Democratic candidate for Senate, Bill Barnes, scoffs at the GOP's contention that people without health insurance "can just go to the emergency room" and stresses his opposition to the repeal of health insurance reform in this interview with Left in Alabama. Barnes is running against Richard Shelby who's against pretty much everything - extension of unemployment benefits, Lilly Ledbetter, economic stimulus, health reform, and any type of government spending outside his state.
Here's a partial transcript of Barnes' statement and the video (about 3 1/2 minutes) is on the flip:
I would not support repeal of health care legislation.
Let me just back up a moment.... The initial efforts to effect national health legislation goes way back to 1946 - President Truman - and it' never been passed and has come up time after time over the years.
President Obama campaigned on health reform and the idea of affordable health care for all individuals and he was elected to the presidency based on that being a major part of his platform. The people spoke. I think itwould be an injustice to the American people to repeal what was passed.
We should have affordable health care for everyone!
If we have someone who's unemployed and drawing nothing more than unemployment benefit, how can they afford to go to the doctor? If you go to one of the local clinics, it costs you $100 just to walk in the door and see the doctor. And then there's the medications on top of that.
Now, how can anyone that has lost their job and has a sick child or spouse meet that type of burden?
I've done bankruptcies in my practice for people and one of the things that I've found is that a majority of them - about 60% - have to declare bankruptcy because of the lack of health insurance. A medical situation has caused a catastrophe in their lives because they can't meet the expense.
The Republicans will say that "all they had to do was go to the emergency room" and that is nonsense. The law says that all the emergency room has to do is stabilize them - stop the bleeding and turn them loose. That's all they're obligated to do.
And that's not the way American should be. We take care of one another.
In Bill Barnes' America, "we take care of one another." In Big Dick Shelby's America, "we take care of our campaign contributors."
Which America appeals more to you? Donate to the campaign and volunteer to help elect Bill Barnes to the US Senate.
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 from representatives of the involved parties...and let me tell you, this is more than just an accident inquiry-it's also a warm-up for the lawsuits that are surely going to follow.
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.
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.
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.
This year's Alliance for JusticeFirst 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 other events. The film will be released in early October and will be available online, and in DVD format.
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 that would give the AFDW President a seat on the State Democratic Executive Board.
There was another perfect thing about Saturday's celebration: Jim Spearman's speech. Spearman is the Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party and I think of him as more of a behind the scenes operator than a "give them hell" speechmaker, but he gave voice to things a great many of us are feeling about the ADP right now.
"90 years later, we see that women are the backbone of the Democratic Party. ... Alabama has not always been ... leading in social issues. ... Unfortunately we have some today that want to fight progress in this state, and in our party, too. They know who they are and they know they're going to lose in the end. ... The AFDW has proposed a bylaws change before the SDEC that would allow the AFDW a seat on the Executive Board. Unfortunately, it's met opposition and it's been tabled. It needs to be passed and it needs to be passed because it's the right thing to do ... and it's what the Democratic Party stands for."
I'm not sure who yelled "Nancy Worley?" when Jim was talking about great Alabama women -- was that you Louis Baxley?
Afterwards Jim was being thanked and congratulated by many people at the dinner. He indicated that he doesn't voice these concerns lightly and, but there are things that needed to be said. He had an opportunity and he took it.
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 read me correctly, “expel moderates and conservatives.”
Those groups on the right you and they may spuriously call conservative are not. They are a mix of racists, neo conservatives (war mongers and imperialists), social conservatives (majorities over rights), religious zealots (they talk to god and she answers), war mongers (repeated so you remember) all guided by corporatists who make profit from folk whose atavistic human impulses they manipulate.
In the Democratic Party we have folk right and left, and many more graduated between.
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? Nice gig if you can get it. Apparently when these Congressmen arrive in a foreign country, someone hands them an envelope containing their travel expense allowance (varies from country to country) in the local currency. They buy meals, etc. and then convert whatever is left back to dollars and take it with them back home. Or buy gifts and what nots to take home. Problem is, that's taxpayer money getting "taken back home." I don't blame Aderholt for not keeping receipts. The last thing he wants is a paper trail when enriching himself at taxpayer expense.
From the more in-depth WSJ report, we are reminded of just who is trying to clean up the cesspool in Washington:
In May, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi implemented some changes to House travel rules, in part by making it explicit that lawmakers must return excess travel funds. She also said that if lawmakers requested the additional $50 for their per diem, they must retain receipts to justify the additional cost.
Go Nancy! Somebody needs to straighten these guys out.
French Should Denounce Racism, Reject Judge Appointment
Birmingham, Ala (August 27, 2010)— Judge Nicole "Nikki" Still is a victim of racism.
The Alabama Democratic Party's decision to appoint a black woman for fear that having an unopposed white woman on the ballot, would reduce voter turnout, is an insult that should enrage blacks everywhere.
To this end, the Jefferson County Chapter of Alabama New South Coalition calls for Elisabeth French to reject her recent appointment as the Democratic nominee for Circuit Court Judge, thus sending the message that she refuses to support racism and bias in any form.
Whenever any group of people gives in to the pressures of racism, we all lose. Now, we can't say that Elisabeth French won't perform remarkably as a Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge, but we do know one thing: She was a not a candidate for this post. She was simply chosen from a random pool of possible black women lawyers who work in Place 17.
Now, let us be clear, the call for French to reject this appointment has little to do with Judge Still. Yes, Alabama New South Coalition did, and continues to support Judge Still. However, this moment is so much larger than any one candidate. This is a call for us all to put aside our personal politics to address head on the issue of racism.
On August 26 in Montgomery, Elisabeth French received more than an appointment to be the democratic nominee, but also an opportunity— an opportunity to speak out against racism in all of its forms.
If she chooses the opportunity, and uses it to denounce racism, she could set forth a series of activity that has the potential to make her larger than the office she wishes to hold. Not only would the Democratic Party win, but also the communities that represent Place 17. And even more, she wins, as she would demonstrate a courage and independence the likes only akin to champions of righteousness known throughout history.
If she declines the opportunity, we all lose. Furthermore, she sends the message that she approves of the practice of racism when it is beneficial for protected classes of which she is a member.
For the sake of Civil Rights champions every where, we pray she rises to the challenge before her. Alabama New South Coalition crusaders for Civil Rights, such as Attorney's J. L. Chestnut, Michael Figures and Hank Sanders braved the pressures of their peers, attack dogs, water hoses and acts of intimidation to accomplish one aim— destroying the practice of racism and segregation. They did not fight in hopes of one day being able to acquire the tools of the oppressor, so that we might one day be in a position to act out in racist ways.
Setting a precedent for bypassing the democratic process when it is convenient for accommodating race, ethnicity or national origin is a dangerous practice, and will do more to harm the Democratic Party than anyone could possibly imagine. This move to appoint French, and ignore the 45% of voters who support Judge Still because she is white, not only tears into the fabric of our democracy, but also destroys a people's faith in the political process.
Now, Joe Reed, Joe Turnham and John Rogers no longer need to concern themselves with how many people will show up to the polls, but must now move to retain democrats thinking of fleeing the Democratic Party after such a blatant show of racism.
Our greatest fear is not that racism is alive and well, but that African-American voters have arrived at a place where they approve of the practice.
Let's see if Elisabeth French proves us wrong by rejecting an appointment that was motivated in part, or wholly, by bias. I hope, for the sake of a people, she decides to do just that.
I'm just a white person, but I know some of the rhetoric I heard at that meeting on Thursday left me deeply disturbed. If a Republican had been saying those things we would have been so all over them for racism, favoritism and so forth. You can see some key portions of the meeting in the video below the fold, and make up your own mind about whether we've come full circle to the point where we aren't concerned with equal justice, but with making sure we're the ones on top.
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, Lowndes County would not have any white land-owners."
At least that's an original - if bizarre - excue for opposing reform. But now we see that Dial has yet another foible: he talks to himself on Facebook.
Dial took offense to a blog post by his opponent, Greg Varner, where Varner highlighted Dial's record in the Legislature and compared those past actions to what he's telling voters today.
Unwilling to address the facts of Varner's post, Gerald Dial complained on Facebook and had quite a conversation - with himself:
Ok. The wall post is bizarre enough. I'd love to have Dial explain the difference between a "lie" and "half lie," wouldn't you? Then there's the pep talk to Gerald from... Gerald! Perhaps his "REAL FRIEND" is real and perhaps a figment of Dial's imagination on a par with "no white landowners left in Lowdes County."
You be the judge. On the flip, we have excerpts from Greg Varner's terrific takedown of Dial's sudden anti-gambling stance - which certainly doesn't match his voting record.
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 remarks were made during the Q&A period -- but a couple of remarks illustrate that it's hard to put either of these guys into a neatly labeled box. Both men are working to reach outside their base a bit, I think.
Bentley:
We need transparency in Montgomery. We have been trying for years. (Rep.) Jeff McLaughlin has been sponsoring for years a law to ban PAC-to-PAC transfers. It always passes the house. I've been in the house for eight years, and I have voted for it every time.
Not rhetoric you hear from all Republicans, by any means. Similarly, Sparks is talking about the need for bipartisanship:
I'm going to reach across party lines. The Democratic party doesn't have all the answers for problems in Montgomery. We've got to have Democrats, Republicans and Independents working together.
"Since when did it become the job of the government to provide a college education to every child?" Bentley responded, looking toward Sparks.
"That's not the government's job. That's your job," Bentley said, pointing to the crowd of about 140. "Not every child can go to college, or should they."
This "not the government's job to educate your children" kind of statement actually works well for both men.
It's a standard, less government, self-determination frame that wins Bentley points with conservatives -- and he may need those points because he wasn't the chosen GOPer of the far right.
But that statement brings to mind an entirely different frame for the Democratic base, especially African-Americans, who remember that segregationist Alabamians resisted any implication that children had a right to a public education. Why, if education was a right, they might have to let poor black and brown kids into schools.
Sparks is right to publicize Bentley's statement. I think he likely gets more traction out of it than Bentley does. After all, there are only a limited number of families who can afford college with no help these days and Bentley already had their votes. Sparks, on the other hand, needed something to get his voters riled up against Bentley. This is a good start.
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 Alabama Federation of Democratic Women an ex officio member of the SDEC Board. On Aug. 14 Vice Chair for Women's Affairs Nancy Worley first moved that the AFDW amendment be adopted then moved to table her own motion -- which means to stop further action.
Last Thursday women attended in force to support a planned move to bring the amendment back to the floor. Former Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley made a special point to attend, also wearing a yellow ribbon, in hopes her presence might help move the party leaders to permit a vote on the issue. Her son, Louis Baxley, rose and attempted to bring the AFDW amendment to the floor. However, presiding officer Nancy Worley would have none of it and refused to recognize Baxley. She ignored more than one call for a point of order and instead asked for a motion to adjourn, ending the meeting.
I thought it was particularly tasteless to preface the meeting with congratulatory remarks about Women's Equality Day, then to give the worn out excuse of "we need to study this" as cover to avoid a vote on the issue. As I've said before, ...
What makes this situation even worse is that in Alabama in 2008, 74.3% of eligible women registered to vote (Source: Table 4) compared to only 68.5% of men. Women outnumbered men by about 270,000 at the Alabama polls in November 2008 and voted for Democrats significantly more often than male voters. The state Democratic Party leadership ought to reflect the importance of that female influence it enjoys at the ballot box. Unfortunately, the Alabama Democratic Party, like most of state government, is male dominated.
There are currently eight officers of the Alabama Democratic Party. Only one, Vice Chair Nancy Worley, is female. And she both made the motion to adopt the Bylaw change and moved to table her own motion -- isn't that a trip?
To continue with the numbers game, of the 34 positions on the Executive Board, which includes the officers, only 14 are held by women.
This is simply unacceptable behavior. I've heard some party leaders are concerned that this amendment would add "another woman" to the Board -- what the hell is wrong with that? Women are the majority of Democratic voters, why don't we have adequate representation. Others are apparently concerned that this would add a member they have no control over -- the AFDW President is elected by the membership. Again, what the hell is wrong with having an independent voice for Democratic women on the Board?
Major fail by the Democratic Party -- the leadership, really -- here.
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 dialogue. When questioned about opponent Ron Sparks’ proposal, Bentley dismissively swiped it down and offered no solution of his own, no alternative. But he didn’t stop there… Like a scolding schoolmarm, Bentley pointed at the audience of voters and lectured them, arguing that it’s their responsibility to provide for their children’s post-secondary education. Never mind that voters aren’t in the mood to be harangued, especially by a wealthy doctor who appears to be immune to current economic conditions. Never mind that the state is plagued by gruesome unemployment. Never mind that a college education’s cost continues to climb through the roof, increasingly out of reach for working Alabama families, and the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program is in its waning days.
In fact Bentley’s words prompted a visual of him astride a majestic horse like a king, aloof and disconnected, smirking and chuckling as he threw pennies into the mud for us lowly peasants to wrestle over.
The basic conservative philosophy has some merit - that government should stay out of our lives…. Only how many among us - Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, independent - would like to do without labor and food safety laws, statutes that prevent discrimination, and everyday necessities like the American interstate system? Or what about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and Veterans Administration care? The philosophy itself has its charms… but in such a time of turmoil when most Alabama taxpayers are struggling to feed their families, stay one step ahead of a home foreclosure and in many cases simply trying to keep the electricity on, how kindly will we take to a wealthy specialty doctor wagging his finger arrogantly at us, scolding us to somehow make money fall out of the sky to educate our children?
Alabama voters to this point may have found Bentley’s folksy charm and grandfatherly demeanor to be cute… but as we see more of his layers pulled back and his true self exposed, we should be far more concerned that he appears to be out of tune, out of touch and rapidly running out of campaign gimmicks.
About the author: Joseph O. Patton is the editor-in-chief and founder of the Capital City Free Press. He is a former news editor for the Coosa County News, lead reporter for the Montgomery Independent and editor-in-chief of the AUMnibus, the student newspaper of Auburn-Montgomery. Patton is also the creator of and writer for the satirical news radio segment "Goat Hill Gossip," which previously aired on WAUD in Auburn, Alabama and appears on several Central Alabama radio programs as a political analyst.
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 riding up Dexter on a long eared mule."
2nd woman: "I heard Joe Hubbard uses a pay phone instead of a cell phone. Carries it on his back."
2nd man: "I heard ... Joe Hubbard let's Obama win at golf."
Joe Hubbard: "Some people will say anything. I'm Joe Hubbard and I'm asking for your vote on Nov. 2nd."
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” Crump (1874-1954) controlled his machinations for nearly half a century.
Crump was a Democratic Memphis insurance broker and businessman who recognized that, by forging alliances with East Tennessee Republicans and African Americans, he could effectively control state politics.
Sound familiar? Or how about this ...
Real damage to Party’s health also had been done the year before, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation had arrested seven state legislators — six of whom were Democrats — for accepting bribes. All were found guilty in federal court.
And is it really smart to pin all your hopes on a "the other guys are worse" platform?
According to witnesses, Party’s ominous final words to be etched onto his gravestone were: “Moderate Republicans will resurrect me once they get a load of them crazy-ass tea baggers.”
Political parties need care and nurture, and they require the involvement of smart, hard-working, reasonable people who care about their health and vitality -- and who also have lots of other things they'd rather do. If you are such a person, your services are required to ensure the ADP doesn't wind up next to the TDP in Forest Lawn.
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 like when Mitch McConnell says he's not a human-turtle hybrid, I take him at his word. And it's not easy."
1 in 5 Americans believe Obama is a Muslim. ... 30% of Republicans feel Obama is a Muslim. ... 30% of the country believes in UFOs. 30% of the country believes in ESP.
Tommy Stevenson dispenses with the humor and chides McConnell for duplicity:
Those sort of weasel words are designed not to put an end to the ridiculous controversy; they are meant to keep one of the most contemptible controversies in recent political history alive.
“Of course he’s a Christian, don’t be silly!” would have been the right answer. And if McConnell still wanted to take a shot at Obama, he could have added, “Don’t you remember during the presidential election when we caught him going all those years to that radical Church of Christ minister?”
Had he really wanted to do the right thing, he could have said, “So what if he is; Muslims are part of the very fabric of our country and should not be demonized.” (Yeah, I know, fat chance.)
Stevenson also brings some facts to the table, pointing to President Obama's statement in an interview with Christianity Today: “I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ." But facts really matter very little to the people who are most up in arms about Barack Obama's religion.
The sad truth is that you can fool some of the people all the time, and politicians are no longer interested in winning by leading the American electorate toward the truth -- God, that's a lot of work -- but in reinforcing the fears and misconceptions of that 20 to 30% of Americans who can be made to believe anything, forever. That's what the Obama birth certificate craziness was/is about and that's why we're suddenly hearing so much of the obviously false "Obama is a Muslim" claptrap.
The tin-foil hat wearers are now coveted swing voters in America.
“Look, I’m just not going to get on Fox News and make the president’s birth certificate my cause,” he said. “I have to pick my battles, and the fact is I have 635,000 constituents that I have to try to balance. The majority of them would rather I focus on jobs and on winning the next election — not trying to undo the last one.”
Can the GOP ride this angry tiger of folks who can be fooled all the time, or will antics like the birth certificate brouhaha and the current Muslim hatefest cost them dearly with genuine swing voters? Don't underestimate the power of bullshit to move votes.
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 effort to get him fired. From the press release:
"After seeing Matt Kibbe trying to sell his master's new book on Fox News recently, I kinda felt sorry for him," Mr. Douglas confides. "Matt does actually think for himself sometimes, but he has no personality to speak of, really, to express himself. He sorta comes off like Igor asking you to donate your brain to his friend, Dr. Frankenstein. It's a hard way to go through life. And he does seem kinda melancholy. So I decided to pitch in."
Mr. Douglas took out time from his schedule to write and produce a spec commercial for Dick Armey, Matt Kibbe and FreedomWorks to promote their new book, "Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto."
I'll bet Freedomworks wishes Mr. Douglas was back doing voice overs for GEICO instead of "helping" sell Dick's book.
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.
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Here's a partial transcript of Barnes' statement and the video (about 3 1/2 minutes) is on the flip:
Many Democratic women attended the 
The sad truth is that you can fool some of the people all the time, and politicians are no longer interested in winning by leading the American electorate toward the truth -- God, that's a lot of work -- but in reinforcing the fears and misconceptions of that 20 to 30% of Americans who can be made to believe anything, forever. That's what the Obama birth certificate craziness was/is about and that's why we're suddenly hearing so much of the obviously false "Obama is a Muslim" claptrap. 
