Alabama
updated
9:25 a.m.
Joseph Holt decided he'd had enough of neighborhood thugs selling drugs on his property in the Kingston area of east Birmingham. So he confronted the thugs, told them to get off his property, and wound up getting shot in the foot as a result. Holt's story teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of standing up for your private-property rights . And it resonates here at Legal Schnauzer be...
Legal Schnauzer - 9:25 a.m.
Birmingham attorney Jeremy Sherer formally announced his candidacy for State Treasurer this morning -- and he did it online via video posted at www.shererin2010.com . Sherer reiterated his pledge to honor contractual obligations to Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) contract holders, saying “My first priority upon being elected will be to bring quick resolution to Alabama...
Left in Alabama - 7:18 a.m.
Sarah Palin criticizes Hillary Clinton's "percieved whine" about the mean old media in March 2008. Palin's position on "whining" has, shall we say, evolved a bit since then. ... fair or unfair, I think she does herself a disservice to even mention it really. I mean you've got to plow through that ... When I hear a statement ...
Left in Alabama - 5:23 a.m.
A July 4 "tea party" at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pelham, Alabama, drew a crowd of about 3,000 , according to a police estimate. We had wondered in a recent post if the tea-party phenomenon was a sign of a growing mental-health problem . After all, the events seem designed to blame one president and his party (Barack Obama, Democrat) for problems that largely arose, or worsened, unde...
Legal Schnauzer - Sun 9:55 p.m. - 2 clicks 
Rep. Parker Griffith hosted a health care forum in Huntsville last Thursday. I walked away from that event with an understanding that some folks are extremely concerned about the care that will be available to them if 48 million uninsured Americans suddenly enter the health care system. The fear is very real. Others are inexplicably convinced that for-profit bean counters will b...
Left in Alabama - Sun 9:55 p.m. - 2 clicks
So, whatever the shoe may be, it appears it isn’t a federal indictment. Oh, wait. It’s a “higher calling”. At least that was yesterday’s reinterpretation of Friday’s incomprehensible speech. Maybe Palin really does think quitting in the middle of her first term as governor, three-plus years before the next presidential election, is a good way to [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Sun 9:55 p.m.
Business interests across the South are anxious . Bless their hearts! Their concern is massive ad blitz on Christian and country-music stations across 10 states. The ads, funded by a left-leaning coalition, urge support for congressional legislation to curb greenhouse-gas emissions -- by framing the issue as an urgent matter of Biblical morality. "As our seas rise, crops wither and ...
Left in Alabama - Sun 12:25 p.m.
Uh huh. The devil made him do it. In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [friend and spiritual advisor Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Sun 9:44 a.m.
Will Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, SC Gov. Mark Sanford(R, Appalachian Trail) and other lame duck Republicans follow Sarah Palin's lead and resign now rather than stick it out until their terms are up? Sanford obviously has better things to do than run a state. Riley's another lame duck and, according to the Palin Doctrine , so little can be accomplished in that sad state that...
Left in Alabama - Sun 4:30 a.m. - 3 clicks
I'm starting to wonder if modern conservatism is morphing into a new form of brain disease. Here's why: I've noticed in recent days a lot of red, white and blue signs at intersections in my community near Birmingham, Alabama. I couldn't make out all of the lettering on the signs, but it looked like they referenced a "tea party" on July 4. My first thought? "Didn't we have enough of this nonsense...
Legal Schnauzer - Sat 9:45 a.m. - 9 clicks
Happy Independence Day to LIA! I know that y'all will be busy reading the Declaration of Independence (Do it. It's good for your soul and citizenship), grilling, swilling ice cream, shooting fireworks, and waving teabags. Well, maybe not that last, but you know what I mean. How are you celebrating today? And what does Independence Day mean to you? Fun facts abo...
Left in Alabama - Sat 7:38 a.m.
I’m grateful to live in a country where I am free to express my political opinions — or put up pictures of my pets or discuss the gory details of my health — here on these intertubes. Everyone have a fun and safe celebration! ...
Birmingham Blues - Sat 5:30 a.m.
Latest Entry What do you get a one year old for their birthday? When you’re an uncle, you want it to be memorable. You want it to be something important. After the year my family has had, with the death of two grandparents, and two more in poor health, I wanted to do something special. A keepsake. When I was 14, I had to read Harper Lee’s &l...
Left in Alabama - Sat 3:39 a.m.
Brad Friedman of The Brad Blog (via The Mudflats) reports the following: UPDATE: Alaskan Sarah Palin authority (and occasional BRAD BLOG guest blogger) Shannyn Moore, who broke the news at HuffPo today, tells me she believes, with good reason, that there is an “iceberg scandal that’s about to break. She’s doing damage control.” She says Palin is [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Fri 8:36 p.m.
If y’all can make any sense of what she’s saying, you’re doing better than I. Geez, all I hear is, “Blah, blah, blah, mean media, blah, blah, sports analogy, blah, blah…” ETA: transcript via TPM Live Wire ...
Birmingham Blues - Fri 2:36 p.m.
Zuh? The linked article speculates the resignation will give her more time to focus on the 2012 presidential race. Oh please, God, no! Her explanation is typical rambling Sarahspeak, taking lots of words to say nothing much of substance: “Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Fri 2:15 p.m.
She just had a news conference and announced that the Lt. Governor will take over in a few weeks. Here is what CBS is reporting . (CBS) <!-- sphereit start--> Sarah Palin has announced that she will resign as governor of Alaska and will not seek a second term. CBS Affiliate KTVA reports that at a press conference this morning Palin said she will resign the governorshi...
Left in Alabama - Fri 1:18 p.m.
Lawyers representing HealthSouth shareholders have filed court documents stating that Richard Scrushy “has told people he has $600 million in offshore bank accounts, and has transferred millions of dollars worth of property to evade collection attempts” of a $2.8 billion civil judgment against him. Color me stunned. /snark ...
Birmingham Blues - Fri 9:16 a.m.
Congressman Parker Griffith (Big Time DINO) hosted a "town hall" meeting to "get citizen input" regarding Health Care issues. I want readers to compare and contrast the analysis of the meeting from two sources who were in attendance. I want readers who weren't there to tell me which one gave them the most information. I want readers who were there to compare and con...
Left in Alabama - Fri 8:29 a.m.
As various news outlets have reported this spring, the economic situation is causing many families to change summer vaction plans. From USA Today : People are taking shorter vacations, in distance and duration. They are searching for bargains and booking hotel rooms at the last minute to get the best possible deals. Many who normally fly are driving this year. Like the Whites, they'r...
Left in Alabama - Fri 8:29 a.m. - 8 clicks
There’s another batch of those “teabagging,” excuse me, I mean “tea parties” planned for the 4th. The one down here is going to be at the historic Magee farm, the site, I have only recently learned, where the terms of one of the Confederate surrenders were hammered out, right there in the parlor! (with the [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Fri 7:06 a.m.
Or whatever we used to say when we were kids. Mac’s post informing us that, while Mississippi is the very fattest state, Alabama is closing on them fast, reminded me that I got an email from “City of Mobile” this afternoon urging me to consider auditioning for NBC’s reality show, “The Biggest Loser.” I reproduce [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Thu 8:09 p.m. - 8 clicks
June was not a good month for self-righteous Republican politicians who proclaim themselves champions of family values. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), who called on both President Bill Clinton and Sen. Larry Craig to resign after their infidelities were exposed, admitted to an extramarital affair with a campaign staffer who is married to a former top [...]...
Birmingham Blues - Thu 7:04 p.m.
Ron Sparks made a major campaign address today in Montgomery and announced major themes of his campaign for governor. Today, I am asking the people of Alabama to make me their Governor. I am asking for this honor because I believe we can make a difference in the lives of working families, business owners, farmers and factory workers across Alabama. But you know, I've been around pol...
Left in Alabama - Thu 12:10 p.m. - 5 clicks
It is called Tricare and is for active and retired military and is provided by the Department of Defense. Please check out this EXCELLENT article from Alternet about how the states that are complaining the loudest about a government option in the healthcare overhaul are the same ones with the most people already using a government funded option. In this year's health reform debate, ...
Left in Alabama - Thu 12:10 p.m. - 9 clicks
Karl Rove carries projection to new heights -- on FAUX News, of course. ROVE: This White House has carried pre-packaged, organized, controlled, scripted events to a new height , and they’re getting away with things that in any previous White House, the media would have eviscerated the press secretary and the White House for it. Amazingly, Rove is not referring to the White House he...
Left in Alabama - Thu 12:10 p.m.
I've been hoping for a flood of progressive Democrats seeking office in 2010, and we scored a couple of good ones today: Jeremy Scherer for Treasurer and Susan Pace Hamill for House District 63 in Tuscaloosa. Jeremy Scherer to run for State Treasurer “I believe government can actually benefit the lives of the people, so long as it upholds the public’s trust,” said She...
Left in Alabama - Thu 8:59 a.m. - 3 clicks
Reading a story just recently about how Lyndie England is having a hard time getting a job. Lyndie was the woman pictured in many of the infamous photos that showed American soldiers abusing Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison. This reminded me to post my review of what I think is the most definitive film on Abu Ghraib. It's called "Standard Operating Procedure by director Errol Mo...
Left in Alabama - Thu 8:24 a.m.
LiA is about to undergo some remodeling. Dardango has created a new, truly kickass , logo for us and the rest of the blog needs some sprucing up to go with it. You know how new curtains make the carpet look tired and if you replace the carpet that old sofa just looks ratty ... and pretty soon you've redone the whole place? That's where we are. Major changes are in orde...
Left in Alabama - Thu 8:24 a.m.
U.S. Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) is consulting two U.S. senators about the nomination of a U.S. attorney for the Barack Obama administation, according to a new report on the Web. Nothing unusual about that, right? Well, here is the strange part. According to a guest article at The Wayne Madsen Report , Davis is consulting Alabama senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, both Republicans. Why woul...
Legal Schnauzer - Thu 6:47 a.m. - 13 clicks
There aren't that many opportunities to interact with your Congressman in person. Don't miss this one! TOWN HALL MEETING HEALTHCARE REFORM with U.S. CONGRESSMAN PARKER GRIFFITH Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 5:30 – 6:30 PM Davidson Center 3D Digital Theater U.S. Space and Rocket Center 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805 – Free of Cha...
Left in Alabama - Wed 8:01 p.m. - 6 clicks
Statement from Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb: “I am honored to have been sought out and encouraged to run for Governor by so many Alabamians from all walks of life. Their support has been humbling and perhaps made this decision the most difficult I have ever been called upon to make. First and foremost, I want the best for the people of Alabama, whom I have attempted to faithfully...
Left in Alabama - Wed 11:46 a.m. - 2 clicks
Oklahoma Pol Blames Gays "And Other Debauchery" For Bad Economy Although it appears that Oklahoma legislator, Sally Kern, would fit right in with some segment of our population. WHEREAS, we believe our economic woes are consequences of our greater national moral crisis; and WHEREAS, this nation has become a world leader in promoting abortion, pornography, same sex marriage, sex traffick...
Left in Alabama - Wed 11:46 a.m. - 5 clicks
We've shown that, in upholding the convictions against former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richad Scrushy, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals committed one error after another. These errors were in crucial areas: statute of limitations, elements of bribery, jury instructions, and hearsay. Finally, we turn to the evidence itself. Was it sufficient to prove bribery...
Legal Schnauzer - Wed 9:53 a.m. - 8 clicks
Longtime readers know that the name "Swatek" is the equivalent of a dirty word here at Legal Schnauzer . William E. Swatek , an attorney based in Pelham, Alabama, started my legal headaches by filing a bogus lawsuit against me on behalf of our difficult neighbor, Mike McGarity. Bill Swatek has a 30-year history of sleaze in the legal profession, including a suspension of his license for acts of...
Legal Schnauzer - Wed 9:36 a.m. - 10 clicks
We have shown that the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals screwed up its ruling on the Don Siegelman case in three critical areas: the statute of limitations, the elements of bribery, and jury instructions. But we are not finished with the 11th Circuit's butchery of the Siegelman matter. The appellate court also erred in the murky area of hearsay. In my efforts to gain a layman's knowledge of th...
Legal Schnauzer - Tue 11:39 a.m.
I've been a typical American dolt when it comes to the post-election unrest in Iran. I didn't really get upset about anything until I read an early story about the shooting death of 26-year-old protester Neda Agha-Soltan . The article included a photo of Neda , and my first reaction was, "God, she was cute. What a shame." (As if it would have been less tragic if she hadn't been a babe.) Thankf...
Legal Schnauzer - Tue 6:58 a.m.
We already have shown that the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals botched its Don Siegleman ruling on two key issues: the statute of limitations and the fundamentals of bribery law. Let's now turn our attention to the jury instructions in the Siegelman case. To put it simply, the trial court gave jury instructions that were wrong, that did not accurately reflect the law. The 11th Circuit's opini...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 29
Investigations are ongoing into the politicization of the justice system under the Bush administration, and a date has been set for Karl Rove's Congressional testimony, an aide to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee said on Friday. Elliot Mincburg, chief counsel for oversight investigations of the House Judiciary Committee, was one of the primary speakers at a National Press Club forum on politica...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 29
In Part I of our series, we showed that a three-judge panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals got it wrong regarding the statute of limitations in the Don Siegelman case. Now we will show that the appellate panel got it wrong on the fundamental tenets of bribery law. I don't think I've ever read of any portion of the Siegelman case described as comical. But it's almost funny to read the ...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 25
We recently introduced our series of posts about the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and its unlawful ruling on the Don Siegelman case. Now it's time to dive into the details. Here is part 1 of "The Cheating of Don Siegelman." ---------------------------- The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals cheated former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman in multiple ways. The most glaring examp...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
For the second time in the past eight months or so, a key character in my wrongful termination at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has left the institution for what appears to be a lesser job. The latest to jump ship is Gary Mans, who was director of public relations at UAB . Mans recently joined the communications staff at the University of Louisville, where he is director of the ...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 24 - 5 clicks
Lawyers for Paul Minor are asking the Obama Justice Department to intervene in the Mississippi attorney's case. In a letter due to be sent early this week, attorney Hiram Eastland asks Attorney General Eric Holder to take steps in the Minor case that are similar to those recently taken in Alaska cases. Holder asked that the case against former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) be dismissed and as...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 23
We just passed the five-month mark in the Barack Obama administration, so it's still early in the presidential game. But a number of respected voices say Obama is wasting the good will and anticipation that swept him into office. Perhaps the loudest of these voices belongs to Joseph L. Galloway, military-affairs columnist for McClatchy Newspapers and a relentless critic of the rogues who ran the ...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 23
Sunday was Father's Day for most Americans. But at The Birmingham News, it apparently was "Kiss Alice Martin's Fanny" Day. Martin, who has spent the past eight years butchering the law as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, stepped down last Friday. The News , her biggest booster, sent her out with enough bouquets to choke a brontosaurus. Columnist Robin DeMonia weighs in with...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 22 - 6 clicks
It's been a rough week on the legal front for former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, who was the codefendant in the Don Siegelman criminal case. In a decision released yesterday, a Jefferson County judge ordered Scrushy to pay HealthSouth $2.87 billion , finding that he had orchestrated a massive financial fraud at the company. Just one day earlier, a federal appeals court rejected Scrushy's ...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 19
Here is a trivia question for you sports fans out there: What is the most corrupt major-college athletics program in the country? Answer: The University of Alabama Crimson Tide. UA, which was put on NCAA probation last week over a textbook-disbursement scandal, now has been hit with four major-infractions cases in the past 14 years. That's more than any other major university sports program. ...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 19 - 4 clicks
Alice Martin will resign as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama on Friday, ending a tenure that might have set a new standard for corruption and incompetence in the history of our justice system. What will we remember most about Martin's eight-year "Reign of Error"? A highlight for me has to be the comment from Scott Horton, Harper's legal-affairs contributor and Columbia Unive...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 17 - 3 clicks
We are starting to see the fallout from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld most of the convictions against former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and codefendant Richard Scrushy. In the wake of that ruling, federal prosecutors asked that Siegelman be given a 20-year prison sentence , almost three times his original sentence of seven years. Then the full 11th Circuit denied...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 16 - 4 clicks
Convictions in the Don Siegelman case should be set aside because of misconduct by the chief of the U.S. Justice Department's Public Integrity Section (PIN), says an Alabama attorney and whistleblower. Jill Simpson says PIN Chief William Welch failed to investigate charges of misconduct against U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller, who oversaw the Siegelman case. PIN holds exclusive jurisdiction ov...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 16 - 4 clicks
The prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman is perhaps the best known example of a criminal case that was infected with apparent judicial bias. But two recent news reports, originating from West Virginia and Georgia, shine an unusually bright spotlight on the problem of compromised judges. And veteran journalist/attorney Andrew Kreig has used those reports to help produce a compelli...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 16 - 2 clicks
Countless words have been written about President Barack Obama's stated desire to find a Supreme Court nominee who exhibited empathy . The mainstream media, to what should be no one's surprise, has missed the real story. A lack of empathy is pretty much a textbook description of antisocial personality disorder , or sociopathy. In other words, with his "controversial" statement, Obama essentiall...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 16
Reports about corruption in any court are troubling. But possible misconduct in domestic-relations court is particularly alarming. Based on conversations I've had with friends and acquaintances, it sounds like going through a divorce can be one of life's most painful experiences. When you throw children into the mix, the stakes--and emotions--can become very high. Since starting this blog in Jun...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 16 - 3 clicks
When you've been in the blogging/citizen journalism "business" for awhile, you develop a sense for topics that are likely to strike a nerve--and draw a heated response. Such was the case with our recent post about apparent corruption in domestic-relations court in Jefferson County, Alabama. As we noted in the post, domestic-relations cases tend to generate high emotions, even when a court is ha...
Legal Schnauzer - Jun 16 - 5 clicks
This story reminded me to comment on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals decision in L.K.D.H. v. Planned Parenthood of Alabama, Inc. (I would love to link to the decision but Alabama does not make its judicial opinions available on-line.) Basically, Mom wanted an abortion, which Planned Parenthood of Alabama (PPA) botched, allegedly injuring Child and Mom. Mom sued for her own injuries and for t...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 7 clicks
From today's B'Ham news : The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that Jefferson County schools will receive a $993,888 grant to improve the quality of American history education. Why it needs improvement: While history is a core academic subject under the No Child Left Behind Act, the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that less than 25 percent of students in four...
Alablawg - Jun 16
By now everyone has heard about, and is probably forgetting about, the lawyer who was kidnapped from in front of her downtown apartment on Wednesday. The police rescued her later on the same day, and she was relatively unharmed. So now the issue becomes whether downtown B'ham is safe. It is. You have just as much reason to fear being abducted in the Little Kingdom (for non-locals, that is th...
Alablawg - Jun 16
Perhaps my glee over the Moore-ons defeat ought to be tempered by the fact that Larry “The Only Holocaust I Believe in Is the One I Am Going To Instigate Against Illegal Immigrants” Darby managed to receive forty three percent of the vote in the Democratic A.G. primary. Who are the 163,000 people who voted for this guy? I’ve argued in the past that a person’s belief, or non-belief, in a deit...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 2 clicks
And Blogger, I just can't trust you anymore. You've let me down in the past, and I've always forgiven you. If not for you, I'd never have begun blogging in the first place. You introduced me to whole new worlds. You are simple, yet offer so much. You're a good service when you want to be, I really believe that. But I never know when you are going to work. Lord knows I've given my all to this r...
Alablawg - Jun 16
That is how Prof. Dale Carpenter describes the Federal We Hate Fags Marriage Amendment in this Cato Institute Policy Analysis, entitled "The Federal Marriage Amendment: Unnecessary, Anti-Federalist, and Anti-Democratic." (There is more from the author here .). From the paper: In short, the fear of court-imposed, nationwide gay marriage is exaggerated and hypothetical. To amend the Constitut...
Alablawg - Jun 16
Back in January, Circuit Judge Scott Vowell correctly decided that the "Sweepstakes" machines at the Birmingham Race Course are legal. The case is now before the state Supreme Court. Moore and Riley have filed briefs asking the court to reverse. Here is Judge Vowell's opinion. I'll summarize it for you in case you don't want to read it. In Alabama, lotteries are illegal. The law defines a lot...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 5 clicks
Here is an interesting new study on educational inequality. From the introduction: Every year, a large number of children enter school substantially behind. Sometimes that’s because of poverty. Sometimes it’s because they speak a language other than English. Sometimes there are other issues. But regardless of the reason, many children – especially low-income and minority children – are enterin...
Alablawg - Jun 16
I watched the evening news tonight just so I could see the latest political ads. Mini-Moore and Justice Nabers do not disappoint. Particulary entertaining is the picture of Justice Nabers face on a hundred dollar bill . Though I guess we can't vote for either of them, seeing as how they are both flaming liberals. Big Luther and little George are likewise exchanging the "L" word. Troy King is maki...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 4 clicks
To spend time reading the news today. This being Alabama in late May, there won't be many more days like this, so I'm going to enjoy as much of it as I can. I will, however provide Bob Riley's response to Don Siegelman's new ad: "Think of it this way," Riley said, "If he didn't say that, what would he say? "In politics, you get known by who your friends are and who your enemies are, and eve...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 5 clicks
None of the Moore-ons came within twenty points of the incumbents . Riley almost doubled up Moore; Woodall had two-and-a-half times the votes as did Fowler; ditto Stewart over Zeigler. This was the Super Bowl XXIV (San Fran 55, Denver 10) of primaries; the 1996 Fiesta Bowl (Nebraska 62, Florida 24) of elections. The electorate took to the Moore-ons' message like consumers took to New Coke. They...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 3 clicks
As expected, the anti-gay people amendment passed . Supporters had plenty of compelling reasons for it. John Giles, head of Alabama’s Christian Coalition, tells us "Marriage is a sacrament.” Of course he fails to explain why the civil law should attempt to enforce his own views of that religious doctrine. The bill’s sponsor thinks gay people are icky : "I [introduced the amendment] after a ...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 4 clicks
Finds : Apple Computer Inc.'s iconic iPod music player surpassed beer drinking as the most "in" thing among undergraduate college students, according to the latest biannual market research study by Ridgewood, N.J.-based Student Monitor. . . . The only other time beer was temporarily dethroned in the 18 years of the survey was in 1997 - by the Internet, said Eric Weil, a managing partner at St...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 2 clicks
I'd be pretty depressed right now. Not just because they could not surmount the great wall Alabama has erected between third parties and the ballot, either. I just finished watching For the Record. (There is no video up on the website yet, or I'd link to it). The guests were two Ph.Ds in political science. The host asked them if the Libertarians "deserved" to be on the November ballot in Alabama....
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 4 clicks
Molly Ivins in today’s Anniston Star: I believe what we have here is a difference over moral values. The Republicans are worried about the flag, gay marriage and the terrible burden of the estate tax on the rich. The rest of us are obviously unnecessarily worried about war, peace, the economy, the environment and civilization. Another reason to vote Republican — they have a shorter list. Ye...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 4 clicks
I have offered many opinions on the State Supreme Court races. However, I have been silent on the other legal office up for grabs this fall: Attorney General. That is because I am unimpressed with the A.G. candidates. Because Larry Darby is Larry Darby , I’ll just compare his Democratic opponent John Tyson with the two Republicans – incumbent Troy King and challenger Mark Montiel. The A.G. is...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 3 clicks
And voted for the Federal kill the homos! anti-gay marriage amendment . Shelby offered the same irrational emotional appeal as do most supporters: For ages, in every culture, human beings have understood that marriage is critical to the well-being of families. And because families pass along values and shape character, marriage is also critical to the health of society," Shelby said. "Our p...
Alablawg - Jun 16
In spirit , at least: A D.C.-based evangelical Christian group has a new idea for promoting the Ten Commandments: putting a monument to the stone tablets across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court. Faith and Action says on its Web site that it plans to unveil the waist-high, 850-pound granite sculpture Saturday on the front lawn of the rowhouse on Second Street NE where the national group's...
Alablawg - Jun 16
Have done their job. Once again, our choice in Alabama is between the Republicans and the Republicans who call themselves Democrats. From Loretta Nall's blog : The colorful Libertarian Party nominee for governor, Loretta Nall, said Monday she will run as a write-in candidate after failing to get enough signatures to get her name on the general election ballot. "I'm not dropping out," Nall sa...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 3 clicks
Here is the case in a nutshell. The Board that oversees the Department of Environmental Management consists of seven people. According to Section 22-22A-6(b)(6) of the Alabama Code, on of those people must: be a biologist or an ecologist possessing as a minimum a bachelor's degree from an accredited university and shall have training in environmental matters. Pat Byington is the current ‘ecolog...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 3 clicks
President Bush’s speech in support of the federal marriage amendment was the sort of babbling nonsense we all expect from our mush minded president. You can get the overall criticisms here and, here . What I am going to criticize is his continuing reliance on the activist judges canard: Today, 45 of the 50 states have either a state constitutional amendment or statute defining marriage as ...
Alablawg - Jun 16
Alabamian worries that the proposed anti-homosexual amendment could energize the Roy Moore supporters, handing him victory in the Republican primary tomorrow. I'll admit part of me - the same part that wants to slow down to look at car wrecks - kind of hopes it happens. Maybe even a total sweep for the Clones, also. And then Larry Darby as A.G. Wouldn't Roy Moore as governor and Larry Darby as A...
Alablawg - Jun 16
Visit me at my new location here . For an explanation, see the previous post. Then head to The Alablawg's new home . ...
Alablawg - Jun 16
Jeff at the original Politics in Alabama is asking how Darby got 160,000 votes. Thus far, the apparent consensus, and certainly the charitable view, is that there were a bunch of uninformed voters on Tuesday. Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, head of the Alabama Republican Party, however, has her own ideas : “I really think it's the fact that the Democratic Party has gone out of the mainstream,” ...
Alablawg - Jun 16 - 5 clicks
"The body of Christ," the Deacon says to me. "Amen," I respond as he places the wafer in my left hand. It's the same as it is in every mass, but this time I look at him and chuckle inside. Let me explain why. Saturday evening I got a hankering for a mint julep. Having no bourbon, this meant a run to the store. On the door to the liquor store is a sign saying something like "We I.D. everyone who a...
Alablawg - Jun 16
