It was a bold move on the front steps of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse steps, said one abc 33/40 news reporter. To step in what everyone refers to as Shelby Country and bring the Barnes Campaign here. Why did you do it, asked the reporter? Why not, replied Bill.
I wouldn't expect anything less than that coming from a man who has stood in the line of fire in the Vietnam war, been told repeatedly that he has no chance of winning and it just can't be done, yet managed to win 60 counties in the primaries on $600.00 and hasn't bowed down to a single politico yet. The man isn't intimidated by $17 million and he certainly has no reason whatsoever to fear Shelby's experience or his hometown. Sometimes I get frustrated at the lack of sincerity in the tone of so many that claim to want what is best for Alabama and then I am reminded, some do... but not until they get their portion of the pie first.
After an incredible press conference that could have educated and provided the citizens and voters of Alabama a solid and informed insight to their alternative to Richard Shelby, it was disappointing to realize that too would be hindered by unfair media. However, I could not think of a better way to share more of Barnes with you than to come straight to Left In Alabama and bring an incredible perspective on the press conference to you from Tommy Stevenson at Tuscaloosa News. Here's a few inserts from the article, but it's A MUST READ FROM BEGINNING TO END.
William G. Barnes, 61, called himself “Your alternative to Richard Shelby.” The first-time candidate characterized his foe in the Nov. 2 general election as someone whose votes in Congress “do not reflect the best interests of the people of the state of Alabama, but rather that of big business and big oil.”
Barnes, a Democrat who says he has raised about $1,000 for his campaign, said contributions from such special interests had allowed Shelby, a Republican, to amass a $17 million campaign war chest.
A supporter of President Barack Obama’s health care legislation, Barnes said Shelby has become a key member of “the party of ‘no’ ” in the Senate.
“He voted ‘no’ on establishing aid to small banks to aid small businesses. He voted ‘no’ on the bill for student loan overhaul because he believes it would destroy the banking industry.”
“Folks, it’s simple,” he said. “We need to ask ourselves if we are better off than we were six years ago when we sent Sen. Shelby back to Washington for a fourth term. I don’t believe we are.”
After the press conference, I approached the reporter to answer his question about the bold move to hold Barnes' Press Conference in Tuscaloosa. I was more than happy to tell him part of his campaign team lived in "Shelbyville", and Bill was thoughtful enough not to have to make us drive far. But even more anxious to advise him that we lived here, we know what Shelby has done for us... but we also knew what he HASN'T done for 63 other counties in this state and it's time Shelby camehome to sit on his Tuscaloosa front porch and sip on some sweet tea with the rest of us unemployed home bodies. Because he was clearly disconnected to the needs of Alabamians.
I went on to tell him, that Alabama didn't need a cheerleader to make them hoop and holler. If they wanted a loud roar, to call Nick Saban and Roll Tide Roll... but if they wanted to pay their bills and get a happy meal from McDonald's, then send Barnes to Washington to fight for the right to work again.
I hope everyone realizes what this man is sacrificing and how much he's putting on the line to restore our dignity and hope in regaining the American Dream that was taken from us. We deserve to be happy again. We've earned the right to smile, not worry and make good memories.
It's been a long haul for the candidates but they have finally arrived. Will it be the thrill of victory (underlined) or the agony of defeat for:
Governor: Bentley vs. Byrne?
Attorney Gen.: Anderson vs. Perkins?
Congress, AL-02: Barber vs. Roby?
Congress, AL-07: Sewell vs. Smoot?
Ag Commissioner: Grace vs. McMillan?
SD9: Scofield vs. Spurlin?
SD28: Beasley vs. Ford?
... etc.
Barring the need for any recounts, we should know how all these races turned out by tomorrow morning. What do you think, what do you know, what does it mean?
Anyone else get the Mike Huckabee robocall for Bentley? I was only able to quote the last part:
"...bring integrity back to government. Alabama deserves more than negative campaigns and politics as usual. I hope you remember to vote on Tuesday for my friend, Dr. Robert Bentley, for governor." (Paid for by Bentley For Governor)
For review, here's an example of Huckabee's star power:
I sit in my Village apartment which overlooks Seventh Avenue and 12th Street. This day the Gay Rights parade stops traffic. I don't like parades. They are some ethnic group or other group that wants to prove that they have enough political clout to stop traffic, to inconvenience other folk.
One of the effects of better racial relations in Alabama is the joining of two groups of homophobes. I believe that a majority of black and white communities are homophobic, so it seems relevant that I begin my enquiry into the state constitution in the Village.
I'll be home in a few days. Here goes:
(My comments. I need help. I intend to examine the state constitution with your help. These ( ) are my comments.
I need all your help in understanding it, especially state court decisions and other relevant opinions such as State Attorney.
I was worried that I might not want to continue to live in Alabama, but I miss it and I want to fix it with y’all.
I have the disadvantage of an abysmal ignorance of the home state. The way I discuss it may seem tedious, but I have to learn it with your help. Please be patient and tender with me. Forgive me for my 30 year self imposed exile from the state.
That exile - exile of others too - may be the reason the state is f’d up. I left you in Alabama, and so did some others. I know some of them. I invite them back.)
Constitution Of Alabama 1901 Article 1 Declaration of Rights. SECTION
That the great, general, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare:
SECTION 1
Equality and rights of men.
That all men are equally free and independent; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
(We know how that was practiced: Jeffersonian! The actual Jeffersonian, not the expressed ideals. In Alabama it was practiced in worse ways. It still is.)
Alabama Democrats shouldn't run against health care legislation. The DNC has a new ad and each bullet point hits yet another key demographic. Explanations after the jump:
Election night, the culmination of months or even years of hard work and planning. Decision time. Stay home glued to your TV, or go out to celebrate or weep (or maybe both) with like minded folks? I say PARTY! Especially if you've worked your buns off for a candidate -- tomorrow is for sleeping! Here's where the action will be on election night:
Governor:
Artur Davis - Election Night Party, Birmingham, The Harbert Center, 2019 4th Avenue North, 3rd Floor, 6:30 pm until ?
Ron Sparks - Election Night Returns Watch Party, Montgomery, Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, 7 pm.
Attorney General:
Giles Perkins - Watch the Election Results! Birmingham, 24 Ridge Drive, 7 pm until ?, RSVP 205.327.8188 or info@PerkinsForAlabama.com
Congress, AL-05:
Mitchell Howie - Election Night Victory Party, The Roundhouse, 320 Church Street Huntsville, 7:30-10:30pm
Steve Raby - Election Night Event, Huntsville, Holiday Inn Downtown, 401 Williams Ave. SW in the Heritage Ballroom, 6:30 pm.
Taze Shepard - Victory Celebration, Huntsville, Holiday Inn Downtown, 401 Williams Ave. SW in Salon A, 7 - 10 pm.
Congress, AL-07:
Earl Hilliard, Jr. - Post Election Party, Birmingham, Wellington's Bistro, 1500 2nd Ave. North.
Terri Sewell - Election Night Party, Birmingham, Harmabe Room, 1813 4th Ave. North, 7 pm to midnight
During a chat on politics while home visiting friends and family in Birmingham Ala., one friend remarked that candidates who speak in `positives' rarely do well in campaigns for state office in Alabama. She pointed to the legacy of unfortunate condescension, that use political formulas where candidates steer people's attention from true `center of life' issues towards hot button social topics.
Of course, this is probably one of the easiest, oldest and cheapest tricks in politics but, fueled on by a media focused on the sensational, it often works, not just in the South, but, across the nation,
And, for some us who grew up or live in Alabama, headlines seem to say this deep-south state has produced more than its fair share of these dangerous political games.
Over the past few weeks, Americans have met Alabama Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James, the 48-year old son of former Governor Fob James who was noted in part for blunt language and loud opposition to the teaching of evolution.
The younger James, a millionaire businessman, has inspired news headlines, sneers from liberals and now a barrage of viral videos based on a real television campaign ad where the candidate for governor tackles Alabama's practice of offering drivers license exams in 12 languages.
During the ad, James looks earnestly into the camera and say's "this is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it." One would be hard pressed to find evidence that offering drivers license tests to a variety of languages is a `central to Alabama life issue,' nonetheless, since the ad's debut, James' poll numbers have gone up and local interest in the governor's race has jumped. These days, he's drawing big crowds as he criss-crosses the state in the `common sense' express.
James' exploitation of anti-immigrant sentiment is one of the latest incidents in an immigrant backlash we're seeing in many states like Arizona. But, in Alabama, one can't help but draw comparisons to other candidates who, especially during times of economic instability, have exploited the insecurity of voter fear and insecurity.
As meticulous research in the book `Alabama, Portrait of a Deep South State,' notes, in the 1960's, when poor whites who'd recently entered the middle class saw their earning power failing to keep pace with inflation, instead of acting rationally and organizing or joining unions, they often acted in non-rational ways, "through scape-goating, fatalism, or blind rage." To champion the cause, "they chose George C. Wallace.".....more at
For a moment, lets look at the positive statistics based on education lottery in Georgia.
According to their website www.galottery.com/education it says, "Since inception, more than $5 billion in lottery proceeds has been appropriated and distributed to more than 1.2 million HOPE Scholarship recipients."
Do we understand fully the impact it could have on the number of people going to college? Furthermore, they also have a state funded pre-K program which is solely funded using lottery money.
The Lottery scholarship is good for many reasons:
1. It keeps students in-state by only giving them the funds if they choose to go to a private or public university in the state.
2. It promotes good study habits and a hard work ethic by saying that only students with a 3.0 gpa in high school maybe eligible for the scholarship
3. It boosts our morale because more people are becoming more educated due to the fact they have funds to pursue higher edcuation
4. Our state is finally taking some initiative to improve our education system instead of constantly cutting funds and reducing teacher units.
Furthermore, the lottery and legalizing gambling could work hand in hand. The regulations and taxes from casinos and bingo halls could be allocated to the education fund, not all of the money but a portion of it. This could help teachers to buy extra supplies for their classrooms, or provide school supplies to children at little to no cost. Why not implement these things and keep the money in Alabama? For example, I bought a lottery ticket in Florida a couple of weeks ago while I was at the beach. If Alabama had the lottery, I would buy a ticket here and the money would stay in our state instead of going to Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee!
No matter who becomes governor, I hope they begin to take an initiative on education because we have sat back for too long twiddling our thumbs and watching us continually sit at the bottom statistically in education for years! We have some of the brightest people in the nation and that is evident through the space program, Mercedes, and numerous other plants and facilities.
I know what one might say, "Ron Sparks wants to do all this." Yes, he does but that is the only thing he is campaigning on. I also want to know about what he wants to do to create jobs and boost our economy. What does he want to do about infrastructure and creating main industrial highways that connect Memphis to Atlanta through Alabama? I want to know these things, but he simply wants to campaign solely on lottery and thats an issue that I don't think he can win on (i.e. Sigelman 1999).
It is time for us to begin to move forward in Alabama instead of taking a back seat in this country. We did not even participate in the "Race to the Top" program which was an education initiative. Instead we watched as Tennessee was awarded $500,000 to use in their education departments. We need someone who is going to be a progressive thinker and not continue to set Alabama back!
Yes, we need an Education Lottery. Yes, We need legalized gambling. Yes, we need a progressive thinker!
Its time for our voice to be heard!!
Get to the polls on June 1st!
I am tired of backwards thinking, lets progress Alabama into the Future!!
The Jefferson County teacher who used as an example the shooting of President Barack Obama while teaching lines and angles to his geometry class has been placed on paid administrative leave and faces possible termination, Superintendent Phil Hammonds said today.
Hammonds said his office has been flooded with phone calls from all over the nation since The Birmingham News reported that Corner High School geometry teacher Gregory Harrison used the assassination example while teaching. The calls were mainly from people who were upset because the school district had taken no action against the teacher.
However more than a bit troubling according to one student's account
The teacher was apparently teaching his geometry students about parallel lines and angles, officials said. He used the example of where to stand and aim if shooting Obama.
"He was talking about angles and said, "If you're in this building, you would need to take this angle to shoot the president," said Joseph Brown a senior in the Geometry Class.
Three cheers for Alabama - Man am I embarrassed to live in this state, especially my home county somedays
We've seen some great ads from Democrats in AL-5 recently. Mitchell Howie's shades-of-Wellstone ad is an example of how the best spots reapply old formulas; Carly Fiorina's "demon sheep" commercial is an example of how innovation is often the enemy of a campaign. What makes a TV ad effective? I'll talk about that below the fold.
I'd like to stop writing about Tim James, and perhaps I will be able to do that now. I just got off the phone with Doris Teague at the Alabama State Troopers HQ in Montgomery, who told me that driver's license manuals are printed only in English -- and the tests are auto-translated by a computer.
When you pay $5 to take the exam in any language, the kiosk you use is the same whether you take the test in Farsi, French, Vietnamese, American Sign Language, or English. The system was funded by a federal grant, has been in use since 2003, and came with the translating software pre-installed. So much for "saving money" by offering tests only in English.
Tim James deserves to be challenged on his pandering: it's not only racist and ugly, it's stupid and fact-free. Other than the possibility of being nominated by a reactionary element, there's no upside to it (and I'd argue that's still not an upside).
But why does it take an unpaid blogger to do this basic fact-checking? Where is the "liberal" media?
Alabama voters should be insulted. The ploy is right out of the playbook of Willie Stark, the fantasy gubernatorial candidate in Robert Penn Warren's "All the King's Men." Stark heeded campaign advice to low-road the voters: "Stir them up and they'll love it and come back for more, but, for heaven's sakes, don't try to improve their minds."
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