I'm just venting, but I AM SICK OF THIS CROSSOVER VOTING THING!!!!
Look, if you're in a county where there is only one Democratic race on the ballot, and you don't care who wins (even though the stronger Democratic candidate is needed for November) or you've already ceded the race to the Republicans, then buck Democratic Party rules (?!!?) and crossover to vote for Bentley or Byrne.
HOWEVER, if you have other down-ticket races on your ballot, PLEASE!, PLEASE!, PLEASE! stick with the Democratic ballot and vote for the Democratic races in your county. I believe this is much more important. The decisons made in some county elections will have immediate and far-reaching impact - much more important than Byrne/Bentley.
(HAHAHAHAHA. I have this same letter from Parker Griffith. More than once! - promoted by mooncat)
Dear Congressman Parker:
Now do you understand the consequences of your perfidy?
I believe that you do.
The people are tired of politicians who only think of their own self aggrandizement.
I am sending a letter to the Justice Department and the House Ethics encouraging them to observe your financial deportment during the remaining time you have in office.
Dear (saint satin stain):
Thank you for contacting me and sharing your concerns. I appreciate your level of engagement and I thank you for taking the time to share your opinions.
Please rest assured that I have received your mail and that I look forward to getting back to you. I will be in touch in the coming weeks with a detailed response.
As we press forward in the 2nd Session of the 111th Congress you should know that I am committed to making sure North Alabama has a strong conservative voice in the House of Representatives. I encourage you to visit North Alabama's Fifth Congressional District's web site at www.Griffith.house.gov and please stay engaged, your concerns are important to me.
It wasn't but a couple of days ago that we had a conversation about The Fear and the emails that are used to spread it, and I figured with that out of the way we had dealt with the topic, and that we'd move on to new things.
Well, we would be moving on, Gentle Reader, if it wasn't for the fact that an email came in today that was so ugly, so disturbing, and so indicative of what we are about to see as the battle over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) begins to heat up (ENDA being possibly the next "big contentious thing" that this Administration hopes to accomplish), that I had to interrupt my story schedule to bring it to your attention.
After months of playing it coy, Senator Hinton Mitchem (D-Union Grove) is telling his close friends that he's not going to seek re-election. And how does he plan to thank the Democrats for their support over the years? He's going to endorse one of the Republicans in the race for his seat - and it won't be his long-time accountant Tony Cochran. Realtor Don Spurlin will get the official nod, according to those close to the senator, much to the chagrin of Joey Masters, Marshall County Revenue Commissioner, who thought he was Hinton's "Chosen One" until losing grace with the senator when Joey switched to the Republican party a few years ago.
Meanwhile, the extremely popular legislator and good Democrat Jeff McLaughlin (Dist. 27) is getting pressure to step up and run for Hinton's Senate seat rather than seek re-election to his house seat. This scenario will leave Dems in Marshall County, who still haven't fielded a candidate to run for the retiring representative Frank McDaniel (Dist. 26), scrambling for another state house candidate.
Sounds like a game of musical chairs is about to begin.
(This is what we like to hear! - promoted by mooncat)
Taze Shepard was among the attendees at the Martin Luther King banquet in Florence tonight. All the candidates for public office were asked to stand and deliver. Shepard brought sustained applause when he said "I am a Democrat this year and will still be a Democrat next year."
The Martin Luther King banquet is a long-running scholarship project involving area churches and educational institutions. In other words, there was amazing gospel and a little piano jazz.
Well after some thinking and debating myself, I have decided to make known why I support Ron Sparks for governor of our fine state. First though I should give you some background about myself. It is not often I shed the anonymity of the internet and just throw it all out there, but this is an issue too important for us to quibble about.
I have been a Democrat all of my life, hell that was just the way I was raised, but just as much as I was raised as a Democrat, so too was I raised as a Christian. You see in my world the two go hand and hand not some kind of crazy opposite world where Jesus said that I had the right to deny a woman the right to choose what to do with her body, and most defiantly not the world where Jesus said that I was supposed to not give a damn about my fellow man. I was raised to hunt, fish, love God and just a little below God I was supposed to vote Democrat no matter how crazy some of our Californian brothers and sister democrats acted.
So I guess you could say that I was raised to be level headed and not swing too far right or left of any issue, but to always err on the side of the little guy and not some corporate interest. My Grandfather died when I was ten, but that man was one hell of a Democrat. He walked from the shores of Normandy all the way to Stuttgart, Germany in World War II; his brothers and himself earning multiple medals but in particular all three purple hearts and his one brother Mylon McElyea, was shot by a German Sniper and paralyzed from the waist down. In other words not only were my forebears Democrats, but yes PATRIOTS who also shed blood for this great land, and my Pop (grandfather) always said "Hell republicans ain't out for no one but them that's got money".
So I too went and joined the long line of patriots, that can be traced all the way back to a pensioner of the Revolutionary Army (on the McElyea side of my family), and joined the Navy at age 18. Then after I got out of the service I went to college and wasted a lot of time and money and then got a job at Dunlop, where I joined my first real Union, the United Steelworkers. I had joined the union as a bag boy at Kroger and Food World grocery stores, but I did not really get involved with any of it other than calling my union steward once when I came in late, when i was in high school at Tanner High School.
I begin the day by mocking the GOP's effort to recruit minorities. After careful consideration and instructive dialogue I would like to apologize for my mockery and offer the Ala GOP some sincere, constructive advice .
First of all, you are correct in your assumption the Democratic Party takes the African American vote for granted and make them dependent on them. African Americans are members of the democratic party because they feel like they have no where else to go. Democrats count on African Americans to carry the water for them. Quoting VIP;
If white democrats want to get more white districts here they should start by working on their friends, neighbors, and co-workers now! Tell them to quit voting againt their own interests. Black democrats will do our part, as we always do, so don't expect us to "take one for the team".
Since we're talking about changing mentality, the Ala GOP are going to have to rid the party of what I call The Plantation Mentality. The mentality that believes African Americans are still property, something to be owned, not someone with equal rights and priviledges. The mentality that says "you better watch how you talk to white folks". The train of thought that African Americans need someone to "take care of them" or "tell them how to vote" as if they don't have their own minds and don't possess the intelligence to make their own decisions. The mentality that believes African Americans are lazy, shiftless, baby making, welfare loving, bums.
If you want to know more, follow me below the fold.
I support the continuation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program(S-CHIP) to the extent that it is available to the children of families who cannot afford health insurance.
I don't see how he can possibly justify or his vote based on this position. Or how could he reconcile that statement with this vote? Bright needs some help awfully quick. He's not winning any friends with too many Democrats. A good point is that Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick voted for SCHIP and he's in an even redder district than Bright.
Jim Marshall was the only other Dem that voted against SCHIP and I cannot find any references to issues on his campaign re-election website.
Unfortunately I think Bright's voting record is going to resemble Marshall quite often. Marshall was the mayor of Macon, Georgia before Congress. So like Bright, I think he is a lot better city executive than a Congressman.
With two years away and if he jumps into any race, he would have a long campaign and a long time to get his message across to the voters. That’s right Gary Johnson a two time democratic state representative nominee for AL House District 102, political activist and minister says that he is mulling a run for Congress in 2010 or State Senate.However Gary Johnson says that his heart and mind is set on helping the people of South Alabama especially in the rural and poor urban areas to end poverty and bring prosperity.
If Gary Johnson decides to make a run for political office in 2010 which office would he really run for? Gary Johnson says that south Alabama needs a democrat that will really look after the welfare of the middle-class and poor citizens of South Alabama, and also be conservative on spending of taxpayers’ dollars.
Gary Johnson says that no matter which office he runs for, he will run for the people and not the select few or interest. He believes that it is time that tax reform come to the business tax sector and the consumer sector. Gary believes that the time has come that state government or federal government reform the tax structure to be fair to every citizen and the business community as well.
Gary said that he is looking into running for congress for the 1st Congressional District, which may be a wide open race if Rep. Jo Bonner runs for Governor in 2010. Gary Johnson desired to run for congress in 2008, but considered the race to late and funding became an issue. Now that Mr. Johnson has two years to raise money and build a grassroots campaign he is now looking at giving it a shot.
It don’t stop there, Gary said that if he don’t run for Congress, he is also considering a run for State Senate in 2010, Gary believe that change has been promised to America and Washington in 2008, now it’s time for change to take place in Alabama in 2010.
Alabama State Courthouse 300 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-4590
OverallThoughts: There are apparently seven statewide judicial positions up for election in 2010 (as far as I can tell, and all the incumbents appear to be Republicans). As I understand it, there will be two positions on each appellate courts – Criminal Appeals and Civil Appeals – and three positions on the Supreme Court. It represents a peach opportunity for Alabama progressives to take a position.
However, this last time around, we ran four people – one for the Supreme Court, two for criminal appeals and one for civil appeals – and we got four damned goose eggs for our trouble. Granted, Paseur came the closest, but close counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, not elections.
Next time we are going to have to do something different.
The Republican campaign was both well funded and well organized. In 2010, we need to have our campaign one or the other. Well organized seems more accessible than being well funded.
Next time we need to have our judicial races coordinated, where they and their staff members work together in terms of campaign appearances, getting the word out, capitalizing on advantages and the like. Also, it seems likely the Republican’s will again organize a bus tour for their candidates. We don’t have to do that, but next time lets have some of ours go out and heckle them at some of their appearances.
Specifics and Speculations… (Continued) Congressional District 1:Jo Bonner (GOP) Josiah Robins (Jo) Bonner, Jr. (born November 19, 1959), has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003. He was unopposed in the 2008 race.
Alabama’s First Congressional District includes Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Monroe, Escambia and parts of Drake counties. Traditionally the area and the district has been one of the most GOP-supportive areas in the country. He is not likely to be challenged during the Primary.
Thoughts: If we can arrange to get Vivian Figures to run for this seat – her home district – and then get great heaping gobs of campaign money, the race would cause ripples and get attention, which would force the Republicans to spend money. But the race will not be won by us. Is it probably not worth the time and effort to get the Republicans to spend their resources here. It is just an option. However, investing in the legal (i.e. eligible to vote) Latino population of Alabama (and many area in the Mobile Bay area) is probably a good idea.
Congressional District 2: Bobby Bright (Dem.) Bobby Neal Bright (born July 7, 1952) is the mayor of Montgomery and Congressman-elect. Bright received 143,997 votes to Love's 142,231 votes – a margin of 1,766 votes, or just over 0.6 percentage points.
Alabama’s Second Congressional District includes Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Pike and parts of Montgomery Counties. The congressional redistricting of 1990 did much to change the nature of this district and now the voting power of the Black Belt is outweighed by the population of the Wiregrass area.
Thoughts: Bright narrowly won – we need to remember that. In 2010 the Republicans will focus most of their attention on the Wiregrass areas as a means of attacking Bright. We can hold this seat, but we will have to fight to do that.
Congressional District 3:Mike Rogers (GOP): Michael Dennis (Mike) Rogers (born July 16, 1958), has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003. Knowlegis, a nonpartisan lobbying information firm, dropped Rogers from being ranked as the 138th most influential Representative to being 402nd in that category in 2006.
Alabama’s Third Congressional District includes Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, Tallapoosa and parts of Montgomery and Coosa Counties. Politically, this was once home to populist white Democrats. However, Republicans took the seat over in 1997.
Thoughts: Rogers should have lost the 2008 election because he is an incompetent prick. Rogers was a recipient of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s ARMPAC campaign contributions. DeLay is being prosecuted on charges of felony money laundering of campaign finances and conspiracy to launder money. To date, Rogers has not offered to return any of the $30,000 he received. Rogers said that DeLay is innocent until proven guilty, and that he would not return the money "while the judicial process runs its course.” If we are lucky, DeLay will be in jail and we can attack Rogers over this connection.This is one we can take, so let’s keep that in mind.
Congressional District 4: Robert Aderholt (GOP): Robert Brown Aderholt (born July 22, 1965) has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997. In 2008, Aderholt theoretically ran against Nick Sparks in a race that was hypothetically contentious and totally not a waist of everyone’s time.
Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District includes Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Marshall, Etowah, DeKalb and parts of Morgan, Pickens Counties, as well as parts of the Decatur Metropolitan Area, and the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. While Democrats have a substantial majority in voter registration, most of them tend to be quite conservative on social issues.
Thoughts: If a progressive who is serious, and not entering the race on a damn lark, makes the run, then this one is doable. Aderholt voted in favor of CAFTA, which did tremendous damage to manufacturing industry within the district. If we attack him on that, then this one is possible.
Congressional District 5: Parker Griffith (Dem.) Dr. Parker Griffith (born August 6, 1942, in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 7th District since 2006 and the congressman-elect. He received his medical degree from the Louisiana State University Medical School. Griffith carried all but one of the district's seven counties, but only narrowly won Madison County, home to Huntsville.
Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District includes Colbert (Stephen tells me the "T" is silent), Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Jackson and parts of Morgan County. Liberal politics have become an increasingly hard sell, and the region has increasingly voted for Republican presidential candidates since the defeat of Jimmy Carter.
Thoughts: In 2010 the Republicans will do the same thing to Dr. Griffith they did in the 2008 race, just meaner and with more money in 2010. We can hold this seat too, but we will have to fight to do that.
Congressional District 6: Spencer Bachus (GOP): Spencer Thomas Bachus III (born December 28, 1947) has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993. His is a difficult man to challenge in political circles because he is supported by the Bacchae.
Alabama's Fifth Congressional District includes Chilton, Bibb, Shelby and parts of St. Clair County, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, and Coosa counties. It forms a horse-shoe shaped area around Birmingham. A continual process of redistricting by state governments has seen the sixth district increasingly become one of the most Republican districts in the country.
Thoughts: Unless he is found to be a homosexual (in which case the Republicans will quickly abandon him) or a cannibal (in which case the Republicans will reluctantly abandon him), and he chooses to run again, then this will a hell of an uphill battle. Better to spend our resources on battles we have a better chance of winning.
Congressional District 7:Artur Davis (Dem.): Artur Genestre Davis (born October 9, 1967) is an American politician who has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, arts of Jefferson. Davis's name has been mentioned as a possible nominee for Attorney General in President-Elect Barack Obama's administration and as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010. He was unopposed in the 2008 race.
Alabama's Seventh Congressional District includes Greene, Choctaw, Sumter, Marengo, Dallas, Wilcox, Perry, Hale and parts of Jefferson (specifically, the Birmingham metropolitan area), Tuscaloosa, Clarke, and Pickens counties. The 7th district was created as a black-majority district in 1992.
Thoughts: By 2010 Davis will have made up his mind about what he is going to do, and so this seat is likely to become vacant. We need to work to make certain they are a competent and progressive person.
The election results are mixed blessing, which they always seemed to be.
Nationally, the Democrats won the White House and a greater majority in both the Senate and the House. Locally, proving Alabama is home to some progressive voices, Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith won their races for congress. Proving that Alabama progressive voices are sometimes lonesome cries in the wilderness, Democrats lost most of the other races around the state.
The Future…
Like brain-eating zombies that refuse to die, the Republicans will be back in 2010. That mid-term election will see them make a major push to retake as much as they can of what they have lost and to keep what they have.
Alabama Races in 2010:
State Elections;
(Office)(Current Office Holder)(Party)
Governor:Bob Riley (GOP)
Lieutenant Governor:Jim Folsom Jr. (Dem.)
Attorney General: Troy King(GOP)
Secretary of State:Beth Chapman(GOP)
State Auditor: Samantha Shaw(GOP)
State Treasurer: Kay Ivey(GOP)
State Commissioner: Ron Sparks(Dem.)
Supreme Court Seat(Which seat is up?)(GOP)
Civil Appeals Seat(Which seat is up?)(GOP)
Criminal Appeals Seat(Which seat is up?)(GOP)
Federal Elections;
Senate: Richard Shelby(GOP)
Congressional District 1: Jo Bonner(GOP)
Congressional District 2: Bobby Bright(Dem.)
Congressional District 3: Mike Rogers(GOP)
Congressional District 4: Robert Aderholt(GOP)
Congressional District 5: Parker Griffith(Dem.)
Congressional District 6: Spencer Bachus (GOP)
Congressional District 7: Artur Davis (Dem.)
Brace for Impact…
The Republicans will fight like hogs to keep the positions they have now and to take they positions they do not. They will spend wheelbarrows full of money on these races and they will fight dirty.
So, what are we – Alabama progressives – going to do to get ready for this coming fight? What plans are we going to work out in advance? It will be better, in terms of strategy and tactics, to start developing a game plan now.
Specifics and Speculations…
Governor: Bob Riley cannot run for governor again, owing to term-limits required by Alabama law. Possible Republicans running for governor include; Bradley Byrne (Chancellor of the Alabama two-year college system), Troy King (Attorney General) and Jack Hawkins (Troy University Chancellor).
Senator: Richard Shelby will be 76 in 2010 and might retire. If he runs again, then he will not likely face any challenges from other Republicans during the primaries. He will also be a tough target for any Democratic challenger (he has something like $13 million in his campaign war chest). If he does not run again, then there will be nasty battles in the primaries and in the main event later in the year. If Shelby elects to retire, then I’m betting $20 that Bob Riley will run for this senate seat. Remember, before he ran for governor, Riley served as a representative of Alabama 3rd Congressional district from 1997 to 2003.
Maybe my wording was off, or maybe there have been too many people whom used negativity on this site….
Maybe it will only take a while for ya’ll to get used to me…whatever the case, I was not being facetious or sarcastic with my previous post. I really do consider myself a true conservative, in comparison to the Neo-Communists that took over the Republican’t party. I know that I am a ‘liberal’ because of my beliefs. My post was supposed to raise a debate as to why Republicans are allowed to claim the title of Conservative exclusively, especially when, by their own definition, they fit the category of ‘liberal’ more than I do.
I’m not some mindless freak! One of the reason’s I’m liberal I guess is because I think for myself, and don’t readily conform to preconceived notions of what is and should be. (If ever there was an Alabama sentence….damn!)
I was born republican, but by the grace of God I saw the light! If there is any doubt as to my convictions, look me up. I’m the President and founder of the College Democrats at my University, and a stauncher Obama/Segall man you haven’t met!
Some of you think I slander you when I say that the values I described are conservative, but fear not! I was giving you the highest praise I could. After all, we do live in Alabama, and what is more powerful politically than being able to prove that you, as a ‘liberal’ Democrat are more conservative than these Neo-Communists whom orgasm at the mention of Reagan or the current values of those filibustering failures?
I was born after Reagan, and grew up under ‘daddy’ and Clinton. In my own research of the founding of this country John Meecham, Kevin Phillips, Amy Sullivan, Lewis Black, Malcolm Friedberg, and other great writers have influenced how I interpret history and the facts.
The Gospel according the W. of how this country was founded is a waste of my time and energy, much like the argument I had recently that this is a ‘Christian Country.’ Yes Christian values played a role in how this country was founded, but we are not a Christian Country. Sadly I digress.
I know that there will be people out there that will flame me for expressing my own different opinions, simply because they are different. I will not compromise. I stand by my first post and invite any critic to reply with a post of their own. Let me know in the comment section if you plan to, I want to see how and why we disagree. Maybe we can find some common ground; who knows? Maybe you’ll show me a thing or two. Don’t reject me simply because… ‘..that don’t fly down here!’
God bless Alabama and God bless the Democratic Party!
Y'all may have noticed my light posting this week. It isn't that I've given up blogging, just that my county party has been getting ready for the Grand Opening (even though we've been "open" for about a month) of our 2008 Democratic Headquarters . Today was the big day and it was a huge success.
I won't even hazard a guess at how many people showed up for the official ceremony this morning but it was an impressive turnout. Close to 100 people filled out volunteer forms, just today, and the crowd didn't leave right after the shindig either. The office was full all day and we practically had to shove people out the door at closing time so the volunteers who had been there since 9 am could finally go home and put our feet up. Or whatever. I'm doing whatever.
Statewide and Madison County Democratic candidates attended, including:
Deborah Bell Paseur, Supreme Court, Place 1
Clyde Jones, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1
Reta McKannan, Madison County District Judge, Place 2
Cynthia Rena Webb, Madison County District Judge, Place 1
Lynda Hall, Tax Collector
Fran Hamilton, Tax Assessor
Mark Craig, License Director
Jerry Craig, County Commisioner
Richard Showers, City Council
Bob Harrison, County Commissioner who spoke on behalf of Sen. Vivian Figures (U.S. Senate)
Justin Saia, who spoke on behalf of Parker Griffith (U.S. Congress)
Richard Smith, Chairman of Alabama Veterans for Obama
The enthusiasm level is extremely high -- really heartwarming. If y'all aren't already helping out in your county, you're missing a bet. Look them up in the phone book or on the internet if you don't know where they are. Lots of pictures below the fold.
CQ Politics has a good article out about Congressman Davis and a possible 2010 bid for the Alabama Governorship
Also, there's speculation he might run for Senator as well:
"Davis would likely face Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, a former governor, in a showdown for the Democratic nomination. Current Republican Gov. Bob Riley , who is term limited, defeated the state’s last Democratic governor, Don Siegelman, in a close 2002 race.
Davis said that he would also consider running for the Senate if Republican Alabama Sen. Richard C. Shelby were to announce his retirement before the 2010 election. “If Senator Shelby were to chose not to run again, I would be asked to - and be expected to - reconsider my race (for governor),” Davis said."
to the Blue Moon Coffee Shop and Cyber Cafe in Eufaula (347 S. Eufaula Avenue, Suite 2),
Tuesday May 20, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm for coffee and conversation with
Cheryl Sabel, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress, Alabama District 2.
Cheryl is the only progressive among the 9 candidates running for this office. She has received the endorsments of: Alabama New South Coalition; Bullock County Voters League; Democracy for America, Montgomery Chapter; and National Organization for Women PAC.
Cheryl is running against Bobby Bright, Mayor of Montgomery, in the June 3rd Democratic Primary for the seat being vacated by Terry Everett.
If you're in the area, stop on by.
Even if you can't stop by, you can support Cheryl's candidacy with a contribution through her ActBlue page. Campaigns have to reach thousands of voters (about 700,000 in a Congressional district) to be effective and that takes MONEY!
Along the way we're going to inflict some collateral damage on the Republicans in the state of Alabama. Because we're going to pick up and hold ... pick up 2 and hold one Congressional seats in the state of Alabama. We're going to do that.
The well-heeled DCCC just dropped another $700,000 into the 1st district race in Mississippi, forcing the RNCC to kick in more money that it doesn't have in a seat that is historically 10 points Republican. Not only are these surprise pick-up opportunities for Democrats, they represent a strategic chance to keep the RNCC from accumulating cash to use in the November races.
2008 may be a bad year to be a Republican, but it's shaping up to be a GREAT YEAR TO BE A DEMOCRAT!
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After months of playing it coy, Senator Hinton Mitchem (D-Union Grove) is telling his close friends that he's not going to seek re-election. And how does he plan to thank the Democrats for their support over the years? He's going to endorse one of the Republicans in the race for his seat - and it won't be his long-time accountant Tony Cochran. Realtor Don Spurlin will get the official nod, according to those close to the senator, much to the chagrin of Joey Masters, Marshall County Revenue Commissioner, who thought he was Hinton's "Chosen One" until losing grace with the senator when Joey switched to the Republican party a few years ago. 
