous, messy, and loud —
Though none made mess but the ones with a crowd.
The newsfeeds went quiet, the updates all ceased,
The pulse of the party had subtly decreased.
No posts, no replies, no rallying call —
Just velvet-wrapped silence that smothered it all.
The ones at the edge began drifting away,
Their questions unanswered, their passion turned gray.
They hadn’t defected — they simply sat still,
No longer believing that hope had goodwill.
And still in the chamber where silence remained,
While titles endured but nothing was gained.
What looked like a leader was more like a vase —
Just holding the shape but with nobody's face.
So if you find power that's quiet and bare,
Where orders come softly from somewhere back there —
Then maybe it isn’t just apathy’s air…
You might be caught under The Shadow Chair.
FAQ
What is an oligarchy, and why should I care?
An oligarchy is when a small group of people hold most of the power — making decisions behind closed doors, often without input from the wider community. It matters because when power is concentrated, the voices of everyday citizens get ignored.
Why does this matter for regular Republicans in Cobb?
Because your voice, your precinct, and your values should matter — not just the opinions of a select few. When we allow power to concentrate, the party stops being representative of its people.
Why do you think an oligarchy exists in the Cobb GOP?
The signs are hard to ignore. A small group of insiders have controlled key decisions — from nominations to finances — often without transparency or broad input. Many grassroots voices have been sidelined, and important roles are passed within the same circle. When leadership positions and major decisions are limited to just a few people, rather than being open to the full body of engaged Republicans, that’s not democracy — that’s oligarchy. CobbProb.com exists to shine a light on this and call for accountability.
Are there any good examples of oligarchies and their effects?
Absolutely. One of the most famous examples in American history is Tammany Hall — a political organization in New York City that was run by a small group of insiders for decades. They controlled elections, handed out favors, and blocked outsiders from participating unless they were loyal to the inner circle. While it started as a grassroots movement, it eventually became an oligarchy that prioritized loyalty over merit, leading to corruption, voter suppression, and public distrust. It shows how even democratic systems can be hijacked by a few — if no one is watching.
Is Cobb County’s GOP run like an oligarchy?
Unfortunately, it seems that way. A few individuals have made key decisions without transparency or accountability — leaving many hardworking grassroots members out of the loop. CobbProb.com was created to spotlight this issue and restore balance.
Is this about tearing down the party?
No — it’s about building it back better. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. When we expose unhealthy power structures, we can strengthen the party with integrity, transparency, and strong grassroots involvement.
Why do you think the Cobb GOP is being run like an oligarchy?
When a small group can maintain control with minimal participation, there's no motivation to expand or empower the broader base. Here’s what we’ve seen: Less than 300 delegates voted at the 2025 County Convention, despite 1278 delegate seats being available. That’s less than 25% representation. The Vice Chair of Grassroots, the very person responsible for filling those delegate seats, failed to do so — and instead of being held accountable, was brought onto the new Chair’s leadership team. That’s not reform — that’s reward for gatekeeping. With such a small voting base, just a few dozen well-placed votes can secure internal elections. Keeping participation low protects the influence of the few. Unless challenged they will never recruit new members. Meanwhile, 160,000 Cobb residents voted for Trump in 2024, and the county has over 760,000 people — but a tiny circle decides who leads the Cobb GOP. These aren’t just coincidences — they’re classic signs of oligarchy: low transparency, closed leadership loops, and zero incentive to resolve it. CobbProb.com exists to expose this, educate voters, and rebuild a party that actually represents its people — not just its power brokers.
How do we fix this?
By organizing the grassroots and filling the empty seats. In 2024, over 160,000 Republicans in Cobb County voted for Donald Trump — yet only a few hundred are active in the local party. If just 1% of those voters — 1,600 people — got involved as delegates, precinct leaders, or committee members, we could completely reshape the Cobb GOP. Our target is 2.5% — around 4,000 engaged conservatives — enough to dismantle the oligarchy and restore local control to the grassroots.
What is an oligarchy, and why should I care?
An oligarchy is when a small group of people hold most of the power — making decisions behind closed doors, often without input from the wider community. It matters because when power is concentrated, the voices of everyday citizens get ignored.
Why does this matter for regular Republicans in Cobb?
Because your voice, your precinct, and your values should matter — not just the opinions of a select few. When we allow power to concentrate, the party stops being representative of its people.
Why do you think an oligarchy exists in the Cobb GOP?
The signs are hard to ignore. A small group of insiders have controlled key decisions — from nominations to finances — often without transparency or broad input. Many grassroots voices have been sidelined, and important roles are passed within the same circle. When leadership positions and major decisions are limited to just a few people, rather than being open to the full body of engaged Republicans, that’s not democracy — that’s oligarchy. CobbProb.com exists to shine a light on this and call for accountability.
Are there any good examples of oligarchies and their effects?
Absolutely. One of the most famous examples in American history is Tammany Hall — a political organization in New York City that was run by a small group of insiders for decades. They controlled elections, handed out favors, and blocked outsiders from participating unless they were loyal to the inner circle. While it started as a grassroots movement, it eventually became an oligarchy that prioritized loyalty over merit, leading to corruption, voter suppression, and public distrust. It shows how even democratic systems can be hijacked by a few — if no one is watching.
Is Cobb County’s GOP run like an oligarchy?
Unfortunately, it seems that way. A few individuals have made key decisions without transparency or accountability — leaving many hardworking grassroots members out of the loop. CobbProb.com was created to spotlight this issue and restore balance.
Is this about tearing down the party?
No — it’s about building it back better. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. When we expose unhealthy power structures, we can strengthen the party with integrity, transparency, and strong grassroots involvement.
Why do you think the Cobb GOP is being run like an oligarchy?
When a small group can maintain control with minimal participation, there's no motivation to expand or empower the broader base. Here’s what we’ve seen: Less than 300 delegates voted at the 2025 County Convention, despite 1278 delegate seats being available. That’s less than 25% representation. The Vice Chair of Grassroots, the very person responsible for filling those delegate seats, failed to do so — and instead of being held accountable, was brought onto the new Chair’s leadership team. That’s not reform — that’s reward for gatekeeping. With such a small voting base, just a few dozen well-placed votes can secure internal elections. Keeping participation low protects the influence of the few. Unless challenged they will never recruit new members. Meanwhile, 160,000 Cobb residents voted for Trump in 2024, and the county has over 760,000 people — but a tiny circle decides who leads the Cobb GOP. These aren’t just coincidences — they’re classic signs of oligarchy: low transparency, closed leadership loops, and zero incentive to resolve it. CobbProb.com exists to expose this, educate voters, and rebuild a party that actually represents its people — not just its power brokers.
How do we fix this?
By organizing the grassroots and filling the empty seats. In 2024, over 160,000 Republicans in Cobb County voted for Donald Trump — yet only a few hundred are active in the local party. If just 1% of those voters — 1,600 people — got involved as delegates, precinct leaders, or committee members, we could completely reshape the Cobb GOP. Our target is 2.5% — around 4,000 engaged conservatives — enough to dismantle the oligarchy and restore local control to the grassroots.
What is an oligarchy, and why should I care?
An oligarchy is when a small group of people hold most of the power — making decisions behind closed doors, often without input from the wider community. It matters because when power is concentrated, the voices of everyday citizens get ignored.
Why does this matter for regular Republicans in Cobb?
Because your voice, your precinct, and your values should matter — not just the opinions of a select few. When we allow power to concentrate, the party stops being representative of its people.
Why do you think an oligarchy exists in the Cobb GOP?
The signs are hard to ignore. A small group of insiders have controlled key decisions — from nominations to finances — often without transparency or broad input. Many grassroots voices have been sidelined, and important roles are passed within the same circle. When leadership positions and major decisions are limited to just a few people, rather than being open to the full body of engaged Republicans, that’s not democracy — that’s oligarchy. CobbProb.com exists to shine a light on this and call for accountability.
Are there any good examples of oligarchies and their effects?
Absolutely. One of the most famous examples in American history is Tammany Hall — a political organization in New York City that was run by a small group of insiders for decades. They controlled elections, handed out favors, and blocked outsiders from participating unless they were loyal to the inner circle. While it started as a grassroots movement, it eventually became an oligarchy that prioritized loyalty over merit, leading to corruption, voter suppression, and public distrust. It shows how even democratic systems can be hijacked by a few — if no one is watching.
Is Cobb County’s GOP run like an oligarchy?
Unfortunately, it seems that way. A few individuals have made key decisions without transparency or accountability — leaving many hardworking grassroots members out of the loop. CobbProb.com was created to spotlight this issue and restore balance.
Is this about tearing down the party?
No — it’s about building it back better. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. When we expose unhealthy power structures, we can strengthen the party with integrity, transparency, and strong grassroots involvement.
Why do you think the Cobb GOP is being run like an oligarchy?
When a small group can maintain control with minimal participation, there's no motivation to expand or empower the broader base. Here’s what we’ve seen: Less than 300 delegates voted at the 2025 County Convention, despite 1278 delegate seats being available. That’s less than 25% representation. The Vice Chair of Grassroots, the very person responsible for filling those delegate seats, failed to do so — and instead of being held accountable, was brought onto the new Chair’s leadership team. That’s not reform — that’s reward for gatekeeping. With such a small voting base, just a few dozen well-placed votes can secure internal elections. Keeping participation low protects the influence of the few. Unless challenged they will never recruit new members. Meanwhile, 160,000 Cobb residents voted for Trump in 2024, and the county has over 760,000 people — but a tiny circle decides who leads the Cobb GOP. These aren’t just coincidences — they’re classic signs of oligarchy: low transparency, closed leadership loops, and zero incentive to resolve it. CobbProb.com exists to expose this, educate voters, and rebuild a party that actually represents its people — not just its power brokers.
How do we fix this?
By organizing the grassroots and filling the empty seats. In 2024, over 160,000 Republicans in Cobb County voted for Donald Trump — yet only a few hundred are active in the local party. If just 1% of those voters — 1,600 people — got involved as delegates, precinct leaders, or committee members, we could completely reshape the Cobb GOP. Our target is 2.5% — around 4,000 engaged conservatives — enough to dismantle the oligarchy and restore local control to the grassroots.
Concerned?
Sign up today.
Then follow us on X
Cobb Prob is powered by satire, stubbornness, and caffeine.
If you’ve laughed, raised an eyebrow, or whispered “wait… is that legal?” —
buy a tea and help keep the Chairbeasts nervous.
Concerned?
Sign up today.
Then follow us on X
Cobb Prob is powered by satire, stubbornness, and caffeine.
If you’ve laughed, raised an eyebrow, or whispered “wait… is that legal?” —
buy a tea and help keep the Chairbeasts nervous.
Concerned?
Sign up today.
Then follow us on X
Cobb Prob is powered by satire, stubbornness, and caffeine.
If you’ve laughed, raised an eyebrow, or whispered “wait… is that legal?” —
buy a tea and help keep the Chairbeasts nervous.
© The Cobb Prob. 2025
The Cobb Prob is a work of satire and creative commentary.
All characters, stories, and illustrations are entirely fictional and exist solely to entertain, inform, and provoke thought.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and unintentional.
If you happen to see yourself in these tales — that’s between you and your conscience.
© The Cobb Prob. 2025
The Cobb Prob is a work of satire and creative commentary.
All characters, stories, and illustrations are entirely fictional and exist solely to entertain, inform, and provoke thought.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and unintentional.
If you happen to see yourself in these tales — that’s between you and your conscience.
© The Cobb Prob. 2025
The Cobb Prob is a work of satire and creative commentary.
All characters, stories, and illustrations are entirely fictional and exist solely to entertain, inform, and provoke thought.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and unintentional.
If you happen to see yourself in these tales — that’s between you and your conscience.