“Let the word go from this time and place: You can’t cuss the party during the day and beg from us at night.”

Cue in The Gambler

Alabama Dem leader Joe Reed on Doug Jones' failed power move: "George Wallace tried it, too"

So while Alabama Republicans are fielding candidates running on defending our way of life and our values (sic) Alabama Democrats, and EYE use that term loosely, are forming a circular firing squad.  YeeHaw!

“This was not necessary,” Reed says. “We lost a whole year fighting among ourselves when we should have spent the whole year working the highways and byways of Alabama to help Doug Jones. But he spent all his time fighting us.”

Let's recap.

England and a faction of the State Democratic Executive Committee that supports new leadership and new party bylaws scheduled a meeting for Nov. 2 to hold the elections. The Democratic National Committee, which ordered new elections and bylaws, recognizes that as the official date.
Worley and her supporters on the SDEC scheduled a Nov. 16 meeting.
Worley has said the dispute is probably headed for court.

In the latest DNC enabled escalation of the ADP infighting Rep. Chris England and former Rep. Patricia Todd have entered the fray to lead the new Alabama Democratic Party. 

B-But Tabitha Isner 

B-But Will Boyd.......

B-But Myron Penn..... 

B-But Vivian Figures.....

This divisive DNC enabled #DoOver is threatening Doug Jones's re-election.

The feud began last August when Jones made known he wanted Worley to step aside. But Worley ran for another term — beating back the entire slate Jones supported.
“He went after Nancy’s seat. He lost,” said Joe Reed, a civil rights veteran who heads the Alabama Democratic Conference, the state’s principal African American Democratic club, and Worley’s most powerful ally. “Doug’s slate lost. He came back. He got with Perez. They then came up with a scheme to challenge Nancy’s election.”

But maybe that's the plan... 

Jones faces a strongly contested re-election effort in November of 2019. For Democrats to have any realistic hopes of taking control of the U.S. Senate from Republicans they need to hold on to Jones’s seat.

EYE report. 

You decide. 

Re-Post countdown to my being banned from the pages of Left in Alabama in honor of my 5th Blog-O-versery

 

Regular readers know Friday, November 13, 2009 was indeed unlucky for me because it was the beginning of the end of my posting privileges at the  Informed. Involved. Progressive. democratic blog of record,  Left in Alabama,  supposedly because of the content of my comments and other posts.  EYE still think it was because of my non support of a gubernatorial candidate (which EYE ended up being right about). So from now until November 13, 2014,  EYE will re post links to the posts EYE (pun intended) believe led to my being banned from Left in Alabama and let you decide.

Blast from the Past Re-Post #1:  Cynthia Tucker Looks at the Alabama Governors Race

Artur Davis has to walk the fine line in this campaign: convince the big middle of the electorate to judge him on the issues -- he's a fairly moderate reformer with broad appeal -- without turning off voters who may have followed Joe Reed's advice in the past.  He needs to convince those voters to judge him on the issues instead of listening to Reed's advice. 
There's a generational power struggle going on in Alabama that has nothing to do with race.  It's all about whether the current gatekeepers and power brokers in the Democratic party can maintain their hold on the party -- and whether they get to exercise veto power over candidates.  Davis stands largely outside the current party structure and a win for him will signal diminished influence for the folks currently running the show. 
Gatekeepers like Reed and AEA Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert (both of whom are vice-chairs of the state party) probably don't have enough power to deny Davis the nomination outright, but they might have enough power to throw the general election to a Republican.  The November election will be that close and the rift between Davis and Reed appears deep enough that such extreme action is imaginable  -- check the examples of John Tyson or Patricia Todd if you don't believe it.  While denying Davis the governorship because he didn't come, hat in hand, to ask permissions and make deals would probably feel good for a few nanoseconds, it's squarely in the category of "cutting off your nose to spite your face."  The aftermath of such a strategy would certainly bring the Old Guard down in a wave of resentment. 

Be sure and read the comments (please excuse the typos and grammatical errors).

I respect Cynthia Tucker as a a Nobel prize winning journalist and Alabama native, but she doesn't know what she's talking about.  She is playing the old tried and true race baiting card from the bottom of the race deck of cards and saying what white folks say privately but can't say out loud.

RedEye Reports what You decide.

Starting off the New Year with a RedEye Rant

 This system cannot stand.  Despite what the Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads and Talk Radio Hate Jocks tell you, the Iowa Primary is a JOKE that is so not funny.

Let's stop beating around the bush (no pun) with nice code words like fiscal conservatives, Evangelical Christians, Religious Right, Blue Collar voters, Values Voters, Moderates, Undecided and Independents to describe the electorate.

If you vote for and elect a racist, you are a racist.

If you vote for and elect a homophobic, you re a homophobic.

If you vote for and elect a bigot, you are a bigot.

If you vote against your self-interest you are a Sucker.

It's not about Black Voter Fraud.  It's about keeping blacks from voting because republicans know that is the only way they can steal, I mean to win  the election and kick President Obama's African American Donkey out of the White House.  But first, they had to get rid of ACORN so they could stop them there voter registration drives. Yep, when republicans change the rules it's for freedom and democracy. Snark

republicans can't handle the truth.  They would RATHER believe a lie.


My resolution for 2012 and beyond- I will not vote for any candidate who can't come out in support of health care, gay marriage, public education, or any other issues I care about.

Rant over.

For now.

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.

The Civil War within the Alabama Democratic Party

According to the progressive wing of the Alabama Democratic Party Dr. Joe Reed is the last person to lead the ADP for the following reasons;

1. It would be a disaster.

2. Joe Reed went to court to have his name put back on a building at Alabama State University, where he served on the board of Trustees.

3. Reed as De facto party chair has been a disaster. This is a case where past performance does guarantee future results...

4. Reed is 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 we stand for on any level.

5. It's time for a fresh face, like Justice Mark Kennedy.

6. Joe Reed is part of the old guard who just can't let go. He has some power in Montgomery but he certainly can't represent the broad base. He is too racist and dictatorial. Note; there is no evidence of Reed being too racist.

7. Joe Reed spent time doing George Wallace's dirty work, telling black leaders this is not the time to move, wait before he ultimately saw the light and got himself in front of the movement that he had tried to thwart. Note Justice Mark Kennedy is married to Peggy Wallace, daughter of George Wallace.

8. Joe Reed is the epitome of out-of-touch. He epitomizes the racial bias that some older Southern blacks harbor towards Southern white, especially white progressives (Patricia Todd). He has expressed his bias against anyone who doesn't stand to further his bias agenda. Reed will generate a false sense of "not one of us" towards a black politico that actually attempts to push for a pluralistic platform. Let's not forget his homophobia, see Patricia Todd situation for proof. See the Patrica Todd situation here.

9. We need a clean break from the past. We need someone who can bridge the gap between the Davis folks and the Sparks/Reed folks.

The Democratic Wing of the Alabama Democratic Party believe Joe Reed is just what the Doctor (as in Howard Dean) ordered at this critical juncture for the following reasons;

1. Dr.  Reed as chair would chase all the pseudo dims out of the party. It' no way they are going to be lead by a black man like Joe Reed. Artur Davis yes, Reed no.

2. Dr. Reed would not pander to the right at the expense of the traditional democratic base i.e. women, minorities, LBGT, labor, public school teachers and support personnel.

3. Dr. Reed has a history of fighting for fairness and black representation.

4. Dr. Reed is not afraid of the right-wing bullies.

5. Dr. Reed is not republican lite and will not pander to the right at the expense of the traditional base and traditional democratic values.

6. Dr. Reed is also the perfect person to raise money -- and diversify sources of support for the party. There are untapped resources within the ADP. Dr. Reed has the ability to recruit and welcome disenfranchised/marginalized Democrats into the party.

7. Dr. Reed is more than capable of managing the party effectively --making sure papers are filed on time, candidates are vetted, election results certified, etc. AND make sure the ADP doesn't let the AL GOP get away with anything whatsoever outside the rules. In other words, be ready to pound the table, call BS and file suit if anybody tries any election-related funny business.

Note the difference in the two lists, the anti-Reed sides reasons are all personal and emotional, whereas the pro-Reed side states separate the political from the personal and states just the facts.

I don't know if there is a bridge between the progressive wing and the democratic wing of the democratic party. The ideological gaps are just too wide and run too deep. So maybe the Alabama Democratic Party is a thing of the past and we need to make a new plan. Maybe we should let the progressive wing have the ADP and the democratic wing of the democratic party should all switch to the republican party.

A modest proposal: Every voter in Alabama should register as a Republican.

Anyone who fails to do so effectively forfeits his vote, just as Republicans forfeited their votes when Democrats, if you could call them that, were in the same position Republicans enjoy today.

Alabama is and never was a "one-party" state; it was a no-party state in which the party primary allowed all factions to do battle.

In years past Alabama produced a fair number of progressives: Hugo Black, Jim Folsom, Lister Hill, Carl Elliott, to name a few.

It might be possible to do this once more if everyone registered as Republican. At the least this would exerting a moderating influence on any serious candidate.

Registering as a Republican would not prevent any voter from voting Democratic in presidential election -- just as "Democrats" of old voted for Eisenhower, Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan, etc.

I'm perfectly serious about this: If I were still living in Alabama, I would be a card-carrying registered Republican.

If you can't beat em, join em?