Redeye's Alabama Week in Review

All we did was win win win! The week begin with the Auburn University Tigers led by QB Cam Newton winning the 2010 National Championship game. The Alabama media paid all kinds of attention to Cam Newton Gate but we heard nary a peep about BCS National Championship Ticket Gate

Those "face value" tickets for legislators to the BCS National Championship game are becoming a hotter property by the day. As of this morning, Auburn fans - even those willing to spend $9K a pop - can no longer buy BCS National Championship Tickets for any price. Stubhub has suspended sales of the game because sellers weren't actually fulfilling their orders.

Now we're beginning to learn more about the situation. Auburn has admitted that as many as 15 "legislators and state officials" have been given the chance to purchase tickets at "face value." (It's not really face value in my book when the public never gets a chance to buy at that price.)

For some reason, Auburn isn't going to release the names of the guilty until next week.

Gooberner Riley and gop chair State Rep. Mike Hubbard(r.) said they were going to the game with tickets they purchased, but they would be traveling on a state plane because they have to depart for Montgomery soon after the game ends Monday night. The State has a plane? Who knew?

The snow storm spoiled Riley's party *snicker*, but Cam Newtons father Cecil Newton did watch his son play in the biggest game of his life.

The Alabama Dem Party comes together and endorses U.S. Attorney candidate? Uh, what Alabama Dem party came together, and when exactly did the Alabama Dem party come together? It should read outgoing miserable failure State Chair Joe Turnham and the parties presidential advisory committee (wtf is that?) comes together (pun intended) and endorses U.S. Attorney candidate. :)

No wonder the Alabama Democrats are in a pitiful shape.

The Alabama Democratic Party's Presidential Advisory Committee has endorsed Beck, even though he comes from a law firm with ties to Republican strategist Karl Rove and Business Council of Alabama (BCA) President Bill Canary. A source tells Legal Schnauzer that Beck's firm, Capell and Howard, often serves as a home base for Rove when he visits Alabama.

The South, I mean Dems will rise again!!! YeeHaww! The Over the Mountain Dems have fired the first volley in the fight for the Alabama Democratic Party.

Judge Mark Kennedy, the only announced candidate for Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, will take part in a panel discussion in Birmingham next Tuesday, sponsored by the Over the Mountain Democrats.

The Blue Dogs--Dixiecrats--Determined to continue wrecking the Democratic Party Brand

The Democrats, Dixiecrats really, before Carter were a mostly a motley gaggle of conservatives and racists. Just before Carter, for example, was Lester Maddox, a segregationist restaurateur most famous for saying he would rather close his restaurant than serve Black people and later brandished a handgun to chase potential Black customers away. He also ran for president on the neo-Nazi American Independent Party, a forerunner of today's Tea Party.

So who is going to win the Civil War within the Democratic Party? The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party or the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party? A party divided will not stand.

The democratic party is not pure or perfect because it's been infiltrated by those who don't share democratic party principles or values. Candidates and elected officials feel free to take our money and our votes for granted and pander to those who might vote for them (or not) at the expense of those who have to vote for them because they have no where to go.

Speaking of the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party, can you believe a progressive blog is actually asking what is acceptable dissent on a Progressive Blog and, taking a poll asking if Dale Jackson should be allowed to stay on LiA? Acceptable to who? Allowed by who? I wonder if they realize how elitist and condescending they sound?

I have to agree with Dale Jackson on this one, there is more than a whiff of hypocrisy on both sides. Dale Jackson was singing a different tune when I was complaining about the hypocrisy and unfairness. So was resident righty and *ahem* legal expert Old Prosecutor. Question for countrycat, if I'm not banned why is my user name and password invalid? Yep, Change is Afoot at Left in Alabama all right (pun intended). Remember when Left in Alabama was the media we wish we had instead of the media we have?

Left in Alabama has been infiltrated. You know the drill. Find an effective progressive group. Get offended by something that is said. Pick a fight. Have the group pick sides. And who wins in the end? Not us progressives that's for sure.

"Well, there's a certain mean spiritness that's out there, not only in Alabama but it's in America. And that makes this election extremely important." ~Alabama State Senator Hank Sanders

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism~Howard Zinn

Debunking the lies and the lying liars who tell them

"Well, there's a certain mean spiritness that's out there, not only in Alabama but it's in America. And that makes this election extremely important." Alabama State Senator Hank Sanders (D)

I'm not going to say much about Boss Hoggs, I mean former RNC chair and Mississippi Guverner Haley Barbor's (R) latest Trent Lott moment (what's up with the Mississippi delegation?), meaning, he said publicly what they say behind closed doors, and exposed what black folks like Alabama Senator Hank Sanders(D) and others have known for years, which is how the powerful and the privileged really feel about minorities (red,black,brown). I will point out the fake, hypocritical outrage expressed by the powerful and the privileged. Thank goodness technology is making it difficult to maintain a firewall. I've said it before and I will say it again...it takes power to exercise racism...a person can have all the racist beliefs they want....but when they have the power of the government to act on those thoughts.....you know the rest.

What I want to know is what makes the right leaning Left in Alabama cats and critters the authority on black folks in the Alabama's 7th congressional district? According to one of them, (para quoting) Artur Davis's constituents are homophobic,bigots who don't believe our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be allowed to fight and die for their country like straight folks. And they say I posted factually incorrect information on the front page and my comments were out of line??!!!

First of all... While it may or may not be an excuse, it's very possible that Davis was representing his district in his vote-- something he's been criticised for not doing in the past. Take a good look at Birmingham as Democratic as it might be and you tell me that it's a friendly place for our gay and lesbian friends. I can think of a few good arguments that might prove otherwise. That's not just any old Alabama mayor railing against the abominations. That's not Fred Phelps. That's a black Democrat-- a man that by at least two counts should understand that whole Civil Rights thing.

The fact of the matter is that Davis is an Alabama politician, and there are very few (if any other than Patricia Todd) who would be willing to openly campaign on gay rights in this state. In fact, I'd find it amusing to see if any of those who might criticize him for his vote would be willing to do so. Conveniently enough, none of them have had to actually vote on it. I'd be more than happy to challenge them to run on a statewide amendment to legalize gay marriage in Alabama and see how far they get.

And make no mistake, had Davis voted "yes" he would have likely been criticized by these very same people for voting against his constituents. Everything can be twisted and oversimplified-- particularly when coming from those who are or who have worked for a political opponent..

One commenter goes so far as to proclaim the real problem is the district still is overtly homophobic on political terms. Note the commenter doesn't offer one shred of PROOF the district is overtly homophobic. But the real kick in the head is this comment from the resident right wing radio boy

Blacks are not nearly as pro-homosexual rights... (4.00 / 1)
... as you white liberals seem to believe. (see: Prop 8)

I would guess the 7th District supports Davis on this position by a far majority.

Uh, who made radio boy the authority on black folks and what they believe? How dare he try and blame black folks for prop 8. Facts belie the scapegoating of black folks for prop 8, read them and weep. Black folks know injustice when they see, hear or experience it.

The excuse du jour for hating Dr. Joe Reed is he is an overt, homophobic, racist because of the Patricia Todd affair. Patricia Todd is an openly gay Alabama State Legislator from Birmingham. The big lie is Joe Reed challenged her election because she was gay, but once again the facts belie this charge. According to ADP chair Joe Turnham, a challenged was filed by Gaynell Hendrix's mother in law, not by Joe Reed, because of what happened during the vote and state election law. The racist/homophobic spin started here, the mainstream media picked up the spin, and the rest is a media enabled, revisionist, weapon of mass distraction.


Read the Verified Election Contest for yourself. Jefferson County election officials are accused of preventing a fair, free and full exercise of the electon process, claiming Patrica Todd received “illegal” votes and that vote totals were changed without notification to Ms. Hendricks. No where does it say the election is being challenged on the basis of race or sexual orientation.

It's a big, brazen lie,the majority of black democratic voters are homophobic.

It's a big brazen lie, Joe Reed is a homophobic,bigot.

It's a big brazen lie white folks are softer on gay issues and appear less religious.

It's a brazen lie a nondefense of Artur Davis wasn't a defense of Artur Davis.

It's a big brazen lie Left in Alabama is a progressive blog for a new direction in Alabama politics connecting progressive voices.

In the end we will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends. Martin Luther King,Jr.

Redeye's Inbox

I would like to share a few emails I received in response to some of this weeks front page diaries.

WTF is the Democratic Party?
I want to know too. You and I ARE on the "same page," Girl Friend.
The President that we worked so hard to elect has extended yet another
olive branch to the GOP by offering to freeze salary increases for all
Government workers while prices on everything from electricity to food
continue to rise.. Meanwhile the National Dem. Party has selected a
former Blue Dawg from New York to head up Party activities for the 2012
push to elect Democrats. Another slap in the face to the liberal,
progressive Democratic Party base who made the difference in electing
Obama President. Sheeze! What's next? Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and
Social Security? I'm polishing my pitchfork for that one.

I just received a horror story from a friend in Florida. Her bank was
taken over by one of the Banking giants we bailed out. The Giant Bank
then proceeded to play Bank Bingo with the mortgages on both her
business and her home, increasing the rates and making it damn near
impossible for her to keep either her home or business from going
under. She is temporarily covered by Unemployment Benefits, which are
helping make the mortgage payments, but there's no way of knowing when
the newly elected Republican Congress are going to stop paying those
benefits. When that happens, there goes both her home and her business
that she has worked so hard to maintain all of her adult life. Stories
like this are being repeated all over America, but those huge salaries
and bonuses for Banking CEOs keep being doled out. The rich are
getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. It's Class Warfare and
the rich are winning more than just elections. They are eliminating
the Middle Class in America!

Like you, I can't understand why Americans don't wake up to what is
happening before it is too late.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving in spite of all the dire stuff
going on around us, and would like to wish you Happy Holidays and a
Super New Year.

Note: I agree and I'm polishing my pitchfork too!

I Choose Neither
Every real Democrat I know is doing more than just a little soul
searching after the last election. Clearly something has broken within
the Democratic Party in Alabama, and I believe it began with Ron Sparks
and other True Democrat's inability to raise the funds needed to win
the race. That, of course, could have been overcome IF the
progressive/liberal Democrats had hit the streets and donated to the
campaigns of old fashion, "We serve the people," Democrats with the
same zeal they exhibited during the 2008 election, and had been given
real Democrats running for office instead of Rahm's "Blue Dawg
Democrats" as candidates. We have now seen the Corporate Takeover of
our Government raise it's ugly head once again. How we managed to
hang on to the U. S. Senate is akin to a miracle. How much good will be
derived from our hanging on to the Senate is yet to be seen. The
Republicans in Congress are STILL obstructing all laws that are not
favorable for the very rich and their corporations as exhibited by
their recent threatening letter stating that they will obstruct all
matters coming before the Senate except tax breaks which include
millionaires and billionaires, and renewing funding so the government
can continue to function.

Our State Party is broken, so perhaps now it is time to make a clean
sweep of the Party Leadership and begin anew, electing, keeping, and
appointing only those Democrats who adhere to the long standing
Democratic principles of taking care of the least among us and our
elderly, supporting the efforts of Unions, who fight against the
excesses of their Corporate bosses, and ending all inequality of
racial and lifestyle issues once and for all by passing such laws as
"The Dream Act" and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." More than
anything else, however, The Glass/Steagall Act needs to be reinstated
and thereby bring back the banking regulations that kept us out of a
depression/recession until it was repealed. Paying Unemployment
Benefits is a must as well. The money spent by those receiving
assistance during unemployment goes directly back into the economy for
things like food and making mortgage payments to keep families from
joining the ranks of the homeless in America. We know that the
"trickle down economy" proposed by the Republicans hasn't worked in the
past and won't work now. 12 million jobs were created during the
Clinton Administration. Under Bush and his tax cuts for the very rich
only 1 million jobs were created as the Nation's newly unemployed
continued to march off a cliff to drown like lemmings.

The greatest disappointment is that our President from whom we expected
much change and progress has accomplished neither. His bipartisan
give-aways have NOT WORKED and his disregard for the Liberal Democratic
Base turned out to be a disaster when we review the results of the 2010
Midterm election. I am beginning to fear that President Obama is
nothing more than yet another Corporatist Politician. That hurts most
of all.

Note: I fear President Obama let his advisers and the media shape him into their image of the first black President. President Obama let the media define him. Therein lies the problem. A media that is controlled by white males who wanted him to fail so that he would be the first and last African American President of the United States of America.

Tooting my own horn

I'm writing this in reference to XXXXX's suggestion that Democrats search their souls to see if they're good democrats, or something to that effect. If everybody had worked even one-fourth as hard as I did, there may have been a different out come. I have long contended that most Democrats do nothing during an election but go into a voting booth and vote, if they even do that. Here's some of what I specifically did for Ron Sparks and Steve Raby.


First I tried to get people registered. I took applications for registration forms to three black ministers and asked them to distribute
them to any person they knew who is not registered to vote. I'm guilty as sin of targeting people who I think will vote democratic. I don't have the
time to waste on anybody I'm not sure of. Been there, done that. As an enticement, I paid $2 each for 20 pictures of President Obama being sworn in to give to people to hang in their homes. I always carried a supply of registration forms in my car in case I encountered anyone who wanted to
register. I have been run off store parking lots more times than one.

I made many phone calls from the Democratic Headquarters for various candidates.

I e-mailed and called teachers, both active and retired to within an hour of the polls closing reminding them of the pitfalls awaiting them if
Republicans got elected. (They can read today's paper to see how right I was.)

I would drive to neighborhoods I never knew existed, park my car then walk door-to-door through big lots and no side walks handing out candidates'
literature as well as letters I had written and signed myself. Then I decided that it would be more expedient if I did small businesses instead for a couple of reasons: both candidates stressed the importance of small businesses and had so much to offer them, and also the few people working there usually represent more than one family. Thus began my sojourn into the small business community. Starting at the Tennessee River, I hit every small small business on both sides of the street to Weatherly Road: propeller shops, tire stores, parts stores, antique stores, consignment shops, auto stores, engine shops, tackle shops, quilting stores, doctors' and dentists' offices, barber shops and beauty shops. I particularly enjoyed going into businesses with Mo Brooks signs on their property such as Lily Flag Furniture and Fuel City. At two ABC stores and a wine store in other areas of town, I found that everyone working there was a Democrat. In all my encounters, not one person was ever rude to me.

I did the same thing on Meridian Street hitting small businesses on BOTH sides of the street from where it begins down town to Oakwood Avenue. If
the businesses were closed, I struggled to get the info into a crevice around the door, sometimes lucking out and pushing it all the way in, or getting it to go under the door. Sometimes I attached the literature to doorknobs with rubber bands. I worked the old Holiday Office Center south Parkway, a big, sprawling multi-story complex. Twice it grew dark, as was the case at Holiday Office Center, and I would be afraid for I always worked alone.


On Bankhead Road, I covered two condominium complexes where doormats were close together and easy to slip material under. You learn the ropes after awhile, and you discover that people are really nice, regardless of their political persuasion.

Somebody said to toot your own horn, for ain't nobody gonna toot it for
you.

I have tooted my own horn.

Note: Toot on! Toot often! This is the kind of democrat I wish we had more of instead of some of the democrats we have. This illustrates the difference between the gop and the democratic party..the gop is organized, their voters don't have to be begged to come to the polls and vote because they've been armed with misinformation and righteous anger. The gop also put their most effective voices out front whereas democrats tend to suppress their effective voices out of fear of offending the gop.

What's the difference between Charlie Rangel and Joe Wilson despite the obvious?

I wrote this to another list: “Clearly this was done to a black progressive who had done great work for years and years. But never to the slimy Republican thieves who get away with anything, even when Democrats are in power

Please note that the Ethics Committee is thoroughly bipartisan – half democratic and half republican. The demographic significance is that the committee is strongly skewed to white persons – almost all of them are white.

Yes, the decision is racist!”

Reprimands are also issued in a racist (and nationalist) manner. When Earl Hilliard was running for Congress the first time, he wrote the Ethics committee asking if he could use an office he owned in Montgomery for a satellite campaign office. The Ethics Committee said it was OK!

Well, shortly after Earl went to Congress, he organized a caucus within the Black Caucus to concentrate on getting to know African nations better, and had Members “adopt” a country to get to know and to direct assistance to as much as possible. In doing this, he found that there one African nation not recognized by the US, Libya, and he couldn’t find out specifically why. (This was after Reagan tried to assassinate President Gadaffi by shelling the Presidential Palace from a US ship near the shore. [He failed to kill him, but he did manage to murder Gadaffi’s daughter, 3 years old, as I remember])

Unable to get clear info on our embargo, Earl went to look at the situation (he was unable to use his passport, since the State Department controls all use of passports) and arranged to go without using it (Americans are constitutionally guaranteed the right to go anywhere in the world, but the State Department and Treasury control things, making it difficult. [Later, during Clinton’s bombing of Iraq between the Bush wars, I went there without passport, and later still to Cuba – there being careful to stay below the $200 limit of matter we brought back]) You see, the administration doesn’t like the freedoms the Constitution grants to Americans! Anyway, when Earl returned, some Members freaked out, especially the ever-asinine Spencer Bachus, who called for Earl’s removal from Congress. That died, but ethics charges were filed against Earl from the campaign office matter, but in fact triggered by this incident.

The ethics charges hung over his head for years, not coming up, but used by the Birmingham News (Noose) in every election to smear him. Finally a Democrat who was a member of the Israel nationalist caucus became chair of the Democratic side of the Ethics Committee (I don’t remember his name but he was from Southern California) and the charges came up and Earl was reprimanded in a truly kangaroo trial. Earl was glad since he had called for them to hurry up and get it done over the years and get it over with, but the lowest level of politics ruled. Of course the reprimand meant nothing in the real world.

Note that a black member interested in a black nation was attacked by racist white southern member, Bachus. Sound familiar? Yes, Congress is racist, and the Democratic Party doesn’t purge itself of its own racists.

Both men, Rangel and Hilliard, are among most honorable and ethical members of Congress I have ever known.

Note: I'm sure it's no surprise I agree the Rangel censure was racist. Read the 10 good reasons Rangel shouldn't have been censured. Read the letter from Rep. Bobby Scott who served on the committee. Read about past sanctions and actions taken against other members of congress. If it's not racism, what is it?

We Will Overcome Someday
I'm wondering where all the righteous people have gone after
the humiliating defeat handed liberal Democrats recently? Surely we
liberals aren't so thinned-skinned that we no longer have the urge to
fright for the democratic principles so near and dear to all of our
hearts. It's time to get off the pity pot and renew the fight, my
sisters and brothers. We can and shall overcome if we put our bruised,
bloodied, but unbowed shoulders to the wheel and push! It's hard work,
but it is necessary work, right now, if we are to be successful in our
fight for liberty and JUSTICE for all American citizens. I like the
idea of hitching up the galluses one more notch on my coveralls, one
more time, and putting my bare feet on the hot asphalt road to
righteousness and liberty for all. Please join me and make a joyful
noise for justice, equality and freedom for all Americans. If you will
take the first step, and if we all take that first step, there is no
obstacle, boulder nor barrier that we cannot overcome.

Note: Let us march on until victory is won!

Thanks for reading, lurking, your emails and your comments.

WWRD?~Update

From my inbox~They should do the HONORABLE thing and resign! If they resigned, a special
election would be called to fill their empty seats. They could run as "new"
Republicans in a Primary which they might not win, or they could wait four
years, while "proving" themselves in their new Party and run as R's then. Even
if they won the Republican Primary as four-year "card-carrying R's," at least
two of them (in my opinion) would have difficulty winning the General Election
as Republicans.

There is no honor among thieves.


What would republicans do if members of their party were jumping ship in order to give their opposition a super majority in the State House?

A. Would they file a lawsuit against the members for perpetrating a fraud on republican voters and the republican party?

B. Would they call for the immediate resignation of the party members?

C. Would they elect a tired old man with a mean streak as their party chair?

D. Consider it a purge and say good riddance?

E. All of the above?

Statement on Party Switchers
In the biggest national Republican electoral sweep in well over a generation some Democrats survived and won re-election. The gentlemen changing parties today had just won re-election as Democrats, not Republicans; and they did so with the money, time, votes and volunteerism of thousands of Democrats from across the state. Their switch today baffles the voters and upends the process of elections. “These gentlemen have been my friends for a long time and I respect each of them personally, but I am saddened and hurt by their decision today, said Democratic Chairman Joe Turnham.”

The Republican members of the legislature have put on a full-court press to push all white Democrats to change parties after the election. Instead of respecting and working with the Democrats of the House and Senate who were fairly elected under their own party label, Republicans have with today’s announcement made it clear that they want to run Alabama as a partisan-only supermajority and will seek to impugn the rights and voices of Democrats who do not switch and come over.

The tough tasks of governing in Alabama in these lean days will require the contributions of every single member working in unison to solve problems. If today’s party-switchers felt themselves to be irrelevant in the minority, then that is a wrong assumption. They now join a majority that will be responsible for upcoming massive cuts to classroom teachers, healthcare, law enforcement and other basic services. Their switch will aid and abet draconian redistricting plans that will hurt their former Democratic Caucus members.

If today’s switchers truly believe in the ideals of the Republican Party and the democratic process; they could resign, then seek re-election in a special election in a Republican Primary and General Election and let the voters of their districts validate their switch today. Each of them should also immediately refund the monies given to them by their Democratic Caucus.

Notes:

Rep. Steve Hurst received over $50,000 from his former Democratic House caucus in his bid for re-election.

Rep. Alan Boothe received 2,644 votes November 2nd from voters in his home county of Pike who voted a straight Democratic ticket.

Rep Mike Millican received 1,103 straight Democratic votes in his home county of Marion alone.

Both Representatives Mike Millican and Alan Boothe had no Republican opposition.

One of Rep. Leslie Vance’s district counties, Russell, voted 5,094 straight Democratic tickets to 2,209 straight Republican tickets.

Rep. Vance won with more than sixty percent of the vote.

Just so we are clear about what at stake here, if the 4 Democrats flip flop to the gop they will have a super majority, meaning they pass any bill they want without opposition.

Remember what Hank Sanders said to CNN's Anderson Cooper?

Cooper asked Sanders what evidence he had that the Republican opponents would take Alabama back to Jim Crow days. Sanders said, "Well, there's a certain mean spiritness that's out there, not only in Alabama but it's in America. And that makes this election extremely important."

WWRD?

I guess it depends on what the definition of a disaster IS

According to the Cats and other creatures at LiA (which I can mysteriously link to again), It would be a disaster (?) if Joe Reed were the Democratic party chair because he went to court to have his name put back on a building (So?) and,  He's not only a disaster, he's a disgrace and an embarrassment to representation of who we are and what we represent. He DOES NOT represent what I stand for on any level.

Reeds detractors have issued some some indictments that are long on rhetoric but short on facts. I invite them to explain why/how Joe Reed as party chair would be a disaster. Frankly, I don't see how much more of a disaster it could be since the state legislature turned from blue to blood red under the previous chair(s). Joe Reed couldn't do any worse, as a matter of fact he probably would do better. I'll bet he wouldn't fight for Alabama with a right leaning blog.

And who cares what Dale Jackson and Mike Hubbard think about who DEMOCRATS choose as their party chair? Are they waiting around and letting democrats choose their party leaders? Heck no. They get the meanest SOB they can find and back him/her all the way, which is why they WIN and we LOSE. See that's our (collective) problem, we spend too much time and energy worrying about what the gop wants, and what the gop is doing, and what the gop will say. F the gop. They are not our friends. They will never be our friends. They oppose everything we (collective) stand for. They don't sit around worrying about us, they are to busy plotting how to F us up.

Why keep pouring our resources down that rathole if they're goint to continue producing only Republican lite candidates? says the progressive with a history of supporting republican lite candidates.

JimmyMac(love your moniker) says it's Time for a fresh face, like Justice Mark Kennedy. Who the heck is Mark Kennedy and what has he done for the Democratic Party lately/ever? I would rather have an effective, familiar face with a proven track record at this critical time instead of a fresh face I know nothing about.

I repeat;

For one thing , Dr. Reed would chase all the pseudo dims,neo liberals, progressives, conservadems, moderates and independents out of the democratic tent once and for all. With *ahem* democrats like these who needs republicans? Democrats have to rise up and take their own party back from the infiltrators. That time is long overdue in Alabama.

Dr. Reed is not afraid of the right wing bully's. He wouldn't capitulate to republicans on any level. Dr. Reed has a history of fighting for the values real democrats share whether that be taking them on in the elections or in the media. He definitely wouldn't be republican lite.


Joe Reed is known as a “fighter for fairness” for black representation. In 1975, Joe Reed led the efforts to get equitable representation for blacks on the Montgomery City Council. His efforts resulted in four (4) blacks of nine (9) being elected. He served on the Montgomery City Council for 24 years. In the Democratic Party today, Alabama’s black representation exceeds all other states in the nation. For over 40 years he has led the effort to get more blacks elected and appointed to public office, including federal marshals, federal and state judges, members of the boards of registrars, legislators, county commissioners, city councils, and school boards. Due largely to his leadership, today Alabama has more black elected officials than any state in the nation. He drafted two (2) plans that increased black representation in the Alabama House of Representatives from 13 to 27; and in the Senate from 3 to 8 in 1982, and 1992, respectively. He also drew a reapportionment plan that provided for 25% (two of eight) majority black districts on the State Board of Education. Alabama is the only state in the nation where the Legislature reflects the state’s population of blacks and whites. Dr. Reed’s congressional plan also led to Alabama’s gaining a black congressional seat

What part of that is a disater Dardango?
What part of that are you against DemoGirl?

Redeye's Week in Review

It's been a week since the gop infused, media enabled Tea Baggers took control of the U.S. House and the Alabama State House and what's their first order of business? Is it creating jobs and putting people back to work? Nope. It's a call for endless investigations, redistricting, *cough cough* ethics reform, tax cuts for the rich, declaring war on Grandma, and going back to the land of slavery and Jim Crow. And they are still mad because AL State Senator Hanks Sanders tried to sound the alarm. Only in AmeriBama.

Evidently the gop believes because they won it was a mandate for them to tell democrats who their national/state party leaders should be. On the national level, they tried to replace Nancy Pelosi, on the state level they are trying to decide who should replace Joe Turnham as ADP chair. Thank goodness, Nancy Pelosi will be the Minority Leader, and continue to be a major thorn in the rear of the Tan Man and the Tea Baggers, assisted by Rep. Steney Hoyer and Rep. Jim Clyburn. It. Is. On.

Top House Democrats said late Friday night that they had settled on an arrangement that avoided a divisive fight for the No. 2 position in the party when it reverts to the minority in January.

In a statement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would nominate Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina to be the No. 3 Democrat when the party holds an internal party election on Wednesday.

The high tech lynching of Auburn Quarterback Cam Newton kicked up a notch this week. You know the drill...someone(s) leaks allegations of wrong doing to the media...the media runs with the leak....Newton can't respond because anything he says can and will be used against him..Voila! Get the rope! Uh, what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty in a court of law not the court of public opinion? Some of us saw this coming.

Newton stood so tall, looked like so much of a man among boys, I'm pretty sure irate angry Arkansas State parents were demanding to see his birth certificate, the way they do in peewee football when a Goliath appears.

The sad, sorry state of public education in Huntsville City schools Part II

City city school board members Topper Birney, Jennie Robinson and David Blair need a lecture on the state's open meetings law. Honesty and public trust should be part of that lesson.

Only a week or so after the municipal elections, the three huddled privately at a local restaurant to discuss board business, including the search for a superintendent and who might be the next school board chairman.

Blair, Robinson, and Birney need more than a lecture on the state's open meeting law IMHO. Unlike the allegations against Cam Newton, it's a fact they violated the open meetings law (again). If all they need is a lecture, give Cam Newton a lecture too and let's be through with this. I'm just saying....

They are who we thought they were~Edited/Amended

Please disregard previous post I hit post by mistake~Redeye


Remember when Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D. California) said, "Let them define themselves, let them reveal who they are." Referring to the overt racism of the gop infused, media enabled, Tea Party congress critters?Ministry of Truth said;

I can only imagine how much class and restraint it must take our African American members of Congress to even look their Republican colleagues in the face after the last 7+ months of racist, vitriolic nonsense about birth certificates, monkey comparisons and other open acts of hatred.

Well they have revealed themselves,and to think these are the congress critters who, according to the Talking TeeVee Pundit Head class, are poised to regain control of the Congress. *Cringe* And yes, this is the same Maxine Waters who is conveniently faces an *cough cough* ethics hearing. Bring It On!

Let me give you a local, state and national rundown of just who THEY are.

On the local level we have Po Mo Brooks, the current Madison County Commissioner and republican congressional nominee who signed a pact with the devil, I mean the Tea Party before he unsigned a pact with the Tea Party because at the time he didn't know what he was signing. Confused yet?

Mo Brooks has unintentionally provided a perfect example of why candidates need to be -- and typically are -- darned careful about signing on to pledges, contracts and so forth put out by political action groups. Signing is easy; unsigning is a public relations nightmare.

*Snicker*

Moving on down the road to AL-7 Congressional District rich Republican Don Chamberlain wants to replace current, soon be to former Congress Critter Artur Davis by running on anti health care reform, anti choice, anti Nancy Pelosi/President Obama, pro gun platform, and, he's endorsed by Rolls Royce, L&L Industrial Supply, and Carol Hendrickson. Maybe he thinks the voters in the 7th district like being thrown under the bus by their Congress Critters or something. Uh, the voter in the 7th district already had 8 years of that,it's time for a change. Enough!

Davis is running for governor of Alabama and even though his constituents are among the Yellow Hammer state's poorest and most in need of comprehensive health care reform, he voted against their needs to position himself as a moderate. He knows that in order to win the votes of white moderates (he'll never win the votes of white conservatives) he must show that he is against the expansion of government

Then you have NRA and republican leaning Alabama Farm Federation endorsed AL-02 Congressional candidate Bobby Bright joking about the death of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Oh wait, he's a democrat. Why?

Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham said voters tend to know their members of Congress and vote for the person rather than the party.

He said he doesn’t believe anti-Washington Republican rhetoric will fool voters.

“I don’t think you need to run against something, you have to position yourself to be the best candidate and advocate for your district and your people,” Turnham said.

Never fear, Sweet Home Alabama candidates don't monopolize the crazy, its from sea to shining to sea.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage told a group of fishermen at a GOP forum that he won't be afraid to tell President Barack Obama to "go to hell."

LePage, a favorite of tea partiers, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he regretted the words he chose Sunday in the small coastal town of Brooksville but that he wasn't backing down in his criticism of the administration for what he describes as free-spending, anti business policies.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (r. Texas) wants to replace welfare refrom with sharecropping. For real. Warning this post contains raw language and racial slurs.

Why on earth is this Texan ********* allowed in the halls of our congressional chambers to spew this utterly shameful, disgusting, racist, bulls%*t? Make no mistake about it, if this ********* advocates this nonsense, you can bank on it that a few of his peers are on board with poor folks going back to the good old days of sharecropping. Can you say 14th Amendment shenanigans!

They are who we thought they were.

As with other forms of dementia, the signs weren't obvious at first. After the 2008 election, when former House majority leader Tom DeLay suggested that instead of a formal inauguration, Barack Obama should "have a nice little chicken dinner, and we'll save the $125 million," black folks didn't miss the implication. References to chicken, particularly of the fried variety, have long served as a kind of code when white folks referred to black people and their gustatory preferences—and weren't many of us already accustomed to older white politicians making such gaffes? But who among us sensed that it was a harbinger that an entire nation was plunging into madness?

This is why all men and women of good will must get out and vote Democratic in the mid term elections, because they (gop) are who we thought they (gop) were. They (gop) want to take us backwards not forward.

Edit- Let's Talk About White Privilege and the Kendra Lavendar Marshall Affair

It has come to my attention Kendra Lavendar Marshall is the grand daughter of the late Simmie Lavendar

Simmie R. Lavender, Sr (born 1919 - died May 19, 2007) was a Constable for Alabama House District 52 and the second president of the Jefferson County Citizens Coalition. He was active as a leader of the Birmingham Citizen Participation Program and helped to found the brotherhood breakfasts that helped unite community leaders across racial lines.
Lavender was also a deacon, Sunday School teacher and trustee at First Baptist Church of Powderly. It was there that he collapsed from a seizure on the way to a service planned in his honor. He never recovered. He was survived by his wife, Mildrid and seven children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is interred at Elmwood Cemetery.

Wikipedia defines white privilege as a way of conceptualizing racial inequalities that focuses as much on the advantages that white people accrue from society as on the disadvantages that people of color experience. White privilege differs from conditions of overt racism or prejudice, in which a dominant group actively seeks to oppress or suppress other racial groups for its own advantage. Instead, theories of white privilege suggest that whites view their social, cultural, and economic experiences as a norm that everyone should experience, rather than as an advantaged position that must be maintained at the expense of others.

Now, let's apply this definition to the Kendra Lavendar Marshall controversy because some are hollering the false "reverse racism" meme because Dr. Joe Reed wouldn't allow the African American candidate the voters elected to be replaced by the white candidate the voters rejected.

Reed and the state Democratic Executive Committee last week nominated Elisabeth French for a Jefferson County Circuit judgeship. She replaces primary winner Kenya Lavender Marshall, who lost her law license. Since there is no Republican opposition, French will no doubt get the job -- even though she didn't run for it.

Don't get me wrong. French is not the problem. The problem is how the party succumbed to its worse elements, how it picked her for the wrong reasons.

You see, a majority on the committee bought the notion they had to appoint a black woman because voters chose Marshall -- who is a black woman.

It was not about qualifications. It was not about politics. It was all about race.

Uh No, Mr. Archibald, it was all about white privilege. The voters didn't elect Kendra Lavendar Marshall because of her race, they elected her because she shared their interest. She won because she got the most votes. That's how it works in America, or at least it used too.

It seems someone with power and privilege decided Kendra Lavendar Marshall didn't deserve to win because that's a white woman's job, after all. So much for content of character. So much for getting the most votes.

* The decision circumvents the election process?--That was circumvented when the Alabama State Bar went after Kenya Lavender Marshall, just three weeks after she had won the primary. And did Bob Riley, who appointed Still, have anything to do with that? Does Nicole Gordon Still know about actions others took on her behalf, in an effort to "circumvent the election process"?

Archibald says Joe Reed and the SMDC are running a criminal enterprise because they stood up and took a stand against white privilege, but I agree with Legal Schnauzer regarding the motive and the rationale behind their gusty move.

"We've seen the business establishment in this country ruin our economy. We've seen the legal establishment in this country corrupt our justice system, especially here in Alabama.

"We rejected Artur Davis, and we now reject Nicole Gordon Still. And it is not because of their skin color. It's because they have cozied up to the establishment forces who have consistently acted against the best interests of regular, everyday Americans. It's time that we push for a true progressive agenda--in Alabama and beyond. And we are taking a stand for such an agenda today."

Archibald is quick to call attention to Joe Reeds criminal/racist actions however he chooses to ignore the actions of others. He doesn't explore the possibility Kendra Lavendar Marshall was forced to surrender her license to practice law.

A Birmingham lawyer says an Alabama State Bar disciplinary committee essentially used extortion to force her to agree to a suspension of her license, probably ending her candidacy for a seat on the Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Kenya Lavender Marshall won the Democratic Party primary and faced no Republican challenger in the November general election. But the Alabama State Bar charged that she misappropriated some $30,000 of a client's funds that had been held in her lawyer trust account.
Marshall said she admitted to the charges and agreed to the four-year suspension of her license only because of threats from the State Bar disciplinary committee. In fact, Marshall denied that she had misused client funds.

This case reeks not of race but of white privilege; emphasis mine;

Much remains unclear about this story. But this much is clear:

* Rob Riley and his business associates have stepped in some major legal doo-doo and probably could use some friendly judicial faces to help them wipe the stink off their shoes.

* Rob Riley and Nicole Gordon Still have quite a bit in common. They both have lived charmed, prosperous lives, driven largely by the fact they have powerful, influential daddies.

Are these powerful white families--and the Alabama legal establishment--joining forces to ensure that a black candidate never is seated as a judge, even though she apparently won an election fair and square?

Alabama citizens who care about justice should be giving that question a lot of thought over the next few days.

What about THAT, Mr. Archibald? How about using your power and your privilege to fight for truth, and the restore honor and integrity to our government? Kendra Lavender Marshalls life, career and reputation are in shambles just because she dared run for public office and win. Imagine if Kendra Lavender Marshall was white and Niki Still was black. Would you have the same perspective? There are two sides to every story Mr. Archibald, if you are interested in the other side you can hear and see it HERE.

It's not about race, it's about white privilege and it's effect on the election process. The false arguments put forth by you is a blatant manifestation of white privilege by framing this issue to favor the white perspectives over those of people of color. You ignore the obvious questions you should be asking choosing instead to race bait. How dare you hijack legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King to promote your agenda.

It is scary to true Democrats, who belong to the party because they agree with the ideas and ideology it espouses nationally. Many are shocked the party would gamble its reputation and its future on short-term political gain.

The act stains those who deserve better.

Imagine what it means to black judges in Jefferson County -- people such as Houston Brown, Clyde Jones and Helen Shores Lee who spent lifetimes earning and deserving respect and support. If judgeships are decided by race, they simply could not win in a place where six of 10 voters are white.

Forty-seven years ago Saturday, Rev. King dreamed of a world in which skin color did not matter.

The Alabama Democratic Party did not listen.

Listen to this. Kendra Lavender Marshall is someones child. Someones wife, mother, sister, aunt,cousin, attorney, friend. She deserves better. She deserves to be treated fairly, regardless of her race. She is ACCUSED of wrong doing, she has not been CONVICTED of wrong doing. It's innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, not the court of public opinion. Remember?

Lost in all of this is the will of the voters has been over turned. Only in America can the candidate with the most votes lose. Again.

Everybody Hates Joe Reed Saturday Edition

Dr. Joe L. Reed is a uniter, not a divider.

If it's one thing Dr. Joe L. Reed can do it's unifying republicans and democrats in their strong and extreme animosity. You would think he was lighting torches, getting the rope, raping women and men, selling slaves, kidnapping children, sending our troops to war for nothing, raiding the surplus to give the rich a tax cut and spying on the American people without a warrant or something.

According to the righty's, mean, evil, dictator Joe Reed, the state Democrats’ Vice-Chair for Minority Affairs, is behind the proposal to move the election of the state party Chair (and other elected party offices) from January to August,

Gasp!

Now, what is behind the sinister plot? Well according to an anonymous upset democratic lobbyist

it is simply a power grab by Reed who wishes to have the controlling hand in who the Chair will be without the traditional input from the party’s gubernatorial nominee. The lobbyist adds that it makes no sense whatsoever to decide to move an election up almost half a year with only days’ notice without giving people interested in running a chance to prepare. “A lot of people are upset.”

According to the righty's an anonymous member of the Democratic State Executive committee

agrees that this is “a naked power grab” by Reed. “There is no other way around it.” Current state Democratic Party Chair Joe Turnham is expected to be re-elected without any input from the Democrats’ gubernatorial nominee Ron Sparks. “This is not about Sparks vs. Turnham or Sparks vs. Reed. This is just about Reed’s power, not about Reed being concerned about the Party. The Party is becoming irrelevant and this makes it more irrelevant. This is about the insane need for Reed to control the power. This is typical of Joe Reed.”

Lo and behold another Party insider weighs in.

“Reed wants the controlling hand. That’s exactly it. A power play,” adding that many Party members are disgruntled."

Question for the anonymous democratic party insiders, Executive Committee Members, and upset democratic lobbyist. Why are you publicly airing the dirty laundry at Docs Political Parlor of all places?

Of course, the *cough cough* lefty's at LiA can't wait to jump on the Hate for Joe Reed bandwagon.

Joe Reed... Bad Seed (4.00 / 2)
This is all just a bunch of bull horse doo. I'm just about sick and tired of these little man power trips. What did their mama miss in their childhood that they get off on political domination? When will it end? What's it gonna take for Alabama to wake up? Getting ranked 48th instead of 49th? Without education, internet/broadband usage, we remain untouched by the outside, inexposed to reality and out of touch with the intent of power hungry goonies. They know exactly what they are doing. Trying to make sausage gravy without the sausage. Helllllllloooooo, little men... we're over here! Watching without the blinders on this time!

Could this be the reason Joe Reed is the #1 Enemy of the State?

Joe Reed is known as a “fighter for fairness” for black representation. In 1975, Joe Reed led the efforts to get equitable representation for blacks on the Montgomery City Council. His efforts resulted in four (4) blacks of nine (9) being elected. He served on the Montgomery City Council for 24 years. In the Democratic Party today, Alabama’s black representation exceeds all other states in the nation. For over 40 years he has led the effort to get more blacks elected and appointed to public office, including federal marshals, federal and state judges, members of the boards of registrars, legislators, county commissioners, city councils, and school boards. Due largely to his leadership, today Alabama has more black elected officials than any state in the nation. He drafted two (2) plans that increased black representation in the Alabama House of Representatives from 13 to 27; and in the Senate from 3 to 8 in 1982, and 1992, respectively. He also drew a reapportionment plan that provided for 25% (two of eight) majority black districts on the State Board of Education. Alabama is the only state in the nation where the Legislature reflects the state’s population of blacks and whites. Dr. Reed’s congressional plan also led to Alabama’s gaining a black congressional seat

Or maybe it's them there gerrymandered voting districts that could lead to de facto segregation.

Or maybe it's Old Politics vs *cough cough* New Politics Or Reeds hustling of candidates for bribes.

I don't think having black representatives is an unqualified good for our state. Racial diversity in state politics is important, but ideological diversity is far better. These power brokers obstruct the real issues and tend to turn every issue into a black v. white, with-us-or-against-us race struggle. It's embarrassing. You might love that they do for the black community, but I find their role increasingly outdated.

I don't know if the anonymous rumors are correct and this is a Joe Reed power grab and he is trying to ensure the re-election of Joe Turnham or not, but the ADP has some splaining to do. Not just about this issue, but about the no-bid contract with Left in Alabama to provide non specified services. And please anonymous democratic lobbyist, State Executive Committee members, and democratic insiders stop airing the dirty laundry on right-leaning wing blogs. And please left-leaning blogs, stop enabling them to infiltrate the party by repeating the anonymous rumors from anonymous sources. That's how the right-wing media works.