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Alabama Republican National Committee Woman and Chair of the Jefferson County Commission Betty Fine Collins Goes to National GOP Meeting While Her County Burns Into Bankruptcy...Will Gov. Riley Send the State Jet After Her?
August 3, 2009
Gov. Bob Riley, who refused to issue an emergency declaration sought by County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins, has promised to call a special session in August if the county's legislators can agree on a bill.
The budget crisis struck while county officials were wrestling with the prospect of filing what would be the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history over some $3.9 billion in sewer bonds it can no longer afford to repay.
Lenders have granted extensions as payments come due and a federal court is reviewing sewer system operations. But just like with the tax problems, commissioners can't agree on a course of action.
Collins was attending a Republican National Committee meeting in San Diego and won't be back until next week, when two of her three aides are going on unpaid leave.
"It will just be me after today," said Donna Deloach, her assistant.
Big Dipper Byrne
Bradley Byrne, immediate past Chancellor of Alabama's 2 year college system and GOP gubernatorial candidate, who's ironically running on a platform of ethics reform, has made a name for himself by going after legislators who also hold a job with the education system. These legislators/educators were shrewdly framed by the GOP and right wing media as being "double dippers" because they were working in a state job and also held an elected position.
However, these elected officials that Byrne targeted were making nowhere near the $250K+ a year that he himself was making. What's worse is that Bryne never once called into question his own exorbitant salary during the entire tenure of his Chancellorship. Never once did he say, "Whoa, wait a minute, this is a lot and we can save the taxpayers some money." No, he just took it and every single raise thereafter too.
From a Dothan Eagle editorial:
"Now the pay for the chancellor of two-year schools is closer to $300,000 per year -- almost 20 percent higher than the average compensation and benefits for community college chancellors nationwide, and 50 percent more than the state school superintendent, who oversees Alabama's K-12 system."
Mr. Byrne, you've gone after "double dippers", but the fact is, you're the "biggest dipper" of all.
Party Control Map of State Legislatures
Don't prosecute dumb people?
June 11, 2009
According to an article in the Huntsville Times, Alabama GOP Chair Mike Hubbard, doesn't think that dumb people should be prosecuted for violating the law. Do wha?
His quote came in reference to a fradulent letter posted to a website by Dale Jackson, a rightwing radio host out of Huntsville, that used the Secretary of State's seal and instructed voters for Laura Hall in Senate District 7 to vote on the day after the election.
We've seen these types of campaign tactics performed by the GOP all over the country. They are in no way, shape or form funny, and they have been used time and again to confuse and disenfranchise voters.
Hubbard called the letter "idiotic", but added "I don't think you prosecute a guy for being dumb."
Ya know, if we used that logic in our legal system, then people who commit dumb crimes, which is like ALL OF THEM, shouldn't be prosecuted. Mr. Chairman, we'll just assume you had a momentary lapse of reason.
Google Map of AL Congressional Distircts
Navigate your way through using the Google utilities provided.
District 1 - Jo Bonner (R)
District 2 - Bobby Bright (D)
District 3 - Mike Rogers (R)
District 4 - Robert Aderholt (R)
District 5 - Parker Griffith (D)
District 6 - Spencer Bachus (R)
District 7 - Artur Davis (D)
Riley Could Care Less About Alabama's Unemployed
February 25, 2009
Following in the dark shadows of some of his GOP southern Governor colleagues, Gov. Bob Riley has threatened to reject "some" of the stimulus money passed recently by Congress and signed by President Obama.
Democrats have been clear and honest that the bill isn't perfect, but the package has passed and there's no doubt that it will keep some people working and will inject much needed capital into the economy quickly. What's ridiculous is that economists believe that the funds Riley and other GOP Governors are trying to reject is some of the most critical.
The GOP is making the argument that they don't want deficit spending, but yet they went along lock step with Bush every time he proposed a budget that was overinflated with tax cuts for the rich, war spending with no bid contracts to Haliburton, and pork projects like the bridge to nowhere. According to Jonah Goldberg, one of their own pundits, "...their (the GOP) recently discovered hatred for deficit spending is long overdue, but hardly persuasive given the previous eight years. The disconnect between their past actions and the requirements of the present crisis lend credibility to the charge that Republicans are just being petulant and partisan."
Governor, are you really that mean and cold hearted, to deny people unemployment who are just about to, or are losing their jobs? Families are hurting in this economy and your effort to put petty partisan politics before Alabamians in dire need is disgusting and a disgrace.
Red Herring Riley Strikes Again
Montgomery, AL - The Alabama Democratic Party today says the new "Gambling Task Force" created by Republican Governor Bob Riley and ALGOP political strategists was created in order to avoid embarrassment over their lack of leadership and focus on what is most important for Alabamians. It was also an outright effort to blame foes like Troy King for the correct rule of law in regards to local constitutional amendments passed by the citizens of Alabama in an election.
Governor Riley is a lame duck governor who could have taken this opportunity to ease the strain on Alabama's revenues and the economy. Instead, he wants to continue placing an undue burden on the least fortunate of Alabama families under the state's regressive tax structure. This is all a grand scheme and is a continuation of his 2010 campaign to gain control of the legislature through scare tactics, and it is an insult to the people of Alabama.
Struggling families will now get no tax relief and have their problems compounded when their children attend underfunded schools. Because of the Governor's proration, many school teachers will get pink slips and proceed to teach in Georgia and Mississippi because of the Governor's inaction about what Alabama needs.
Regardless of how much money Riley raises for his 2010 campaign and the people of Alabama will see through his hollow and callous move of Riley's. Creating this task force during a state hiring freeze is simply a red herring in an effort to keep Alabama's eyes off the real problems facing the state.
P.S. - Maybe now Twinkle can earn her $80,000 salary. She, like other members of the Riley team including Michael Scanlon, Dan Gans, and Dax Swatek, does have experience in dealing with the Choctaw Gambling in Mississippi.
Continue reading "Red Herring Riley Strikes Again"
Bailout Fallout
Vote 2008: Alabama newspapers endorse Obama by 2-1 margin
Barack Obama remains ahead in the polls, and Alabama's newspapers are following in line...
Continue reading "Vote 2008: Alabama newspapers endorse Obama by 2-1 margin"
Obama Y'all on VH1!!
Check out the stylish young lady on the front row!
The Best Justice Money Can Buy
By Scott Horton
Alabama Governor Bob Riley has announced that he will not ask the Alabama Supreme Court to reconsider its shocking decision to throw out a $3.6 billion jury award that the state secured against oil giant Exxon Mobil. The judgment arose from a dispute over royalties owed to the state over natural gas wells drilled offshore in Mobile bay and along the Alabama shoreline. The decision was a completely partisan split, with eight Republican judges voting to throw out the award, and the court's sole Democrat, Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, issuing a blistering dissent.
Most Alabamians were stunned by the decision, which would have meant a dramatic revenue windfall to the state--an opportunity to pull itself up out of the national cellar in areas such as public education, for instance. But should they have been surprised?
Alabama is one of a handful of states in the nation that elects its judges. And judicial elections in Alabama have gotten astonishingly expensive. Essentially they involve a battle to the death between two special interests, each determined to exercise control over the courts. On one hand, it's the trial lawyers. On the other, it's the business interests represented in various associations and chambers of commerce. B ut these are not exactly evenly matched opponents. The business community is capable of, and does, outspend the trial lawyers by a fairly dramatic multiple.
One of my friends who specializes in raising campaign money for political candidates tells me that "most politicians reflect the interests of the constituents they represent." After a pause for effect, he adds, "and they count every dollar they raise for their campaigns as another constituent." A sad and lamentable fact of life for our democratic system. It's become a system in which campaign dollars speak as powerfully as voters... or perhaps more powerfully. States that elect their judges are finding the same phenomenon across the board. The races are increasingly politicized and partisan (even when they're "nonpartisan"), money pours into the state from outside, and viable candidates have to raise enormous sums to be taken seriously. The candidates all declare that the donations don't affect their attitudes and decisions. And once on the bench, their votes reflect something quite different. It's a national disgrace.
Continue reading "The Best Justice Money Can Buy"
This Says it All...
October 1, 2008
Economic Woes
September 19, 2008
This video is courtesy of Brightcove.comMcCain Forgets How Many Houses He Owns (yeah right)
August 21, 2008
Is John McCain so oblivious to the world around him that he doesn't know how many houses he owns. According to an interview of McCain in New Mexico on Wednesday, he told reporters "I think -- I'll have my staff get to you," when asked how many houses he owned. "It's condominiums where -- I'll have them get to you."
Need I say anything more about this or is it embarrassing enough in and of itself? In response Obama said, "...John McCain has seven homes. There's just a fundamental gap of understanding between John McCain's world and what people are going through every single day here in America. You don't have to be a Nobel Prize-laureate economist, you just have to have a little bit of a sense of what ordinary people are going through to understand that we can't afford eight more years or four more years or one more year of the failed economic policies that George Bush has put in place."
Continue reading "McCain Forgets How Many Houses He Owns (yeah right)"
Who's to blame?
July 9, 2008
I was surprised to read an editorial today by the Mobile Register entitled "State has low taxes, atrocious tax system". Reason being is that they actually sounded progressive. I've copied the article and you can read it by clicking Permalink below. I agreed with just about everything they had to say until I read one of the last lines, which states:
"Put most of the blame on the state's wacky tax system and the Legislature's unwillingness to change it."
I'd have to disagree completely with the rationale by the Register that it's somehow the Legislature's fault because they are unwilling to change it. For years Democrats in the Legislature have worked to try and change the system, many of them even supported Bob Riley's 1 Billion Amd 1 bill, but it's Republicans in that body, Republicans that the Register consistly supports, who vehemently oppose any change in our current "wacky tax system."
Continue reading "Who's to blame?"
GOP Congressional Candidates Try to Buy Seats
May 29, 2008
According to recent FEC filings, a number of Republican candidates, vying for Alabama's open congressional seats, have poured in a total of nearly $2 million dollars into their campaigns in an effort to buy the seats.
From reporter Mary Orndorff at the Birmingham News, "Oral surgeon Craig Schmidtke of Dothan has contributed $527,855 to his campaign. He is one of six Republicans seeking the nomination to replace Rep. Terry Everett, R-Rehobeth, who is retiring at the end of the year. In the same primary, Jay Love of Montgomery, a state legislator and former restaurant owner, has upped his personal ante to $500,000 in campaign loans in recent days."
"Up north in the 5th District, Huntsville lawyer Cheryl Ann Baswell Guthrie this week triggered the millionaire's amendment, having increased her personal spending to $435,524. She is running in the Republican primary to replace Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, who is retiring."
...
"Two other Republicans in the 2nd District are six-figure donors to their campaigns, as well. David Woods, a broadcasting executive in Montgomery, has lent $250,000 to his campaign. State Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb contributed about $18,000 and lent $124,000. On Tuesday, she added $150,000 more, FEC records show."
The question is, do Alabamians want a candidate who is willing to buy their way into Congress?
Newpapers Contradict One Another
May 27, 2008
This weekend, the Huntsville Times and Montgomery Advertiser endorsed candidates for President of the Public Service Commission race on the GOP side (we've already nominated Lucy Baxley). However, while the Times and Advertiser both endorsed Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, they had two very different things to say about her.
From the Times...
"Though she is best known in her former role as Republican Party [Chair] and more recently as an aide to Gov. Bob Riley, Cavanaugh has gained a solid working knowledge of state government and understands that the position at the PSC requires someone who can be nonpartisan when it comes to the duties of the office."
From the Advertiser...
"[Cavanaugh's] endorsement does not come without some reservations about [her] highly partisan political background. She was chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and a former staffer at the Republican National Committee in Washington. Should she end up as PSC president, Alabamians should hope -- indeed, expect -- that she will not be unduly influenced by such ties. Utility regulation, after all, should be about fairness for consumers and providers, not about politics."
In 2006, Cavanaugh was quoted as saying "With each election cycle, it becomes more and more obvious that the pendulum continues to swing toward the Alabama Republican Party. Alabama will soon be a solid red state on both the state and national levels."
With all due respect to the Times, it's plainly obvious that Cavanaugh, having served at every level of the Republican Party, is completely incapable of being non-partisan. In fact, she is by trade the ultimate partisan. If the people of this state really want someone who's non-partisan, then Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh is the last person on the ballot they should trust.
"Republicans Pretend to be Conservative Every Day"
May 16, 2008
Just recently, the ALGOP posted a blog piece (ironically the day after the GOP lost a Congressional seat in Mississippi) entitled "Democrats are not Conservative, Period". Funny though that conservative columnist, and former speechwriter for Pres. Reagan, Peggy Noonan wrote the following today:
"This was a real wakeup call for us," someone named Robert M. Duncan, who is chairman of the Republican National Committee, told the New York Times. This was after Mississippi. "We can't let the Democrats take our issues." And those issues would be? "We can't let them pretend to be conservatives," he continued. Why not? Republicans pretend to be conservative every day.
Ouch. Once consistent Republican voters are now leaving their party in droves. It's obvious why.....the GOP hasn't performed. They get out there and campaign on hot-button and divisive issues, yet when it comes to getting it done in Washington, they've accomplished nothing with regards to the real crises facing this country.
With a Democratic Congress and President coming, a strong conservative Democrat representing Alabama may very well be in the best interests of the voters in that particular district. Ask yourself the question: Do I want a minority GOP member of Congress who has nothing in the way of influence and leadership (hello AL districts 2, 3, 4 and 5), or do I want a conservative Democrat who will be in the majority in 2009 and who will be able to better take care of his/her district? It's a real no-brainer.
Food Costs Rising, Wages Stagnant, Grocery Tax Must Go
April 15, 2008
According to this Associated Press article, food costs are rising the fastest they've risen in 17 years.
"The U.S. is wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17 years, and analysts expect new data due on Wednesday to show it's getting worse...U.S. food prices rose 4 percent in 2007, compared with an average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the agency says 2008 could be worse, with a rise of as much as 4.5 percent."
In addition, according to this AP article, income for wealthy Alabamians has shot up consistently.
"The study ["Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends," by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonprofit based in Washington] shows that the wealthiest 20 percent of families in Alabama have seen their income increase by 42.7 percent over the last two decades, while the poorest 20 percent have seen an increase of only 5.6 percent. That gives the richest 20 percent of families average incomes that are 8.5 times as big as those of the poorest 20 percent in Alabama.
Since the late 1990s, the picture has been even more bleak for Alabama's poorest families, who have watched their income drop 17.4 percent, while the top 20 percent saw an increase of 9.6 percent."
The Alabama Democratic Party Chair has called out Governor Riley and Republican Leaders on the food tax, and said that anyone opposing the bill, which would drop the sales taxes on groceries, is not serious about real tax cuts or assisting the working class in Alabama.
"Governor Riley and his republican legislative leadership want to cut taxes for the wealthiest of Alabama and leave working families who live week to week at the back of the grocery store checkout line without help. This initiative by Rep. Knight has been worked and perfected over the years and now is the time to get this measure passed. Every Alabama consumer will immediately see increased purchasing power for the most basic necessity - food."
At a time of rising food costs, stagnant wages, and a worsening of income inequality in Alabama, the time to pass this bill is now. If this isn't a moral issue, I don't know what is. So far, only a minority of republicans have been willing to do the right thing. Will the rest of the ALGOP back the rich, or the least of these?
Doc's: Rogers' Rank Disappointment
April 3, 2008
According to Doc's Political Parlor:
The recent independent rankings of congressional influence had to be unsettling for Mike Rogers (R - Saks).
Rogers not only has the least influence of any Alabama Republican, but of the 46 House members elected in 2002, Rogers comes in 44th...
http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/04/02/rogers-rank-disappointment/
McCain Gaffe Shows He's Incapable of Being President
March 19, 2008
Question: what's worse, a Presidential candidate whose former preacher said some really stupid things, or McCain who is the GOP nominee running for President saying some really stupid things?
It wouldn't have been so bad had McCain messed up just once (as shown in the video), but as Keith Olberman pointed out on Countdown this night, he did it three times in the past 24 hours.
The McCain campaign tried to tread water stating that "McCain misspoke and immediately corrected himself by stating that Iran is in fact supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not Al Qaeda..."
Uhh, wait, don't you mean corrected by fellow war hawk Lieberman?
But again, he also said the same thing here the day before on the Hugh Hewitt Radio Show:
"... As you know, there are al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they're moving back into Iraq. ..."
Eight years of blunders by George Bush is enough. We don't need "More of the Same McCain." Hell, we can't afford it!
Corruption Alabama Style
March 12, 2008
If you haven't been paying much attention, and you're an American, and especially if you are living in Alabama, then listen up! There's corruption here on a level far beyond anything you've ever imagined.
Yes, that's right. It's corruption on such a grand scale, and on so many levels, that it's almost impossible to believe or comprehend. Yet Scott Horton of Harper's Magazine has been doing a brilliant job putting the pieces of the puzzle together. In one of his latest bits about the recent fiasco whereby federal Marshals attempted to serve subpoenas to targeted members of the Legislature during the middle of a session, he says:
Indeed, the modern Alabama G.O.P. doesn't believe in going into the field the old-fashioned way-by identifying a strong candidate to stand in the district, raising money for a campaign, and contesting the seat on the issues. This approach is entirely too expensive and speculative. The new strategy involves using tax-payer resources to trash political opponents. The U.S. Department of Justice is to conduct criminal investigations, the essence of which is meticulously leaked to the cooperating press in an effort to smear Democratic political figures....
And this is just a small snippit about what's been going on in Alabama. I'm going to have to start a whole new section on this website with links and information about this ALGOP corruption, just to try and make sense out of the vastness of the issue. Indeed there's even more to it than Don Siegelman, Dem Legislators, Mike Hubbard, Bob Riley, the Bush DOJ, Karl Rove etc.
In fact, you should know, it also infects the Alabama Judicial system, with the Republican Supreme Court, who has recently overthrown two jury verdicts against oil-giant Exxon even when it was proven in court that they were guilty of intentially defrauding Alabama taxpayers millions upon millions of dollars in royalty payments.
The GOP court has also changed their rules over the years, and now denies citizens an explanation of why their case has been tossed out like dirty laundry. Instead of doing it the honest way, by giving an opinion as to why the case is not going to be heard, the court rejects case after case and gives no opinion of why. The reason; because they have no good legal reason to reject it and they know it, and a lot of times they are even ignoring the law! It's called an "affirm no opinion", and these GOP Justices are getting away with injustice, but nobody, including the press, has picked up on it.
It's time to wake up Alabama. Forget about reading the daily newspaper. They unfortunately aren't going to give you good information any more. I hate to say that, but it's true. Corporations control the media, and they have stymied real journalism. Read Harper's, and the Huffington Post, other local blogs in our links section, and online new sources, b/c if you don't, then you're just going to be living in the dark.
Notes on Gov. Dean Visit to Alabama
March 12, 2008
Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, spoke to a group at the Summit Club in Birmingham, as well as two groups in Montgomery. This is an exciting time for the Democratic Party. Rather than finding the current primary fight divisive, Governor Dean said it has engaged more people in the political process. More people voted last Tuesday in the Texas Democratic primary than voted for John Kerry in the last presidential election in Texas. He also said there is a generational change happening with the voting public - the under 30s are voting in bigger numbers and their issues are different - climate change, Darfur, multiculturalism - than the older voter.
Continue reading "Notes on Gov. Dean Visit to Alabama"
Primary Vote Counting
March 10, 2008
So, I knew it had been a long time since I've posted anything on the blog, but i was amazed when I found it's been nearly a month. That's pretty pitiful. However, I've got a good excuse. I've been too busy to even think about posting anything on this blog.
From certying the primary results, which took way too long by the way (not by our own fault), to a fairly contentious SDEC meeting, to the opening of candidate qualifying, and now on to a visit by DNC Chair Howard Dean, to name a few things, well, it's been wild.
I have to say though, that certifying the primary has been the biggest hurdle. Matter of fact, it's been one of the biggest tests for me in the eight years I've worked for this Party. The main reason being that our state does not have a statewide central vote counting machine. The company that maintains all the vote equipment and who prints the ballots statewide, Electronic Systems and Services, does a good job considering the workload they have, but they have yet to install a statewide counter.
Continue reading "Primary Vote Counting"
ALGOP Spam
February 12, 2008
In what can only be considered useless spam, the Alabama GOP sent out the following email today:
On August 15, 2006 - 546 days ago - the Democrats promised that they (through their "Covenant For The Future") would "introduce legislation as required and ensure a vote to enact" a bill to "Stop annual property tax increases by returning property reappraisals to a four-year cycle." To date, 546 days later, this has not happened and we encourage the Democratic Party to fulfill their "Covenant" with the people and use their majority to let this bill pass.
Two things make this really pitiful. First it has no substance to even back up their argument. Second, it lies b/c we all know that Riley enacted four year reappraisels with the stroke of his pen, and he could easily reverse it in the same way.
It really is amateur hour over there with GOP Chair Hubbard and Communications Director Philip Bryan.
McCain Loses Ground in Home State
February 3, 2008
If you're McCain, the last thing you want to do is lose in your home state, but according to a recent poll, Mitt Romney is within striking distance of beating the Arizona Senator.
The Rasmussen poll indicates the McCain vs. Romney matchup is at 43% - 34%. That's just 9 points!
By comparison, Clinton is leading Obama by 18 points in New York, and Obama leads Clinton by 31 points in Illinois. What's more, Romney leads in his home state of Massachussets by 23 points, and Huckabee leads in Arkansas by 50 points.
Clearly not all Arizona Republican's are big fans of McCain. There's no doubt he ought to be cleaning house in the state which he represents like the rest of the field. Question is, why?
Irene the Official Democratic Donkey
January 28, 2008
Sessions Inanely Blocks Recidivism Bill
January 21, 2008
Recently, you may have seen that Sen. Jeff Sessions held up a prisoner rehab bill in the US Senate. The bill, which would have provided "grants that can go toward helping the recently incarcerated find employment, housing, substance abuse treatment and other assistance", passed the house by a huge bi-partisan margin.
Sessions claims "the proposal increases spending on grants for state and local governments from $16 million to $55 million... and argued that some of those programs have not been fully evaluated and may duplicate existing programs.
But Sessions' excuse to block the bill is weak and hypocritical, especially when you consider the broad bi-partisan support for this bill, and how Republican's like Sessions have almost doubled the national deficit from five to nearly 10 trillion dollars in just eight years!
Sen. Sessions, the war in Iraq is costing us five or six hundred billion dollars a year, you insist that we should give your rich buddies a nice tax break while the economy is tanking and working families are struggling, and now you suggest an increase of merely $40 millions dollars to keep people from going back to prison is a bad idea?
You really have no idea how poorly you represent our state. It's just too bad that voters in Alabama haven't woken up to this obvious fact.
Lt. Governor Folsom: Exxon Must Pay Their Fair Share
January 17, 2008
To the people of Alabama:
If something is not done, the recent decision by the Alabama Supreme Court siding with Exxon and reversing an Alabama jury’s multi-billion-dollar verdict will have devastating consequences on the people of Alabama. Only the Court’s Chief Justice sided with the people in the case against Exxon that was brought because Exxon was not paying the full royalties they owed for oil and gas they purchased from Alabama wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2003, after a lengthy trial, an Alabama jury said Exxon owed the state $102 million in additional royalties, plus interest, for gas Exxon had pumped from Mobile Bay. The jury also imposed punitive damages of almost $12 billion dollars, which the trial court judge reduced to $3.5 billion. Then, the Supreme Court reversed even that.
Continue reading "Lt. Governor Folsom: Exxon Must Pay Their Fair Share"
Ex-Commissioner Speaks Out on Exxon Ruling
January 9, 2008
Published 12/13/07 at www.beasleyallen.com
Jim Martin, who served as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources when Exxon was caught cheating the State, is fully aware of what he describes as the giant oil company's "fraudulent conduct." Jim told Phil Rawls, who is with Associated Press, that "this was a case where Exxon cheated the State of Alabama and believed it could get away with intentional wrongdoing." In this regard, he made this observation:
When a powerful and politically influential corporate giant can get away with what Exxon did to the citizens of our State, it's truly a sad day for Alabama. This wasn't just a case where the terms of a contract were not lived up to - it was outright fraud committed at the highest levels of the corporate structure of Exxon. This was a total miscarriage of justice. I was shocked at what the Supreme Court did in this case.
Jim Martin is a well-respected and highly successful businessman, who served in Congress as a Republican, and was appointed to a cabinet post by Fob James. He feels strongly that the Alabama Supreme Court totally ignored the fraudulent conduct of Exxon in the case. This courageous man fought a good fight against Exxon and deserves a great deal of credit for never giving up. He has been an inspiration to all of us who believed in the State's case and did our best to seek justice for Alabama citizens. As you may recall, the case was first filed at the direction of then-Attorney General Bill Pryor, who supported the State's case fully for as long as he served as Attorney General.
Hypocrisy: The Greatest Political Sin
January 8, 2008
ALGOP Quit Vetoing Democratic Ethics Legislation
Yesterday at the ALGOP website there was a post that suggested we Democrats should "jump on board" with Republicans who have pre-filed bills calling for "Transparency in Government" and get tough on ethics reform.
I have a better idea... why doesn't the ALGOP get on board and call on its own Governor Bob Riley to sign bipartisan ethics legislation that HE VETOED last year. You may remember that when it came time to get it done during the 2007 legislative session, Riley let the ethics bill die on his desk. Refer to the AP story "Governor Kills Bipartisan Ethics Bill" which ran on June 20, 2007.
In his electioneering and public statements, Gov. Riley talks a good game about cleaning up no-bid contracts and insider deals that can cost the state millions. Yet he walks a very different walk, especially when it comes to his friends.
Continue reading "Hypocrisy: The Greatest Political Sin"
Alabama Ranks 48th on Green Efforts
December 28, 2007
An article from the Press-Register yesterday outlined why Alabama is near the bottom (48th) in a ranking of how states are taking care of God's creation. According to a report from Forbes, the five states at the bottom (West Virginia, Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) of the list "all suffer from a mix of toxic waste, lots of pollution and consumption and no clear plans to do anything about it."
One part of the problem is that Alabama invests $0 in mass transit and all our gas tax revenue is dedicated to funding roads and bridges. Right now there are millions of federal dollars on the table from Congress to match state funding for a transit system in Birmingham, yet elected officials have yet to act.
Another problem is that our environmental enforcement agencies lack the teeth they need to go after big-time polluters. Energy companies, chemical companies, large animal farms, paper plants and more share a great deal of the responsibility, and they have yet to clean up their own act.
But, perhaps the biggest problem with our environment in Alabama is a lack of leadership on the issue. Non-profit organizations like Conservation Alabama and the Cahaba River Society do a yeoman's job fighting for our state's natural wonders, but the reality is they don't hold the reigns of power. They need leadership in a big way, and Democrats are the only party devoted to protecting our environment.
Some on the other side still have there heads in the sand on global warming and call Nobel Laurette Al Gore a loony-toon. Establishment Republicans even demonize their own party's candidates for accepting the support of environmental organizations, just ask State Senator Trip Pittman (R) of Baldwin County, who was attacked in his primary for getting an environmental endorsement.
The priorities of our government have got to change and citizens must demand environmentally conscious representation, or Alabama "The Beautiful" will be no more. Again, we are the party to trust.
Outrageous "Justice" from GOP Judge
December 27, 2007
The 11th Circuit should release Don Siegelman because he has been denied his right to an appeal based on a technicality and Judge Fuller is refusing to come clean about why he refused bond for the former governor. Alabama, where is the outrage? Republicans talk about activist judges being bad for our society... I can't think of anything more activist than partisan justice from the DOJ and the federal bench.
On September 27th, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered District Judge Mark Fuller to show cause for denying Don Siegelman an appeal bond and ordering Siegelman’s immediate incarceration.
On October 4th, Fuller refused the appeal court’s order saying, “ [This Court] will not issue a lengthy written opinion on this matter.”
On October 7th the 11th Circuit again ordered Judge Fuller – for a second time – to show cause for denying Siegelman’s appeal bond and ordering Siegelman’s immediate incarceration.
Today is December 27. It has now been 50 Days since the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals SECOND ORDER directing District Judge Mark Fuller to show cause for denying Siegelman appeal bond:
Don Siegelman has now been imprisoned for 5 months and 29 days with no explanation as to why he was denied an appeal bond.
Willingham's Win Solidifies Democratic Unity Behind Fields
December 19, 2007
Well the race is on. This below from the dark side's gleeful press room late last night (it appears they were very eager to announce this news)...
WAYNE WILLINGHAM WINS REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN HOUSE DISTRICT 12 SPECIAL PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION
Birmingham – Wayne Willingham won the Republican nomination in today’s Special Primary Runoff Election in House District 12. According to unofficial results, Willingham received 54.53% of the vote, and Bill Floyd received 45.47%. House District 12 covers the western portion of Cullman County. The special general election will be held on January 29th.
"Wayne Willingham is a strong Republican candidate whom we are proud to have represent the Party," said Chairman Mike Hubbard. "It is very important that the Republicans in Cullman County now unite and rally behind Mr. Willingham."
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With Willingham as their nominee, it's up to us, the faithful, to join ranks, to volunteer, get involved, contribute, and defeat this far right, extremist republican candidate. Our side should not tolerate what the other side is trying to achieve. We've been seeing the disintegration of the American way of life since Bush and Cheney took office.
If we let the gop walk into Cullman county and put in these types of people, then we will also see the further disintegration of the Alabamian way of life. Let us not let that happen. Join us in our efforts.
Abrams/Davis/Horton Discuss Siegelman Injustice on MSNBC
December 14, 2007
Time to Get Angry
December 13, 2007
The latest twist in the case against Gov. Don Siegelman is beginning to light fires under the rears of a lot of people. Unlike our local media, certain national media interests are beginning to pick up the story, and are causing a lot of GOP politicians in and around the state to squirm.
It has come to our attention that not only has Siegelman's appeal been delayed b/c the transcripts weren'
t properly prepared on time (forcing him to remain in prison longer), but that 60 minutes has also been denied the opportunity to interview the former Governor. The injustices occurring in this case are mounting.
Sarah Smith of Montgomery asks some good questions here. There's some good comments also posted here.
According to this AP article prisoners are banned from media interviews mainly b/c of security concerns for death row inmates! And if you look here at this opinion posted on the US Dept of Justice website, the conclusion given for not allowing a prisoner to give TV interviews with the press is b/c of this synopsis: "wardens of federal prisons also have flexibility, embodied in broader grants of authority, to take action reasonably necessary to protect individuals, and the security, discipline, and good order of the institution."
I hardly believe that Siegelman is a security concern to the prison. However, the broader public may very well revolt if they ever get a chance to hear and become aware of this outright travesty. And they should. I'd suggest that's the reason this GOP Justice Department et. al is censuring truth.
It's time we give all of those who are suppressors hell!
Tucker Carlson Delivers Bad News to ALGOP
December 10, 2007
Former "Crossfire" co-host and MSNBC's resident GOP pundent Tucker Carlson told Mike Hubbard and the ALGOP to "brace themselves" for a Democratic administration rising to power in 2008. Citing the unpopularity of President George W. Bush and the unsavory candidates dominating their field next year, Carlson spoke to a meeting of Birmingham business leaders on Friday and delivered the bad news to the ALGOP. If you have not seen the story, you have got to read this.
Huckabee's Skeletons
December 7, 2007
Well I thought Huckabee was going to come to the rescue for the so-called "christian conservatives" rightwing (since they can't seem to stomach Guiliani being pro-choice and Romney being a Morman), but it appears Huckabee has some serious skeletons in his closet.
The guys over at Buzzflash do a good job clueing us in and by giving Huckabee there GOP Hypocrite of the Week award:
It's one of those complicated swampy Arkansas affairs, so we'll just give you the BuzzFlash take on it based on our reading over the years: as governor, Huckabee paroled a convicted rapist, Wayne DuMond, who shortly thereafter went on to kill two young women after raping them.
Although Huckabee disputes it, it appears that Huckabee was caving in to a rabid contingent of anti-Clinton whackos. This group of nutcases ran a campaign claiming that DuMond was framed by Bill Clinton because the first woman that he raped -- and was serving time for -- was a distant relative of Clinton's. Without getting into the quicksand of details, the nutty defense of a convicted rapist was as flawed as it was bizarre to watch right-wingers champion a hardcore sexual criminal.
The best and most exhaustive account of Huckabee's personal role in appeasing the Clinton haters by paroling DuMond can be found in a Murray Waas article printed in the Arkansas Times in 2002.
Of course, as self-righteous and self-described "Men of God" often do, Huckabee claims to be appalled by anyone thinking that he would release a rapist for political gain.
Well, the mothers of the girls subsequently slain by DuMond have a response for Mike in an article entitled, "Murdered women's mothers blame Huckabee for his part in killer's release":The mothers say Huckabee is responsible, at least in part, for the release of DuMond, who died in a Missouri prison in 2005.
"What a fool," Lois Davidson, (Carol) Shields' mother, said of Huckabee. "Thinking he could rule the country when he couldn't even do a good job as governor of Arkansas."
Janet Williams, (Sara) Andrasek's mother, said: "Wayne DuMond should have never been on the streets in Missouri. … When politics are involved, people get hurt, and Sara and Carol Shields paid the ultimate price with their lives."
Davidson and Williams said they're particularly angry because Huckabee has never called them to apologize or explain his part in the DuMond case.
Huckabee, like Bush, deals with his disastrous decision by blaming others -- in this case the Arkansas parole board -- and expressing compassion for the families of the victims, but -- also like Bush -- not accepting an iota of responsibility for his actions.
Bush's Credibility Dimished Again
December 6, 2007
The latest NIE bombshell (pun intended) comes as no surprise.
"The new intelligence report released yesterday not only undercut the administration's alarming rhetoric over Iran's nuclear ambitions but could also throttle Bush's effort to ratchet up international sanctions and take off the table the possibility of preemptive military action before the end of his presidency."
Presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden resounded his warning to Bush that he'd seek articles of impeachment if Bush used military force against Iran without congressional approval.
If it wasn't so sad, Bush's reaction to the report would have been funny. But for the President to have made comments a few months earlier about World War III....
Bush: But this — we got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. So I’ve told people that if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon…
Well, this President is proving the Democrats argument that he is in fact the worst president ever.
So what do you think about this latest revelation?
Catching Up
November 26, 2007
Well it was a good Thanksgiving holiday. The staff here at the party parted ways for an extended weekend with family, and then later with friends for the Iron Bowl. Things have been unusually busy here in the waining months of 2007. So busy, it's been difficult to keep the blog up to date with new posts. But there's a good reason for that.
Contrary to popular belief, the Democratic Party isn't loaded with cash. Our bank accounts aren't overflowing with donations galour. Our fundraiser with Gen. Clark is only days away, and most of our time lately has been spent working to raise money for the toughest financial months of the year for the state party - November through February.
Fortunately we've had help from the DNC with the state partnership program. This program has provided our party with additional staff. Without that help our staff numbers would diminish from between 8 and 9 employees to just 5 or less. Factor in the workload each of us has and you can see how critical maintaining a larger staff becomes.
With more of us on staff, we're able to get more things done. It's very costly and time consuming to organize, to fundraise, to communicate, to advance our technological efforts, to maintain political cohesion, and to keep up with the day to day operations of maintaining a statewide party headquarters.
A lot of people often criticize the state party, but these folk have no clue what we go through here every day. They don't understand the larger mission of "The Party" if you know what I mean. We are here to provide certain services and organizing that no other entity out there does. It's often a thankless job, but for those of us here who understand our mission, who put their heart and soul into the big picture of it all, we win battles every day. We, with the good help of other "Party People" and volunteers (you know who you are), are victorious for our Democracy everyday!
We'll try to get some more posts soon. Our JJ is coming up in Birmingham on Friday. It's a Democratic Party family event. I hope you'll join the family and help us continue our mission.
http://www.aladems.org/events/2007jj/
Mississippi Hypocrisy | Campaign for America's Future
The race for Mississippi's Governorship is over. Haley Barbour won without much hardship, and Mississippians will now get to continue on raking in federal disaster cash with his help. Funny though how the right wing despises "give-away" programs, as they love to put it, but when it comes to putting a quarter in there own pocket, they take it without hesitation.
According to a news story in the Friday edition of The New York Times:
- Like the other Gulf Coast states battered by Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi was required by Congress to spend half of its billions in federal grant money to help low-income citizens trying to recover from the storm.
- But so far, the state has spent $1.7 billion in federal money on programs that have mostly benefited relatively affluent residents and big businesses. The money has gone to compensate many middle- and upper-income homeowners, to aid utility companies whose equipment was damaged and to prop up the state’s insurance system.
Despite the NYT report which says MS is "the only state to ask for such waivers" it still makes me wonder if the money coming to Alabama from Hurricane Katrina is being spent the same way here. Hmm, something worth looking into.
What office is Harri Anne Really Running For?
November 16, 2007
Well it's official. Harri Anne Smith is running. For Governor. State Senate. State Treasurer. Congress. After distributing flawed poll information and kissing the rings of the local bosses, Smith has decided to run for Congress.
However, even Republicans wonder what Harri Anne did in Montgomery that would warrant a promotion. It's doubtful that the voters of the 2nd District will elect a candidate whom everyone knows will turn around and run for governor at the first available chance.
The 2nd District has been served well by men like Bill Dickinson and Terry Everett, who spent time in the US House doing the spade work for the district and building seniority to benefit it's people. With Harri Anne just looking to warm the seat until something better comes along, expect voters to see through the act and put someone else in the shoes of Dickinson and Everett.
Who should have final say, Governor or the People?
November 14, 2007
When Jefferson County Commissioner Larry Langford won the election for mayor of Birmingham, he won it by a vote of the people. Previously he had been elected county commissioner by a vote of the people. Riley, and the rest of the constitutional officers and legislature were elected by the people. That's Democracy at its finest.
But the vote of the people isn't what Riley wants in the now vacant Jefferson County Commission seat. That's because he's well aware that the people of that district overwhelmingly support Democrats.
According to Riley's press secretary Tara Hutchison, "It is our opinion that the governor will make this appointment."
There's no question that the Governor is overstepping his bounds and acting like a dictator. And he is again trying to thwart the will of the people, like he did in Mobile County, in an attempt to force the right wing's agenda down our throats. Will we stand for his monkey business?
Democrats Surprise; Look Strong Heading into Cullman Special Election
November 14, 2007
It's become a pattern. A Democratic seat in the legislature opens up and Mike Hubbard and company boastfully assure anyone who will listen that a Republican will be elected as the sucessor. We saw this play out in rural Madison and Jackson counties recently as just weeks before Democrat Butch Taylor cruised to a resounding landslide win, Mike Hubbard was assuring everyone that Democrats could no long win that seat.
It looks like history is repeating itself in Cullman. After longtime Democrat State Rep Neil Morrison took the Presidency of Bevill State, Hubbard and the Republicans started beating their chest, guaranteeing a GOP pickup.
And while there is much more work to do and the race will be very close, Hubbard's powers of prediction are again appearing off. James Fields won the Democratic nomination in a resounding fashion last night, securing 64% of the vote. The Republican side saw no clear favorite emerge as no one was able to break 30% among the four candidate field.
In fact Fields doubled up the Republicans -- Fields 1300+ votes is over twice the amount of the leading Republican. There are many miles to go before we can sleep on this race and the Republicans won't wait long to start their campaign of negativity and personal attacks, but James Fields is showing that the reports of the demise of the Democratic Party in HD 12 were definitely premature.
Hubbard Joins Waggoner in "Lockdown" Talk
November 12, 2007
House GOP leader Mike Hubbard today joined State Senator Jabo Waggoner's promise to bring more of the same Republican gridlock that haunted the Alabama Legislature in 2007 to next year's session as well. The 2008 legislative session (which is still about three months away) appears doomed to failure if the Republicans persist in their desire to "lock everything down" as Hubbard threatened in an AP article today.Continue reading "Hubbard Joins Waggoner in "Lockdown" Talk"
Democratic Veteran Talks About the Importance of Veterans' Day
Congressman Joe Sestak from Pennsylvania delivered this week's Democratic Radio Address.
"Good morning, I am Congressman Joe Sestak from Pennsylvania. I am a former three-star Admiral who was fortunate to have served this nation in the fury of war and the challenges of peace for 31 years in our Navy. I am also the son of a Navy Captain who fought in World War II.
Continue reading "Democratic Veteran Talks About the Importance of Veterans' Day"
Wiregrass Republican Coronation Restricts Choice of 650,000 Alabamians
November 8, 2007
Always afraid of a fair fight, it has recently come to light that a self-appointed group of Wiregrass businessmen got together and decided they needed to vet the Republican field for the open 2nd Congressional District seat. While the next Congressman from the 2nd will represent 650,000+ Alabamians, this group decided to go ahead and weigh in, although the rest of us won’t be able to vote for 7 more months.
According to reports from the Dothan Eagle, Harri Anne Smith has been appointed by this group to be the standard bearer of the Dothan Blue Bloods. While it remains to be seen if other Republicans bow to the wishes of “the committee”, they won’t be able to bully the Democrats off the playing field.
Democrats have never been afraid of a fair fight. Indeed when a campaign is centered around issues, Democrats usually prevail. Thankfully we’re less than a year out from the 2008 elections, when Alabamians from Deatsville to Dothan will send a Democrat to represent them in Congress.
Let the Games Begin
November 7, 2007
Presidential candidates have begun qualifying for the Feb. 5 primary ballot. Here is party Chairman Joe Turnham accepting the signatures for the Obama campaign yesterday. Trista Allen and Jerome Gray are pictured here handing over the petitions. The deadline is 5:00 today and we shall see who makes the deadline... and who doesn't.
Hubbard Dead Wrong on Court's Ruling
November 6, 2007
GOP Chair Mike Hubbard must really start checking himself. His attack piece that went out yesterday slammed Joe Turnham for standing up for the citizens of Alabama. Hubbard should remember that it was Republican AG Bill Pryor who initiated and Republican AG Troy King who continued this suit on behalf of the people of Alabama.
Continue reading "Hubbard Dead Wrong on Court's Ruling"
On Water Rights, Bob Riley Talks Like John Wayne, Delivers Like Howdy Doody
November 5, 2007
Bob Riley sure talked a big game when it came to defending Alabama’s water rights.
Just a couple of weeks ago Riley said he "cannot stand by and allow Georgia to take control of the water in that reservoir to the detriment of the people who live and work downstream in Alabama,"
Riley said the status quo will cost Alabama “men and women their jobs”. Riley even called the Army Corps of Engineer plan “unconscionable”.
Them’s fightin’ words, huh Gov?
Well Riley changed his tune after he got his marching orders from the Republican bosses in DC. Riley rolled over faster than the French in WWII. While only days before, Riley had called the plan unconscionable and predicted dire economic consequences, Riley has now seen the light. "I think we'll be fine," said Riley selling out potentially thousands of Alabama jobs and 4 million plus Alabama men, women, and children.
With Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue returning home and being greeted like a conquering hero, it’s pretty easy to tell who’s winning the water wars. Unfortunately, for all the Riley bluster and buffoonery, it’s Alabama’s citizens who are the losers.
Continue reading "On Water Rights, Bob Riley Talks Like John Wayne, Delivers Like Howdy Doody"
Bush Doubles Foreign Debt
October 29, 2007
There is one thing Bush does better than all the other Presidents combined... borrow money from other countries!! Where is the fiscal responsibility? Oh yeah, that would be the Democratic Party that actually pays for its spending!
Continue reading "Bush Doubles Foreign Debt"
Riley Overboard With Davis Comments
October 26, 2007
Governor Riley made some pretty disparaging comments about Congressman Artur Davis yesterday in the Birmingham News. I think it is necessary to clarify for the Governor that Davis never implicated him during Tuesday’s hearings but did ask tough questions about the timeline and personnel involved with former Governor Don Siegelman’s prosecution.
Continue reading "Riley Overboard With Davis Comments"
The Art of Obstruction
Want to know why Congress has been so slow getting things done, and why their poll numbers are worse than Bush's? A quick look at the facts compiled by the Center for American Progress explains a lot.
...a relatively small fraction of the House can grind the legislative machinery to a standstill.
That is precisely what certain House members allied with the White House did this past summer. During the 2006 congressional session 108 amendments to the annual appropriation bills resulted in roll call votes. Of those, 57 were offered by the minority party (Democrats) and 51 were offered by the majority party (Republicans). During the current session, a total of 234 roll calls were taken on appropriation amendments—25 of which were offered by the majority party (Democrats) and 209 of which were offered by the minority party (Republicans). (emphasis added)
Not only did the minority party this year offer nearly four times the number of amendments offered by either party in the previous session of Congress, but an examination of the roll call votes raises serious doubt as to whether these amendments were intended to serve any significant legislative purpose other than delay and obstruction.
...Had the House been able to meet its target of completing action on all appropriations by the end of June, which is its normal goal, it would have more than doubled the number of legislative days available to the Senate for the completion of those bills before the beginning of the new fiscal year....
The power of a determined minority in the Senate can block completion of the work of the entire Congress, and this power is increasing as the year is passing. Obstruction in one area of legislative activity increasingly affects Congress’ ability to finish its work in other areas. By the beginning of the August recess, the Senate had been forced on 13 occasions to vote on motions to proceed. That is more than six times the average number of cloture votes required over the same time period in the previous two Congresses. (emphasis added)
So when it comes time for Congress to get back to work soon, expect the GOP to stifle any real attempt at progress, as has always been the case.
