Redeye's Week In Review

Yo GoBlue! If you are reading this you owe me some Obama wine glasses. Remember, our friendly wager before I was booted from the Left in Alabama sandbox regarding young, conservative, phone tapper James O'Keefe? Well, A Felony Will Get You Probation If You're a Conservative in America.

Although, this is nothing new in America if your not brown or black skinned people. O'Keefe won't get the felony label that is issued out like free tickets to the circus. We all know that had he been black or brown he would have been singing that tune they sing when baseball player hits a baseball out of the park-bye,bye baby! And some white folks wonder why black and brown people get all puff out of shape and complain about the sentencing system in the courts of America. Puleeeeeze!

You want to deliver those glasses or should I pick them up? :)

BTW, the Alabama Teacher who used the assassination of President Obama as a teaching tool got a slap on the wrist too.

I think that the Superintendent Phil Hammonds felt obligated simply because of the national attention and the fact he was named MSNBC's worst person in the world.

Ya think?

Speaking of Left in Alabama I see where they made their endorsements for the June 1st, democratic primary. Now I know why Bengoshi and I were booted from the front page, we were just too darn liberal for Left in Alabama. I bout fell off my bar stool laughing at this one;;

Generally, we are going with the outsiders this year. The corrupt, good old boy culture in Montgomery has done no favors for Alabama or the Democratic Party. It's time to bring in some fresh troops and generals because we aren't going to solve our problems by continually electing political retreads.

Translation, we want to replace the good guys with the bad guys. You know the good guys who believe in women's rights, equal rights, civil rights, human rights, health care reform, labor, and public education.

I spewed coffee all over my keyboard at this one;

Of course, this is Alabama, so there will be Constitutional Amendments on the ballot next Tuesday. Knowing nothing about them as yet, we hope and pray someone (Old Prosecutor?) will take pity and tell us what they mean and how a progressive Alabamian might want to vote on them.

Let me see if I've got this right (pun intended), they want resident righty Old Prosecutor to tell them how a progressive Alabamian might want to vote on them? ROFLMAO! I guess it depends on what the definition of a progressive Alabamian IS. *Snark*. But in any event, now we know progressive at Left in Alabama means the following;

If you don't like the content, write your own. We're a progressive blog that deals mainly with state issues - particularly during a state primary season.

As far as progressive issues go, most of us here support Constitution reform, ethics reform, tax fairness, and a better educational system.

Sound familiar?

The Progressive Electorate released their endorsements for the democratic primary also. Not surprising, with the exception of Jeremy Sherer and no endorsement in the governors race they are the complete opposite of slightly Left in Alabama.

Alabama Governor - This is a tough call. Artur Davis has brought a lot of attention to the 7th Congressional District. However, as progressives we are extremely disappointed in some of his recent votes that have shown his capitulation to the right. I.E. Health Care Reform, Hate Crimes. Ron Sparks is the alternative in this race and we genuinely like some of his ideas such as an Education Lottery. Sparks has been an outstanding Ag Commissioner and been great in that position. However, we are also disappointed in his stance on constitutional reform. The constitution in its current form continues to hinder our State from reaching its potential. Therefore we issue a no-endorsement in this race.

Now this is what I call a progressive slate and a well reasoned endorsement. I don't agree with everyone endorsed (I endorse Mitchell Howie and Ron Sparks), but at least the slate of candidates are liberals and will work for the people, not on the people.

Ministry of Truths' diary is a must read.

I was surprised to learn that an African American woman has NEVER been elected to a full term to represent the state of Alabama in the House of Representatives.
My goal today is to help change that.

When last I wrote about one of my heroes, Rosa Parks, it was to illustrate how the right would roll back the Civil Rights act to allow discrimination in the name of economic freedom.

145 years after the Civil War, much has changed, but more should change, until we truly achieve the Change We Can Believe In!.

In 2010, it is finally time to elect an African American woman to a full term in Congress to serve the State of Alabama in the House of Representatives!

I can't make up my mind in this race between Sheila Smoot and Earl Hillard Jr, because they both are better than the current Congress Critter from the 7th district, so may the best liberal win!

The United States House of Representatives approved the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell this week! Yippie! Not surprising, Alabama's two DINO's (Bright and Davis) didn't bother to vote and the republicans voted NO. Bummer.

So, did the Top Kill Work? We don't know what we don't know, we don't know. Of course the vultures are circling trying to turn this into President Obama's Katrina. No more Mister Nice Blog has some suggested alternative responses for President Obama. The Rude Pundit wants to know why is BP still in charge of the Gulf and so do I. Meanwhile the oil is still spilling. We need real solutions, not Crazy Uncle Solutions

President Obama expected, however wrongly and however stupidly, that the American media -- even though overloaded with voluble crazy uncles -- would, for a change, react to this crisis with proper disgust, but also maturity and Reason.

Maturity and reason? What's that?

Questions

This is turning into one of those weeks when real life is interfering with my blogosphere life, but I wanted to give readers/voters something to think about. H/T to Write Chic Press for giving me this idea.

Will the republican voters in Congressional District 5 elect an angry black man who likes guns?

Will the republican voters in Congressional District 5 elect the candidate endorsed by the Rand Paul, I mean Tea Party ?

Will the republican voters in Congressional District 5 elect the liberal democrat, turned conservative flip/flopping traitor to represent them in Washington D.C.?

Will the democratic voters in Congressional District 5 elect a lobbyist and self described conservative democrat to represent them in Washington D.C.?

Will the democratic voters in Congressional District 5 elect a centrist like Bud Cramer as their congressional representative?

Or will democratic voters have the courage to elect an authentic progressive as their Congressional representative from the 5th district?

Time will tell the truth.

If we get off our Donkey's and vote for them they will win.

I was listening to a progressive talk radio show on XM radio last night when one of the callers made the case the Democratic party is suffering from learned helplessness, I tend to agree.

First let's define learned helplessness

Learned helplessness, as a technical term in animal psychology and related human psychology, means a condition of a human being or an animal in which it has learned to behave helplessly, even when the opportunity is restored for it to help itself by avoiding an unpleasant or harmful circumstance to which it has been subjected. Learned helplessness theory is the view that clinical depression and related mental illnesses result from a perceived absence of control over the outcome of a situation. [1]

I'm not a psychologist, so bear with me as I attempt to apply what I learned in Psych 101.

Alabama democrats have been conditioned by the right wing, to believe they can't win elections unless they pander to the right wing.

Example 1, take this exchange among fellow list serve members regarding Al 05 Congressional candidate Steve Raby (names redacted);

It all started with a press release announcing an endorsement of Raby by the Untied Steele Workers of America to the list serve.

Member A: I endorse Steve Raby too. I've known him all his life and he is a dang good man. I will support him and vote for him in the coming elections. I would hope all you Democrats give him the vote too.

Member B;Remember the last time we all voted for a self-described "conservative Democrat"? Yeah, that worked out well.

Member C; My sentiments exactly list serve member B. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

Member D; conservative about what? liberal about what? moderate about what? richard smith knows better. List serve member C also. saw today where alfa endorsed parker griffith. no surprise but if we have to fight parker in general election we need to be united.

Member C: I know better than what list serv member D?

Member D; you are better informed and more perspicacious (although a teeny bit emotional once in a while) about what is going on politically than a lot of people, so you know steve raby is no parker griffith. with all the things we have to worry about politically, why hit the democrat who will quite possibly be our nominee against parker with a smear like he's another parker to be? when i saw that ALFA had endorsed parker, i assumed polls showed ALFA info we dont see about the gop primary, and alfa is putting it's money on parker to win the gop primary. so i expect that's who our nominee faces. june 1 results may show i'm all wrong but you got to go with the info you got. if steve's hit on a controversial position he takes, that's legitimate, but to glue him to parker because he says he's a "conservative" wont help going out from the primary. i'm not pretending to be the proverbial "holier than thou" guy -- i've taken a few cheap shots against a political opponent -- but if we can take the seat back for the democrat, regardless of what else happens in november around the country, we'll be in deep clover.

Member C; Steve Raby said he was a conservative democrat. I'm informed enough to know conservative is nod, nod, wink, wink for I'm anti choice, anti affirmative action, anti labor, anti gay rights, and all of the other so called liberal social issues I am a teeny bit emotional about. If Steve Raby is the democratic nominee it won't be with my vote. I'm not going to vote for any more conservative democrats. If I wanted to vote for a conservative I would vote for a republican.

Member E; I've known Steve Raby for more than 25 years. He's not anti choice, not anti affirmative action, not anti labor, not anti gay rights. and probably the closest candidate who's electable that would be a fit for your profile. Would he be perfect for you? Probably not, but any candidate that would be perfect for you would be unelectable. Good luck, and let's talk after the Primary.

First of all, Steve Raby described himself as a conservative democrat, never did he say he was not anti choice, not anti affirmative action, not anti labor,not anti gay rights.

While he wants to keep federal dollars flowing to North Alabama, he does not see himself as liberal.

“Can you be a conservative and be a Democrat? Well, I am. Heck, I own more guns than anyone in this race.”

Example #2; My spouse and I attempted to host a neighborhood meet and greet for AL 05 democratic congressional candidate Mitchell Howie at. My republican neighbors refused to come and meet Mitchell because he was was democrat and my democratic neighbors refused to come because they didn't want to offend our republican neighbors. As the young people say, how whack is that? Republicans don't mind offending us democrats but we are ever mindful of offending them. If my republican neighbors had invited me to meet a republican candidate I would have attended and listened to what they had to say. In other words I would have had an open mind, not a closed mind. Maybe that's why I'm not a republican but I digress.

Example #3; One of my church members called and asked if I was going to vote in the republican primary for Mo Brooks as pay back to Parker Griffith then vote in the democratic primary in the fall. I told them NO, I wasn't playing that game and that I was supporting Mitchell Howie 100% and then some. They asked if he was another Parker Griffith (i.e. pretend liberal) and I said NO, he is the real thing, meaning he has articulated a clear and liberal position on the issues I care about and reminded them of his grandfather, Dr. Virgil Howies' legacy in Huntsville during the Civil Rights movement. My church member listened then said, "Yes, he's a liberal but he can't win, you know how Alabama is".

If liberals can't win we might as well bend over and kiss our Donkey's goodbye.

If democrats continue to elect conservatives we might as well bend over and take our Gang Banging like Girlie men.

If the good guys can't win, and by good guys I mean candidates and elected official who are proud liberals, who will stand up for women's rights, civil rights, equal rights, human rights, LBGT rights, labor and public education we are in deep doo doo.

Think about it.

We need to stop saying the good guys can't win and get off our Donkey's and vote for them.

We need to stop saying progressives/liberals aren't electable. This is America. The candidate with the most votes wins.

Remember?

What mooncat said when she was a liberal;

This is the time for Democratic candidates to stop running away from their party. The debate between the DLC and the netroots will continue long after Sunday's edition of Meet the Press. I believe and hope the netroots view is correct, based on recent recent information and also because I'm tired of living in a country where conservatism rules.

If democrats don't know this by now they will never know;

When conservative voters have a choice between Republican-lite and a real Republican, they vote for the real Republican. What do liberal or progressive voters do when faced with the same choice? They either hold their nose and vote for Republican-lite or, and this is key, they don't vote at all.

Monday , Monday.

This has been another one of those days when my real life interferes with my blogging life, but I couldn't let the day pass without sharing some links I like and pass along some political gossip.

My sources tell me Artur Davis' reception at Delta Days at the State Capitol on April Fools day was about as warm as an igloo. Davis reportedly touted his wifes membership in the organization. Despite the fact his wife Tara Davis is a member of the national organization of college educated women, they are aware she can't control how her spouse votes. I'm told the "ladies in red" don't take kindly to Congressman Davis being the only member of the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) to vote against the health care reform bill. Maybe Davis should have sent his wife instead...

Who knew Ron Sparks was paying callers to call into radio shows? Seriously, Congressman Davis said in an interview today on WEUP talk with David Person and Steve Murray, Ron Sparks was paying people to call in to radio talk shows. Where do you sign up? I need to get my check. The Davis campaign is also running radio spots on the station accusing Ron Sparks of attacking him in the black community, or something to that effect. Does that qualify as playing the "race card"?

If you don't read anything else please read Legal Schnauzers Artur Davis Seems to Have Lost His Sense of Irony.

Alabamians are smart enough to know a two-faced politician when they see one. And that's exactly how you are coming across these days.

How far you have fallen from your days on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, when it appeared you actually cared about matters of justice. You once appeared to be a substantive figure, someone who could become a major force on the national stage. Now, you don't appear to be much different from the goobers you criticize in the Alabama Senate.

What a waste of potential.

DownWithTyranny makes the case for Democratic 5th district Congressional Candidate Mitchell Howie as the candidate who will represent the democratic wing of the democratic party. You know,the wing that stands up for the working class, the disenfranchised, women's' rights, human rights, equal rights and labor.

Further north and west, however, in the 5th CD, Democrats have a much better chance to elect not just a Democrat, but-- and in Alabama this is saying a lot-- a real Democrat. The current Alabama Democratic members of Congress, Bobby Bright (2nd CD), one of the worst of the Blue Dogs, and Artur Davis (7th CD), an ambitious would-be governor who thinks his path to fame and fortune is accelerated aisle-crossing, leave a lot to be desired. But Alabama's 5th CD, across the northern half-dozen counties along the Tennessee border (plus a sliver of Morgan Co.), offers Democrats a great chance for actual change.

Peace be with you.

Sunday Blog Stroll

Mitchell Howie Makes the Move---A PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER for Congress. Yippie!!!! Let's support this man, he is the one we have been waiting for.

Judging from the first two candidates in the field, we can see how Alabama’s Fifth District got stuck with a turncoat like Parker Griffith. Luckily, there is a better option.

Now this is what I'm talking about! Obama, Arnold, Petreus finally kick some GOP Butt! It's about damn time! Arnold Schwarzenegger (r.CA) slammed the GOP stimulus hyprocrisy. The Terminator is back!

What part of you can't reason with the gop doesn't Obama understand?

CPAC had their little convention this weekend. The Revolution Is Being Televised for our viewing displeasure. Too bad they didn't televise the anti Iraq W-ar protest.

Skeptical Brother has a great diary about what the numbers tell us about race in Alabama.

Yo Tiger, get on with your life. I mean,really. You don't owe anyone an apology or an explanation but your wife and mother. If anyone needs to apologize publically it's the hussies that slept with you knowing you were a married man. It takes two to tango.

Can a Real Progressive win in CD 05? You Betcha!

That is the question being asked by some in light Capt. Howie Mitchell throwing his hat into the ring as a candidate for the congressional seat presently occupied by Parker Griffith(r.turncoat).

There are some who say Howie sounds to good to be true because heis what I call a real democrat i.e. socially liberal/fiscally conservative. After the Parker Griffith charade/fiasco democrats understandably gun shy of anyone claiming to be a liberal democrat. Mitchell Howie can't just talk the talk, he's going to have to walk the walk. Fool us once...can't fool us again.

I don't expect the local or state Democratic Party elite to fully embrace Howie in favor of a *ahem* conservadem because they listen to the polling pollsters who pollster tell them that's the only way they can win (can you say Parker Griffith?), however as someone from my list serve said;

People are so sick of the ‘good ole boy’ politics from the likes of Parker Griffith and some of the other establishment candidates, that with the support of good Democrats and Progressives to help him get his message to folks throughout the district he will win!

This person hit the nail on the head:

There is a large progressive community in every part of the country. Any honest, reputable progressive is electable if the progressives can be inspired to vote.

I second what this person said;

Mitchell Howie is a candidate that can not only win, he can inspire. He represents an opportunity for North Alabamians to have a leader with integrity to represent us in Washington. But he can't do it without our help. He's going to need foot soldiers making calls, knocking on doors, and yes writing checks. It takes resources to bring down the status quo. Parker Griffith and other establishment candidates are going to be well funded by sources with their own agenda. It's up to us to ensure that Mitchell is funded by the people's agenda.

The question should be why can't Mitchell Howie win in north Alabama? Is north Alabama the hot bed of conservatism the polling pollsters claim it to be? I think NOT. I submit there are more of us than it is of them. It's past time for progressives to come out of the closet,stop being afraid to stand up for our principles/values and elect a progressive representation for a change. It's time to take our state back from the right wing. It's time for our state to make progress, to move forward, not backward.

This is how a true Progressive can win in CD 5;

1. Steve Raby and Taze Shepard can withdraw from the race and put all their support and resources behind Mitchell Howie. Nothing against either one of them, but it's time for some new blood.

2. Progressives need to organize. Those with money should give. Those without money should knock on doors, make phone calls, write letters to the editor, in other words have Howie Mitchell's back.

3. Get out the black vote. I'm going to say that again. Get out the black vote. It's the key. Give black folks something to vote for and they will vote in record numbers. Ask Barack Obama.

It's Yes we Can! Not No We Can't. If an African American man named Barack Hussein Obama can be elected President of the United States of America, Capt. Mitchell Howie can be elected Congressman from Alabama's 5th district.

Remember?

A redEYE Look Around Reddest of the Red States

The Bingo War is heating up. It's the Greene County Alabama Sherriff vs. Governor Bob Riley. The Greene County Sherriff says he won't allow Gov. Riley's task force to raid Greentrack. Stay tuned.

Alabama SenatorRichard "Dick" Shelby (r.) is living up to his nick name for blocking every one of the president’s nominees over spending disputes involving his state. Shock and Shame.

Meanwhile the University of Alabama won't cover PACT's tuition gap. You know the gap caused by State Treasurer and republican gubernatorial candidate Cowgirl Kay.

Mobile, Alabama says NO to toxic waste treatment! They are going to stop accepting shipments of wastewater runoff from the Perry County landfill because it's laced with arsenic, mercury, lead, uranium and other heavy metals and toxic substances. Can't say that I blame them.

Can we please have our data back please? Pretty please with sugar on top. Yes, democrats are still begging Parker Griffith to return their date he took with him when he defected to the republican party. Good luck with getting it back.

Real progressive Mitchell Howie is considering running for Congress in the 5th district of Alabama. He's a real progressive which is why he probably doesn't stand a snowmans chance in hell of chance of winning the democratic nomination. Isn't that ironic?

Congressman Artur Davis(DINO) is a strong advocate of Charter Schools, I wonder if he is aware of the data that shows the racial divide grows with Charter Schools? What's that saying about finding out who is driving the wagon before you jump on?

That's what's happening in the reddest of the red states.

Peace Out.