Here is a picture of Sen. Richard "Dick" Shelby(r. Tuscaloosa) standing up to President Obama every day

Pres. Obama and Al. Gov. Robert Bentley tour tornado devastation (Larry Downing/Reuters)

Uh, about that standing up to President Obama every day Senator Shelby Sir.

Due to your age,  EYE can understand if you have some memory loss, but your aides should know better.  Either they are suffering from amnesia, or they think we are.  Perhaps you've forgotten the massive tornado that ripped through Sweet Home Alabama in April of 2011, when President Obama flew to Birmingham, AL,  motorcades to Tuscaloosa to assure Alabamans that every level of government was fully dedicated to doing everything possible to help the community recover from the devastation,

Even as Republicans have been kicking and screaming about the need to shrink government, even as they support a budget plan that would devastate government's ability to respond to disasters like this, when something like this happens they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Obama as government leaders eager to serve the people they represent. They aren't calling him a socialist, they aren't saying he was born in Kenya, they aren't accusing him of trying to kill grandma: they are just trying to do the right thing. It's just too bad it took a horrific storm to bring out that cooperative spirit.

EYE see you and the rest of the white, male, red republicans walking WITH President Obama, and the democrats walking BEHIND. 

Sidebar with a sigh
If you look closely at the photograph attached to this diary of a VIP group walking with President Obama, I count nine individuals....Two in the front row, three in the middle row and four in the back, one of whom is barely visible as a pair of grey-trousered legs and the corner of a face. Two of them -- counting the President -- are non-white, one more may be.
The proportion of non-white persons in Alabama's population is about 29%, so 22%, or better 33%, persons of color (2 or 3 out of 9) would not be far out of line with the state population.
According to the same source, the proportion of persons in the population of Alabama who happen to be female is almost 52%. Female persons in the VIP group including President Obama: precisely zero.

You may be suffering from memory loss but we the people will never forget. Link inserted for emphasis mine.

I'm glad the President and First Lady came to Alabama but, why didn't he visit Birmingham too? He went to the place that didn't vote for him, and ignored the place that did. And why wasn't Rep. Terri Sewell, the states top Democrat, the first person to greet President Obama instead of being 4th in line behind anti Socialist Bentley, "I haven't seen his birth certificate" Shelby, "I gave you the middle finger and sent the Azalea Trail Maids to your inauguration parade", Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, and "Birther Spencer Bacchus" all republicans?

You might want to reconsider your Wag the Dog political commercials because that dog won't hunt. 

To ‘Wag the Dog’ means to purposely divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance, to something else of lesser significance. By doing so, the lesser-significant event is catapulted into the limelight, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue.
The expression comes from the saying that ‘a dog is smarter than its tail’, but if the tail were smarter, then the tail would ‘wag the dog.
In other words, Shelby’s commercial is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from the facts.

RedEye 

Governor Bentley: We need to protect people of our state from them there refugees

#PatelAlabama: Governor apologizes to the government of India for Alabama police treating one of their citizens like "a skinny black man"

Just in case you missed it, our Governor was interviewed on CNN this morning pontificating about his stand on the state line to keep Alabamans safe from them there Muslims, EYE mean, Syrian refugees.  He really didn't have a good reason to offer, so he named dropped that he was with Condolezza Rice yesterday, who allegedly told him Syria should set up a refugee camp over there to contain them.

This is the same Condolezza Rice who was the National Security Advisor that gave pResident George W. Bush a daily briefing one month prior to the 9/11 attacks that said Osama determined to attack inside the U.S. and didn't know what that meant.  The same Condolezza Rice who was the Secretary of State before, during and after Hurricane Katrina.

Governor Bentley also name dropped the director of Homeland Security, and the FBI, both of which are federal agencies, as in the federal government, as in the federal government he plans to obstruct and defy in order to keep Alabamans safe from them there refugees.  The same federal government that is the largest employer in Sweet Home Alabama.

Governors, 1950s: No black kids in our schools, some might be violent Governors, 2010s: No Syrian kids in our states, some might be violent

— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) November 16, 2015

More Alabamians have died from guns, natural disasters, and because they don't have access to quality affordable health care than from Muslims, EYE mean, refugees.  But don't let a little thing like facts get in the way of bigotry in the name of The Lord.  Our Governor kept saying he was at war with his heart and his head, and his head was winning.  As someone who claims to be a Christian doesn't he realize baby Jesus and His parents were refugees?

OH BOOM! pic.twitter.com/g5r0cCnWd0

— philip harris (@pharris830) November 16, 2015

EYE wish the citizens of Alabama had somewhere to run.

Governor Robert Bentley has made it clear: Alabama is open for business, but is closed for compassion. https://t.co/5TihHgU8vP

— AL.com (@aldotcom) November 16, 2015

To make the irony more explicit, Bentley will be joined at the conference with the Japanese by Martin Luther King III. An Alabama Governor is meeting with the Japanese – a population that America once forcibly detained for fear of the color of their skin – and is accompanied by the son of a man who Alabama once detained for fear of the color of his skin. The only thing that could make it more ironic would be if they convened in Huntsville, a city that prospered as the result of Alabama welcoming German scientists in the wake of World War II.

“Hello, have you been in a coma?” and not noticed that Republicans were now in control of the Alabama Legislature?"

Fist Dap to Radio Boy for reminding us via The Shroud Award that we (collective) are getting the Bats#t Crazy we (didn't) vote for.

DESIGNATING THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2013 SHROUD AWARD.

WHEREAS, it is once again time for the annual Shroud Award, a unique sine die tradition in which the Deadest Bill of the 2013 legislative session is revealed. Originating in1979, this is the 35th anniversary of the award. This year, no pretense is made about what this

resolution is targeting. We will flat out say it. Our intent is to single out A.E.A. .....; proposed legislation that is AMUSING, ENTERTAINING, or ABSURD. We also have our sights on the B.C.A., the BEST COMEDY AVAILABLE. We aren't BRAGGING. We just Dare To Defend Our HYPE.

Radio Boy also cautions us to Beware of low hanging Fruit during Tornado Recovery  , which is code for please don't remind us Rep.  Mo Brooks(r. Tornado Alley, AL), I mean Sen.Tom Coburn (r.Tornado Alley, OK) demanded budget cuts in exchange for disaster relief.   All I'm going to say is Red State Republicans better be glad President Obama doesn't lead like he's been treated.

Speaking of mistreatment and off topic,  if there were any doubt new Alabama Democratic Majority is rooted in hatred (for lack of a better word) for Dr. Joe Reed and acting ADP Chairwoman Nancy Worley, you need look no further than the front page of Left in Alabama. 

Psst Alabama Democratic Majority?  You picked up your marbles and went home, remember?  You are either with the Alabama Democratic Party, or you are with the Alabama Democratic Majority.   
You can't be a member of both.

Don't blame me, I voted for Charlie Holley (D.)

 

 Obama, Alabama Officials pledge aid for storm survivors

So, there is an article on today's AL.com blog where 5th district Congress Critter Mo Brooks (r,) is bragging about why he was the only member of the Alabama Congressional delegation to vote against the Hurricane Sandy relief bill.
Here are his excuses, I mean reasons, in a nut shell;

Brooks said in an interview after the vote that the legislation should have been delayed to allow members more time to review its details. He also said taxpayers "should not have to fork out a nickel" to pay for property damage in areas historically vulnerable to storms.
"People have to protect themselves from the risks of weather, particularly if they live in an area that is periodically hit by substantial storms," Brooks said. "They should not expect American taxpayers to subsidize a vacation home on the beach."

Translation, I voted NO because I'm a TeaPublican and I don't have to worry about being re-elected as long as I vote NO on everything the Tea Party tells me too.

I guess Mo and the other 66 *ahem*  lawmakers who voted NO didn't have time to read the legislation that was discussed two months ago.  I guess they don't have natural disasters in their states either.  Po Mo must have forgotten about  the recent hurricane damage to the vacation homes and businesses  in Mobile and Gulfport.  Not to mention the recent deadly tornadoes and damage in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and yes, even districts which he mis represents, Huntsville, Decatur, Athens,  Hillsboro, Moulton, and Florence, are smack dab in the middle of what is known as Tornado Alley.

Brooks' own district in north Alabama was devastated by tornadoes in April 2011, and he worked to help victims obtain federal assistance in the wake of the catastrophe. 
He said he sympathized with victims of Sandy and that he was not opposed to providing aid. But he said Congress had to be more deliberative when dealing with legislation involving billions of dollars.
Brooks said he would raise similar objections if the damage had been in Alabama. 
"We're at a point in this nation where hard choices have to be made, or the federal government is going to bankrupt the American people," he said. "We just can't keep spending money this way."

You got that?  If Alabama is hit by a natural disaster the Congress Critter from the 5th district will vote HELL NO.  So much for the Christian Compassionate Conservatism.

Is this just a case of the Republican Party wanting to distance itself from the Bush years—or is compassionate conservatism gone for good?

It's a shame Mo and the other 66 republicans who voted against the relief bill can't see past red and blue and come together to  help their fellow human beings in a time a need.  Has it really come to if Obama carried your state you don't deserve any help or assistance?  Yes I am a Democrat, but I guarantee you will NEVER hear of Democrats punishing people in their time of need because of partisan politics. I shake my head at the thought of people being so shallow as to not worry about any deaths or any semi important issues other than strictly whom you voted for, you know?

And that my friends is the difference between Democrats and republicans.  Democrats believe in helping people in need regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or political party.

What I'm reading today

Are Black Public Officials More Likely Than Whites to be Prosecuted in the Deep South? Uh, is an elephant heavy?

Are white liberal Democrats more likely than white conservative republicans to be Prosecuted by the Obama/Holder DOJ? Uh, let me think about that for a minute. Snark

The Ghost of Elbridge Gerry Haunts Montgomery The gop has no morals and the democrats have no guts. Lord help us.

What's next for the gop?

What is the next Republican super-idea?
A tax on sunshine?
An oxygen meter for all breathers?
A ban on sex (except for elected officials)?
Privatized Armed Forces (oh wait we already have
Blackwater)
A repeal of the Civil Rights Act?

If I were allowed to post on Left in Alabama I would vote for all of the above.

Superintendents Search Huntsville City Schools. H/T Reactionary

There can be only one, and I recommend Dr. Casey Wardynski for our next Superintendent.

If I were allowed to post on Flashpoint I would ask Reactionary why? If it's good news for Reactionary and David Blair it's bad news for North Huntsville.
Psst! Reactionary! Thanks for the insight I still choose none of the above. :)

What you're reading on RedEyes Front Page today;

The Storm is Passing Over. Evidently some are *ahem* upset with Representative John Rodgers (D) for daring complain about President Obama ignoring Birmingham in favor of T Town and people like me stirring the proverbial shit pot of politics, have tarnished what this (use to be great)Nation stands for.

PS It was only a matter of time...

Thoughts on Obama and Osama and Tornado relief in the Black Belt or the lack thereof

I've been struggling about how to say what is on my mind and in my heart in regard to the death of Osama bin Laden, but thanks to Curtis Abby for directing me to this Glenn Glenwald post which conveys my sentiments exactly.

I'd have strongly preferred that Osama bin Laden be captured rather than killed so that he could be tried for his crimes and punished in accordance with due process (and to obtain presumably ample intelligence).

I cringe every time I hear someone jubilantly say "Obama killed Osama". Call me crazy but I don't want my President associated with killing anybody. What's really ironic is the so called pro-life republicans are the mains ones celebrating the "killing of Osama", the same ones who just last week were calling President Obama an undercover Socialist Muslim sympathizer born in Kenya.

And then there's the notion that America has once again proved its greatness and preeminence by killing bin Laden. Americans are marching in the street celebrating with a sense of national pride. When is the last time that happened? It seems telling that hunting someone down and killing them is one of the few things that still produce these feelings of nationalistic unity. I got on an airplane last night before the news of bin Laden's killing was known and had actually intended to make this point with regard to our killing of Gadaffi's son in Libya -- a mere 25 years after President Reagan bombed Libya and killed Gadaffi's infant daughter

I find the celebrating troubling, and I'm not defending Osama, but, let us not forget Osama was accused of being the mastermind behind the 911. As a matter of fact Police arrested Khalid Shaikh Mohammed as the Mastermind of September 11, 2001 attack on the United States.

I agree with Greenwald;

In sum, a murderous religious extremist was killed. The U.S. has erupted in a collective orgy of national pride and renewed faith in the efficacy and righteousness of military force. Other than that, the repercussions are likely to be far greater in terms of domestic politics -- it's going to be a huge boost to Obama's re-election prospects and will be exploited for that end -- than anything else.

Dr. Boyce Watkins notes the jump in President Obama's approval rating and notes although his stock has improved with white voters, African American voters are not that impressed.

In the “economic basement” of America lies the black community, where unemployment rates are nearly double those for white Americans. In spite of the massive popularity enjoyed by the Obama Administration, millions of African Americans suffer quietly, while being comforted by images of a black couple sitting in the Oval Office. What will be interesting to see is whether or not these disenfranchised Americans will feel inspired to return to the polls for Obama’s reelection in 2012.
Many black people vote in the same way we listen to music: Our love for our favorite artist may not translate into record sales, since we can listen to our artists for free on the Internet. In other words, massive black support for President Obama may not translate into votes if black folks don’t believe that voting for Obama will serve to reduce their suffering. The same way that purchasing music costs money, taking a day off of work to go to the polls is costly as well. If African Americans are not convinced that having a black president will make a real difference in their lives, black folks may just support the Obamas from the sidelines.

I will close by saying I get nervous when one person decides another person needs to be taken out because they decide the other person is an evil dictator/ despot. I get really nervous when the rule of law is bent because the only thing standing between us (collective) and the evil dictator/despot is the rule of law. David Swanson say's Osama Bin Lynched.

And so, after nearly a decade, our government bothered to look for bin Laden, found him, and murdered him. But what choice did they have? A truly fair trial would always involve the risk of acquittal. A semi-fair trial would have risked bringing up undesirable topics, such as the US failure to prevent 9-11, our decades' old support for bin Laden, bin Laden's evasion of the US in 2001 and ever since, bin Laden's reasons for 9-11, and the question of precedent. If we gave bin Laden a semi-fair trial, how would we explain denying one to so many other people? And a truly unfair military trial would have made the United States look even worse. As a CIA guy told me on the radio yesterday: killing him was "cleaner."

Black Agenda Report Columnist Jared Bell asks

What kind of nation finds “renewal” in targeted assassination, reaffirmation of its destiny in the ritualized killing of the ultimate “Other”? Must the U.S. national mission consist of paying $2 billion a week to blow up the poorest people in the world? How about simply changing the country’s public policy so as to make sure that Obama is actually responsible for less death and destruction than the so-called leading terrorist now recently and apparently deceased.

While the President and the national media are focused on the killing of Osama, Tornado relief is missing the South's poor and rural communities thanks to states red republican leadership.

Reports are emerging that some hard-hit areas are being left out of needed assistance due to their isolation and the fact that their plight is not being reported in the media. While news coverage has focused largely on the destruction in urban areas including the Alabama cities of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, the storms also impacted many small rural communities in Alabama's Black Belt.

Osama is dead. Obama is hero. Let's move on. People in America are suffering and dying at the hands of the TeaPublicans enabled by the Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads. I want President Obama to "take them out" with the same steely determination he used take out Osama bin Laden. I want him to stop the weapons of mass distraction and make sure the people in the south who voted for him don't get left behind.