Alabama
updated
9:27 a.m.
Contains only posts that are ID'd as local content. An explanation. Want to help improve our local content filter? Add keywords here.
Former Democrat now Republican Jim Preuitt is dropping out of the Senate District 11 race. Preuitt switched parties to run as a Republican this year. He announced late Tuesday that “his heart is not in the race,” according the Associated Press. Preuitt is the retired incumbent and his switch last spring (just as qualifying closed) was touted by Republicans as a harbr...
Left in Alabama - Wed 3:24 p.m. - 11 clicks 
Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman is asking a federal appeals court to reverse convictions against him , based on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that narrowed honest-services fraud law. Siegelman and codefendant Richard Scrushy say the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals should overturn their convictions because of the Supreme Court's findings in a case involving former Enron e...
Legal Schnauzer - Wed 9:09 a.m. - 6 clicks
The Alabama Federation of Democratic Women hosted a great event Saturday night -- the 90th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote Celebration. Great crowd, great venue and the best political event food I've had in years. Every detail was perfect. They even seated Nancy Worley in the corner -- deserved since she has single handedly managed to block an SDEC Bylaws Amendment...
Left in Alabama - Wed 9:09 a.m. - 6 clicks
Suzanne Childers An Alabama domestic-relations judge says she is switching parties because of a gradual change in philosophy. But a source tells Legal Schnauzer that Suzanne Childers really is becoming a Republican because she feels a white Democrat no longer can win elections in Jefferson County. Childers told The Birmingham News that she had been watching Fox News and found...
Legal Schnauzer - Wed 7:44 a.m. - 5 clicks
Think about it; meditate; daven: it is plain and simple. Support Steve Raby for the Fifth in Alabama. I will vote for him and I will campaign for him. I will campaign for him with enthusiasm, for I have seen the Rottweiler in the other party and he is apparently an abused pit bull sick and disturbed. The Republican Party base works to expel moderates and conservatives. Yeah, you...
Left in Alabama - Wed 7:44 a.m. - 4 clicks
Zoa White A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the murder of Zoa White , a former aide to Alabama Governor Bob Riley. Carlos Edward Kennedy was arrested late last night and charged with murder. White, 69, was found dead in her midtown Mobile home on June 28. Police said White died from blunt-force trauma to the head, and there were signs of burglary at the home, but had rele...
Legal Schnauzer - Wed 7:28 a.m. - 7 clicks
The WSJ is reporting that Rep. Robert Aderholt (R, AL-04) is under investigation for possible misuse of travel funds. Aderholt, whose office confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that it had been contacted by ethics investigators, told the Wall Street Journal that he doesn't know if he kept any excess travel money because he does not keep receipts. No receipts for travel expenses?&nbs...
Left in Alabama - Wed 6:08 a.m. - 4 clicks
The first time I got the feeling was when we rushed 11. It was the 1993 Sugar Bowl , and I was watching my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide take on the leading football force of the era, the Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship. It was the culmination of a dream season defined by fundamentals: a hard- working defense, a determined running game, and a quarterback who did just enough to win...
Red State Diaries - Tue 9:48 p.m. - 6 clicks
Last Thursday's Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) meeting continues to be a source of consternation. The following op-ed is from James Laster, President, Jefferson County Chapter of Alabama New South Coalition: French Should Denounce Racism, Reject Judge Appointment Birmingham, Ala (August 27, 2010) — Judge Nicole "Nikki" Still is a victim ...
Left in Alabama - Tue 5:06 p.m. - 8 clicks
Elisabeth French Democrats in Alabama sent a resounding message last week with their surprising resolution to a dispute over the nominee for a judicial seat in Jefferson County. We would suggest that President Barack Obama pay attention. By choosing Elisabeth French over Nicole Gordon Still for the judicial nomination in Birmingham, the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee (ADEC...
Legal Schnauzer - Tue 10:48 a.m. - 8 clicks
Some of you may have seen the video of the Ron Sparks vs. Robert Bentley forum held in Arab last week, but it's quite long and many of us haven't had a chance to watch the entire show. The Arab Tribune has very helpfully published a transcript of the two candidates' opening statements . There is nothing too surprising in the openers -- the more controversial education...
Left in Alabama - Tue 10:48 a.m. - 7 clicks
Many Democratic women attended the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) meeting last Thursday wearing yellow ribbons and hoping to lend their support to a Bylaws Amendment, proposed two weeks earlier , that would increase women's representation in the leadership of the Alabama Democratic Party. Known as the AFDW amendment, this change would make the President of the...
Left in Alabama - Mon 4:41 p.m. - 9 clicks
Sorry, but arrogance won’t endear you to Alabama voters, Dr. Bentley…. As the campaigning days roll by, ticking down to Game Day in November, we’re increasingly seeing Robert Bentley - the GOP’s nominee for governor - for who he truly is. At a candidate forum in Arab, Alabama, the popular subject of an education lottery slipped into the dialo...
Left in Alabama - Mon 1:26 p.m. - 11 clicks
Bruce Gordon Last week's Alabama tempest over a state-court seat in Jefferson County appeared to be about women of various colors. But evidence strongly suggests it was driven, behind the scenes, by men of one color--white. These men and their followers, who come from both sides of the political fence, are driven largely by one desire--to strengthen their grip on political and judi...
Legal Schnauzer - Mon 9:49 a.m. - 8 clicks
Stephen Colbert and Tommy Stevenson (of the Tuscaloosa News ) recently took on this crackpot "Obama is a Muslim" rumor and ripped Mitch McConnell from stem to stern for straddling the political expediency fence with, "The President says he's a Christian, I take him at his word." You can see Colbert's take on that mealy-mouthed response here , starting at about 5 minutes. "Just...
Left in Alabama - Sun 3:08 p.m. - 10 clicks
You know, the one where Bob Riley expressed his appreciation ? It was a great story of hypocrisy, but is apparently a hoax . according to the governor's office. Oh well, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. ...
Left in Alabama - Sat 2:02 p.m. - 9 clicks
Elisabeth French The Alabama Democratic Executive Committee yesterday threw a curveball at the public, while essentially flipping a giant middle finger to Gov. Bob Riley and the Alabama State Bar. We give both actions two thumbs up. Most observers, including this one, expected the committee to remove Kenya Lavender Marshall from the general-election ballot for a spot on the Jeffers...
Legal Schnauzer - Fri 10:25 a.m. - 13 clicks
The interests of Gov. Bob Riley and his son, Rob, appear to be driving a process that is likely to end with the removal of Birmingham lawyer Kenya Lavender Marshall as a candidate for a seat on the Jefferson County Circuit Court. The Alabama Democratic Executive Committee will meet in Montgomery today to vote on rescinding Marshall's candidacy and naming a replacement. Two Jefferson County De...
Legal Schnauzer - Thu 10:27 a.m. - 11 clicks
A model Alabama citizen has died, but it does not seem like a time to mourn. Cecil Whitmire lived in a celebratory mood, so we celebrate his life and the lessons he taught about historical preservation. Whitmire, who resurrected the landmark Alabama Theatre, died Sunday at age 74 . His funeral is today in Pelham, and a public memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on September 12 at the cla...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 25 - 7 clicks
Ultra-conservative Sam Brownback is turning heads in Kansas by driving around in a gigantic (presidential candidate type) campaign bus. The only problem for the man who wants to be the next Governor of Kansas? The bus is from Alabama, was wrapped in Alabama, and has Alabama tags. The Kansas companies that provide these services are not very happy with Kansas' Senior Senator. And people are ...
DailyKos (Alabama) - Aug 25 - 5 clicks
Kenya Lavender Marshall A Birmingham lawyer says an Alabama State Bar disciplinary committee essentially used extortion to force her to agree to a suspension of her license, probably ending her candidacy for a seat on the Jefferson County Circuit Court. Kenya Lavender Marshall won the Democratic Party primary and faced no Republican challenger in the November general election. But...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 24 - 6 clicks
Alice Martin The U.S. government never has been known for quickly compensating those it has harmed. Various groups have sought reparations for African Americans and Native Americans, invariably drawing a sluggish response. So it was odd to learn recently that the feds seemed anxious to pay restitution to an Alabama defense contractor who was the victim of a botched prosecution durin...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 24 - 4 clicks
I suppose I mean salaciousness, but I like salacity better. Anyway. Mobile is yet again plunged into can’t-look-away horror at the alleged local sex freaks in high places. Steve Giardini, who in addition to working closely with the freaking Child Advocacy Center was actually the head prosecutor on the Spankin’ Judge Hermie case, was just [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 23 - 9 clicks
Alabama Attorney General Troy King has filed a lawsuit against the companies involved in the BP oil spill , but Governor Bob Riley says such action is premature. In Mississippi, Attorney General Jim Hood is considering a similar lawsuit , and Governor Haley Barbour is saying it would be premature. What is going on? Who is right--the AGs or the governors? And is someone more interested in pr...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 19 - 3 clicks
We have mixed feelings about last week's news that the U.S. government had agreed to pay $290,000 in restitution for its political prosecution against Alabama defense contractor Alex Latifi. On one hand, the settlement seems to vindicate Latifi--and that's a good thing because he, his family, and his employees were put through a six-year nightmare. On the other hand, the outcome raise...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 18 - 2 clicks
The Obama administration appeared to take a small step forward on justice issues last week when it announced a settlement with an Alabama victim of a Bush-era political prosecution. But the administration has taken two giant steps backward with reports yesterday that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) will not face federal charges in the Jack Abramoff scandal. In the Alab...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 17 - 3 clicks
A disturbing mystery, with political overtones, is evolving in Alabama. And a post we wrote about it recently elicited a response that might provide our most glaring evidence yet that some Republicans are sociopaths. Zoa White, a 69-year-old former aide to Governor Bob Riley, was found dead in her home June 28 in Mobile. Police indicated there were signs of a burglary and immediately began ...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 16 - 4 clicks
At least one victim of the George W. Bush Justice Department has received some measure of justice. An attorney in the case says he expects to see more such settlements in the future. The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to pay $290,000 in restitution to Alex Latifi, a Huntsville, Alabama, defense contractor who was targeted for a botched prosecution that appeared to be politically mo...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 13 - 3 clicks
Sports artist Daniel Moore has received significant reinforcements in his First Amendment battle with the University of Alabama. With the law squarely against it, UA seemingly adopted a gang mentality by enlisting 27 other universities to help in its battle against Moore, one of the best known sports artists in the country. The universities' claim? Alabama's crimson and white color scheme i...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 11 - 4 clicks
A former Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama employee has pleaded guilty to trafficking stolen identities . Latonia Davis, 32, recently was fired from her job at BC/BS and will serve 18 months of a 10-year split sentence. This story hits close to home here at Legal Schnauzer because our troublesome neighbor, the guy who initiated our legal headaches, works at BC/BS of Alabama. And as...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 10 - 4 clicks
Anyone who doubts that climate change is real, and already is having a profound impact on the world's environment, should spend some time talking with James McClintock . McClintock, a professor of polar and marine biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is an international expert on Antarctica. The National Academy of Sciences has invited him to be part of a panel of 25 sci...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 9
Alabama's legislators did what they were asked to do in this week's special session. They pulled Jefferson County back from the brink of immediate financial disaster. They used federal money to extend unemployment benefits for the growing rolls of jobless Alabamians. And they made it easier for school districts to pay for school construction . They also approved, without a dissenting vote,...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6 - 2 clicks
Buried in the middle of this article is an amusing report on the interaction between U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery, and some elementary school children in Prattville last week. During his visit, Bright presumably talked about what being in Congress is like -- the coverage is scant on that point -- and then showed the kids the card that he uses to cast votes on Capitol Hill. What seemed t...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6 - 2 clicks
It's a gubernatorial election featuring a margin so tight that it fairly could be said to fall into "rounding error" territory. Also, the Democratic nominee is best known for supporting an expansion of gambling. If "2002" flashed into your mind before you read this sentence, congratulations: You, like me, pay way too much attention to Alabama politics. Let's consider a few early takeaways from t...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Kentucky law still requires elected officials, in 2009, to swear that they haven't challenged anyone to a duel before they can take office. The state constitution says so. I suppose I should take some small comfort in the knowledge that Alabama's constitution isn't the only one plagued by antiquated, embarrassing, downright weird provisions. But I also bet the Kentucky charter doesn't have ne...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Alabama chronically underfunds all sorts of things: schools, health care, courts, public safety, prisons. You name it, we probably don't support it like we should. But at least we're not California . Its budget deficit for next year is about twice as large as our General Fund budget, federal money and all. They're talking about closing most of the state parks and dropping health insurance for al...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Well, that's done. Alabama legislators, resisting the urge to lock down in tedious filibuster exchanges, got in and got out in five days this week for a special session to save Jefferson County from immediate financial disaster. They reauthorized an occupational tax that accounted for a fourth of the county's budget. They established a county manager and required quarterly budget reports. They ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
By this time tomorrow, we'll get a needed (if temporary) respite from the scattered variants of this ad template that have assaulted us on television for weeks on end. Incidentally, we'll also have a much better idea of the finalists for state offices in November. With Alabama's gubernatorial primary just hours away, it's past time to examine the candidates and their campaigns. I'll discuss the...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Artur Davis' announcement that he wants to stay away from elected offices and political appointments is understandable, considering how fresh the pain of his unexpectedly large loss in the Democratic gubernatorial primary still is. But given the four- term congressman's great intellect and experience, it'd be a loss for Alabama if he makes good on his pledge to stay away for good. As I said i...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6 - 2 clicks
The recession made for a tough year all around, and things were no different in Alabama in 2009. Unemployment soared quickly in our state this year, rising above the national rate for the first time in years. Partly as a result, Alabama had far too little money for its education and General Fund agencies, forcing funding cuts for schools, courts, and other public services. And next year may ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
So it's come to this in the Alabama governor's race: Robert Bentley vs. Ron Sparks. Republican vs. Democrat. Business tax cuts vs. expanded gambling. Alabama Needs to Get That Looked at vs. Scratch and Win for the Children. Yes, we have a choice this fall. And yes, the nominees have some key policy differences. But if you're looking for a lot of systemic, big-picture change, you probably need t...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6 - 4 clicks
I can think of no finer way to drop $110,000 of public money than to convene a special session of the Alabama Legislature. It can be productive. It offers loads of largely unintentional entertainment. And it's a second chance to go gavel-to-gavel without marijuana-related drama , or flooding of epic proportions, or editorials with epically bad legislative flood puns . The arguments for a s...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Getting thrashed almost 2-to-1 isn't exactly how most politicians like to kick off the summer. Unfortunately for U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, that's exactly what happened to him Tuesday in Alabama's Democratic gubernatorial primary. If you're looking for explanations of how Davis went, in short order, from presumptive nominee to distant second, I offered a couple of major reasons here ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6 - 2 clicks
A Pennsylvania-based debt-collection company has been hit with a $1.5-million judgment in a Texas court for repeatedly leaving vile voice messages over an alleged $200 debt. Advanced Call Center Technologies (ACT) barraged Allen Jones, of Dallas, with a series of harassing and racially charged phone calls. The company's behavior clearly was over the top, but it raises this curious question: Whi...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 6 - 2 clicks
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that limited the scope of the federal honest-services fraud statute appears to be good news for victims of Bush-era political prosecutions. The ruling could lead to freedom for those who have been wrongfully imprisoned in the Don Siegelman (Alabama) and Paul Minor (Mississippi) cases. But the ruling also presents a number of potential downsides. It cou...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 6
For the old man is waiting to carry you to bingo! Yes, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are expected to attend a pro-bingo rally in Montgomery. Because it’s about justice! ...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 6
…from Frank Matthews “Faith” in Birmingham. Brought to us by the same email address that delivered Frank’s open letter to the citizens of Birmingham, decrying the proposal to expand Pre-K in Birmingham. Because better educational opportunities for the city’s children are part of the gay agenda. Or something. Now it’s right out in the open. In [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 6
If you’re eligible to vote in the city of Birmingham, do it! The weather is beautiful, the lines will likely be short (unfortunately), so get out and do your civic duty. ...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 6
