Alabama
updated
9:44 a.m.
Kenya Lavender Marshall The investigation and sanctioning of three white attorneys in the 1990s indicate the Alabama State Bar has been practicing racial politics in its handling of the recent Kenya Lavender Marshall case. Marshall, who is black, had her law license suspended , and that caused her to be removed as the Democratic Party nominee for a Jefferson County judgeship. That...
Legal Schnauzer - 9:44 a.m.
I am one of those people who will actually watch those boring, boring, hearings on C-SPAN that most of us flip right on past while watching TV, and this past week I've been watching one of the longer events the channel broadcasts...but it's been far from boring. The Coast Guard and what used to be the MMS were in Houston looking into what caused the Gulf oil spill and they're taking testimony fro...
Left in Alabama - 8:08 a.m.
From Ezra Klein, the ultimate budgetary choice : Should we preserve Social Security, which benefits everyone, especially the least of these , or preserve the Bush tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The pot of money is the same. How should we spend it? What would Jesus do? You know the answer -- it's in your heart, not your pocketbook. ...
Left in Alabama - 4:26 a.m.
I just realized that I have never started a climate diary here at LiA. And I'm the one that talks about it the most. I think it's important because climate change affects just about everything. The economy, immigration, food, water, disease and of course, the weather. I have been keeping up with tropical weather over the past few years. http://www.nh...
Left in Alabama - Wed 8:25 p.m.
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 
This year's Alliance for Justice First Monday Film is Crude Justice , about the about the search for justice among victims of the BP Oil Spill. Here's the trailer. Sign up to host a screening of Crude Justice . Beginning this fall, activists in local communities and campus leaders will use this film as a centerpiece for discussions, forums, debates and o...
Left in Alabama - Wed 1:23 p.m. - 2 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
There's a lively state senate race going on in District 13 where the candidates exemplify the worst of the past (Gerald Dial) and the best of the future (Greg Varner). Dial is a former state senator and Democrat-turned-Republican. That political transition isn't suprising from a man who, when speaking about Constitution reform and home rule said: "if we had had home rule,...
Left in Alabama - Tue 1:07 p.m. - 3 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
Perhaps we are easily amused here at Legal Schnauzer , but LOL Cats photos featuring computers almost never fail to tickle us. We have two kitty kats of our own, the brother-sister Tonkinese combo of Baxter and Chloe, and maybe that has heightened our appreciation for the curious feline mind. Anyway, it's easy to imagine our Tonks being fascinated with computers, and that might be why we find ...
Legal Schnauzer - Tue 9:06 a.m.
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
Joe Hubbard , having some fun with GOP rumormongers after his opponent, David Grimes, refused to denounce a Republican push poll spreading misinformation. Back in June, both candidates pledged to run positive campaigns. 1st woman: "You know, I heard a rumor Joe Hubbard is more liberal than two Nancy Pelosis. Two." 1st man: "My brother said he saw Joe Hubbard ridi...
Left in Alabama - Mon 6:05 a.m. - 2 clicks
He has made a serious mistake in his article: 47 years after the King Speech, the tables turn . Read the article and then follow me below the fold to judge for yourself about the mistake - I could be wrong - but I don't think so! ... John Archibald stated in the 16th and 17th paragraphs (I judge paragraphs online by double line breaks) that: This is not, I repeat, about French. To b...
Left in Alabama - Sun 8:26 p.m. - 3 clicks
I saw this link over at The Orange . In memoriam: the TNDP by Ken Whitehouse in the Nashville Post . OK, this is a humorous piece, but it's close to home in more ways than just geography. At times during the course of his life, Party did retain influence but was subjugated to the will of others. The most notable example of this was when Edward Hull “Boss” Crum...
Left in Alabama - Sun 5:09 p.m. - 2 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
Dick Armey, that is. Please put down your coffee, tea and especially your carbonated beverages (so unpleasant to choke on fizzywater) before watching this video. The star is D. C. Douglas , a veteran character actor and voice over artist. Douglas upset Matt Kibbe with a sarcastic voice mail a few months ago, causing Freedomworks to launch an ultimately successful eff...
Left in Alabama - Sun 3:03 a.m. - 3 clicks
There are days like today when I feel like I’m getting old. I may only be 26, but Beloit College in Wisconsin released their yearly Mindset List for the class of 2013. This yearly list, mainly satirical in nature, really rings true on a lot of things and serves as a microcosm into our own society. A few of them are truly silly, like not knowing what Saved by The Bell is, or the creat...
Left in Alabama - Sat 8:48 p.m. - 3 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
Our little corner of the blogosphere probably has produced as much coverage about the Don Siegelman case as any other spot on the Web. So our Schnauzer eyes and ears stay tuned for comments--informed and otherwise--about the case. A common refrain we hear from the anti-Siegelman crowd goes something like this: "Well, the prosecution might have been politically motivated, but a jury found him...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 25
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
As another school year is kicking off on college campuses around the country, it might be a good time to look back at one of the strangest stories of the 2009-10 academic year. It involves a thorny issue--grading--that always is front and center at colleges and universities. A professor at Louisiana State University was removed last April from teaching an introductory biology class because o...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 23
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
Presidential election nights can be traumatic for Southern progressives, even when our favored candidate wins. You watch the networks fill in the electoral map, and a sea of red inevitably begins to form from Texas to South Carolina. The sea often spreads north to include Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and . . . well, you get the idea. At any moment, you expect an announcer to point to the region...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 12
Here at Legal Schnauzer , we pride ourselves on addressing some of the biggest issues of our times. In that spirit, we now tackle the following question: Who in the heck is the guy behind that hilarious spoof of the Dale Peterson ad? Thanks to a recent Time magazine article about the Web site Funny or Die , we can now answer that question. His name is Jake Szymanski , and he's a member ...
Legal Schnauzer - Aug 12
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
If the Soviet tanks rolling through the streets haven't crushed your car in the week since President Obama signed health care reform into law , there's a reason for that: They don't exist. In the last few days, we've heard no reports of elderly citizens sent to their graves by death panels . We've seen no political dissenters shipped to FEMA camps . And one has to guess that the vast majority ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
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
We humans have a complex relationship with death. We're all going to die eventually, but most of us don't want to think about it. Anthropologists will tell you it's a major reason that religion is so prevalent in human societies. It's the unspoken undercurrent of fear that drives both proponents and opponents of health care reform in America. It's an uncomfortable reality that we all deal with --...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
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
Remember, kids: It's beyond the pale of human decency even to consider refusing millions of dollars in bonus money to white-collar AIG workers for no good reason other than that their company would have collapsed into the abyss without hundreds of billions of federal dollars. They had contracts , after all. On the other hand, it's absolutely mandatory that blue-collar autoworkers, some (but no...
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
Actual, can't-make-this-up headline on CNN.com right now: "Obama as witch doctor: Racist or satirical?" Should posters portraying a black president as a witch doctor with a bone through his nose be considered racist? We'll hear from both sides, next! ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Tornado warnings and snowstorms all in the same day. Gotta go with my gut and say that's distinctly not normal. Also gotta use this as perhaps my only opportunity to have a plausible excuse to link to this awesome video . See you in March. I'll try to revive this place then. ...
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
First things first: The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a terrible disaster. I doubt you'll find anyone who disagrees. It'll be the largest American spill since the Exxon Valdez went down in 1989 , and it may well top that in the coming weeks. Most tragically, 11 people are presumed to have lost their lives at sea. Closer to land, the Gulf Coast's fishing and tourism industries ma...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
Happy April Fools' Day, everyone. Maybe the Republicans' next attempt to unveil their much-ballyhooed alternative budget (version 2.0 drops today!) will include some actual budget-type content this time instead of proposals to slash rich people's taxes some more and just hope everything works out OK. And if it doesn't, it's probably all Barney Frank's fault, anyway. ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
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
It's a sports clich é to say that even two months into the college football season, we don't really know anything. It's also wrong. What do we already know for certain about how things will shake out before Daylight Saving Time comes to a close? Texas will play for the national title. The Longhorns have no more realistic obstacles between here and Pasadena. Who's going to beat them? Kansas, w...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
I'm not trapped in a St. Elsewhere -style dream sequence after all. Four years after signing on for another dose of overprivileged, ill-equipped, tunnel-vision leadership from George W. Bush, my country has inaugurated a worldly, intelligent, charismatic man from a modest background as its 44th president . It was a stunning about-face. It seemed too sudden, too drastic of a shift to be true. Bu...
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
When a bull is loose in the china shop, your options are limited. Sure, you might like to try out some new product lines one day, or expand your online operations, or finally get around to hiring that extra sales clerk. But right now, all you can think about is one thing: Let's get this bull to stop breaking all the china. The 2008 election was, if nothing else, a clear signal that Americans were...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
I somehow missed the news about how President Obama became our supreme religious authority and brutally cracked down on almost all forms of communication, leaving Republicans with no other choice but to express their outrage with a repressive, theocratic regime 140 characters at a time. Then I read tweets from a pair of brave House Republicans , and the analogy became much clearer. ...
Red State Diaries - Aug 6
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
You might say he's lost his touch. You might say the academic fraud scandal will tarnish his legacy. You might say he just wasn't the guy to reverse the team's recent dip into mediocrity. And you're probably right about all of that. But on the eve of his likely retirement as the Florida State football coach for as long as anyone can remember, don't forget just what Bobby Bowden did. A childho...
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
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
A robo-poll called the house last night, and my husband cleverly pretended to be a 27-year-old Republican likely voter. Way to stick it to The Man! The meat of the polls was: “If the election was tomorrow, would you vote for…Republican Mitt Romney, Democrat Barack Obama, or Tea-Party Candidate Sarah Palin?” The poll asked this [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 6
Earlier this year, after researching available devices and software, I made the switch from paper planning to electronic. I am currently using an iPod touch with WebIS’s “Pocket Informant” app. It duplicates what I was doing with the paper planner perfectly, backs up to online programs, and I am now a total convert to the [...]...
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
In a fitting tribute to Groundhog Day, I’m sticking my head out of the work hole for a minute to wish Del a very happy birthday! Give her some love in comments. By the way, does anyone know if the groundhog saw his shadow? ...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 6
Or at least, that’s how an email from a friend described the article saying that yes, recently acquitted ex-judge Herman Thomas had declared for Vivian Figures’ seat. Sure, we’d all read that he was thinking about it, but I honest to God never thought he would. Supposedly one of his reasons is to set [...]...
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
This just in: apparently, according to one study, certain types of abstinence ed programs might just work. For a while. This has erupted in the blogosphere, where conservatives are saying, See we told you so! and liberals are pointing out that …the curriculum tested did not represent most abstinence programs. It did not take a moralistic [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Aug 6
