Bill Moyers returns to the airwaves this weekend with his new show, Moyers and Company. Check out this great discussion with Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson about their new book, Winner Take All Politics on how inequality became so vast in this country
The show airs on APT on Sunday at 2PM. It's truly must-see TV.
There's no doubt Barack Obama will appear on the Alabama ballot in November, but that inevitability doesn't deter the right wing nutters in Alabama who have filed a flurry of frivolous lawsuits challenging the President's qualification.
Judge Helen Shores Lee is scheduled to hear the third suit, filed by one Harold Sorensen, on Tuesday. This should be incredible, but isn't:
Sorensen has asked Lee to step aside in his suit, accusing the black judge of racial bias.
After all, if this birther can't believe that the black man who is President of the United States can be a US citizen, do you expect him to accept the ruling of a black judge?
If by some chance the Alabama Republican Party doesn't agree with these birthers, they ought to publicly disown them and their ridiculous antics.
Alabama's 6th district has gone 5 election cycles without a Democratic contender, and now they have two! In addition to retired Colonel Penny Bailey, whose entry into the fray has already been noted, William Barnes also qualified yesterday in that district.
Those who read this blog during 2010 probably remember Barnes who ran a lively but shoestring campaign for U.S. Senate against Richard Shelby. In a statement released last night, Barnes promised a "well spirited primary campaign battle," saying that "is what makes our democracy and democratic form of government work."
Barnes saved his criticism for the current occupant of this seat, Republican Spencer Bachus:
During the past 20 years, the people of the 6th District have endured the same representation in Washington, DC. Instead of representing the people of the District, our Congressman has represented and served the interests of the wealthy and Wall Street. It is past time for a change in representation. I am running to revitalize the middle class to the Democratic conservative principles we so desperately need to turn the current economic conditions around and put the citizens of the 6th Congressional District back to work in productive and fulfilling jobs. I am running to invest our financial resources in a quality educational system second to none throughout this Nation. I am running to increase the prosperity of American families. I am running to insure that we have a strong national defense to protect, not only ourselves, but our children and future generations. I believe I am the person you need in Washington.
Mitt Romney announced today that Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) endorsed his campaign. Kobach is the anti-immigrant official who drafted Arizona and Alabama’s harmful immigration laws, and who once wrote a book opposing the anti-Apartheid boycott of South Africa.
Note: The Big Waste will be shown again on The Food Network this Saturday 1/14 at 3pm CST and Sunday 1/15 at 4pm CST.
I'm a bit of a foodie. For anyone who follows me on Twitter, you'll notice among the random gaming comments, politics, couponing, and autism spam that I also tend to include some fun recipes that I find and comments on what I might be preparing at home. Cooking is something I really enjoy, and I love talking about food and the idea of new recipes and combinations.
So of course I'm addicted to The Food Network.
Recently, they premiered a special where chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli competed against each other (girls against guys) by preparing a banquet for 150 people. The catch was that they had to prepare their dishes from ingredients that would be otherwise thrown out, or waste food.
The previews showed the chefs doing some dumpster diving and picking up leftover crops in the field, so I expected to see... well... what I expected to see. What I saw was something else entirely, and it was eye opening. Dare I say, it was even stomach-turning, but not because the food was bad.
First, I'd like to start by apologizing to Jim McClendon and many of you for taking so darn long to write this. I had this stuff ready to go last week, but then I decided to put it off for a few days to see if anything else came across the wires. Then I got caught up in a few other things, and to be honest, I even forgot about it a couple of times.
So apologies all around on not being speedier on getting this up.
Before I start, let me take the time to note some of the questions and concerns raised in my last posting:
Gerald Dial's office made a claim that this would save 5000 trees per classroom per year. We wanted to know where he got his facts regarding that claim.
We wanted to see the math on how much money this would save.
How long would the tablets be expected to last?
What is the process that goes along with replacing a tablet if it is lost/stolen/damaged?
What happens if a school has more students than expected and they need more tablets?
How can we be sure that there won't be any contracts unjustly rewarded and that we get the best deal?
The big one. Why bonds?
Keep in mind that the bill hasn't even been written yet and so of course contract negotiation isn't even being considered at this stage, so there are a few questions up there that won't have answers for a while. But there are a few concerns that I can definitely touch on now, and a big thanks to Rep. McClendon for getting back to me with some more information.
Not only are Republicans the party of no new jobs and no new ideas, now they can't even find any new candidates to carry their stale water. In North Alabama, Republican voters will get to choose from not one, but two failed Congressmen, the same two who appeared on the primary ballot in 2010 -- Parker Griffith and Mo Brooks.
Mo Brooks has more money this time (at least to start with) but he can't count on all those Democrats crossing over to stick it to Parker like they did in June of 2010. And of course, Mo now has a (bad) record of his own to run on.
Here's the first Democrat to qualify in Alabama's 6th congressional district since 2000: Retired USAF Colonel Penny Huggins Bailey.
Colonel Bailey announced her candidacy today, bringing 24 years of leadership in the United States Air Force to the race against the eventual Republican nominee.
Penny Huggins Bailey is a longtime Leeds resident and graduate of Leeds High School and Samford University. She served in the US Air Force and retired at the rank of Colonel after 24 years of duty. Her last assignment was as Vice Wing Commander at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. She was responsible for 4,000 people and a budget of $4 billion.
Her husband, an Air Force Colonel and still on active duty as a Flight Surgeon, will serve his third deployment overseas this year. The Baileys have been married for more than 30 years and have three children. Both were in the Pentagon when it was struck by a hijacked airliner on 9/11.
“For twenty-four years I had the honor to serve in the US Air Force where service before self, excellence in all you do, and integrity were our core values,” Colonel Bailey said. “I want to work to embody these values in Congress on behalf of the people of Alabama’s 6th Congressional District. Alabamians deserve a true public servant who puts professionalism before partisan politics, and I know I have the background to do Alabama proud in Washington.”
In other words, Scott Beason* is officially challenging Spencer Bachus for the right to carry the GOP banner in Alabama's 6th congressional district. This is the internal division within the Republican party, distilled down to its purest form: white supremacists vs. corporate shills.
This will be a battle between the nutty social conservative GOPers and the money folks in the Republican party. The wedge is perfectly placed to split Republicans right down the middle. Look for at least one, andpossibly even two, Democratic contenders positioning themselves to capitalize on this GOP civil war.
Alabama ranks 47th on the Opportunity Index. Thank God for Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia and Nevada -- they're all that's between us and the very bottom of the opportunity barrel.
A product of Opportunity Nation ... "we believe that the zip code you’re born into shouldn’t determine your destiny" ... the Opportunity Index measures indicators at the county and state levels that contribute to economic opportunity and mobility. It scores states based on three factors: economy, education and community. Alabama ranks well below the national average in all three, indicating a low level of economic mobility and opportunity.
Key contributing factors to Alabama's poor opportunity ranking are high poverty rate, low family income, low graduation rate, low education level, high rate of violent crime, too many teenagers neither working nor in school and not enough primary care doctors. When you add it all up, it means that if you're born poor in Alabama, you're more likely to die the same way, because there aren't many opportunities to move up the economic ladder here -- praying to have been born in Madison or Shelby Counties is not practical for most kids.
42% of American men with fathers who were in the bottom fifth of the earning curve stay there. Meanwhile, only a quarter of Danes and Swedes and 30% of Britons born into the lower-income bracket will die in that same bracket.
Think about that. A poor kid's chances of moving up in America are significantly less than those of a poor kid living in Britain. That is shocking and shameful. Let me remind you that they still have lords, ladies and even a monarch in Britain. We had a revolution to get out from under that class system yet somehow we've ended up with an even more rigidly defined class system that stifles opportunity.
It's even worse in states like Alabama, that are pulling the national average down. If you want your kids to have the opportunity to build a better life than you have, you need to make some demands on policymakers. Every time some Alabama politician puts forth a new policy, ask if it creates opportunity or stifles it. Here's a checklist:
Will it create jobs?
Will it strengthen communities?
Will it help kids stay in school?
Will it increase access to health care?
Will it reduce hunger?
If what's being proposed won't do any of these things, it isn't going to do much to close the opportunity gap in Alabama, no matter what glowing language our local politicians wrap it in. Demand action on real problems -- like lack of opportunity -- not imaginary ones politicians dream up to make themselves look good.
An unusual number of Democratic/progressive event notices have crossed my e-desk in the last week or so. Here are some great opportunities to get involved with like-minded people in your area.
Number 1: Meet C.L Holley, Democrat running for Congress in AL-05. Countrycat and I sat down with Charlie Holley yesterday to talk issues and background. Video will be forthcoming soon. You're going to like this man -- a lot!
You’re invited to the first campaign event for CL Holley as he shares the platform of his campaign, his standing on the issues, and his vision for serving the people of the 5th District of the State of Alabama. Saturday Jan 14th 2012, 6:30PM-8:00PM Hampton Inn Hotel in Madison, 9225 Highway 20 West Madison AL 35758 RSVP to 256-417-7242 or email campaign@clholley.com Website: http://www.clholley.com Cost: Any size donation encouraged but not required Dress: Casual A lite meal will be served. Seats are limited so please RSVP with your name and phone number.
Number 2: The Madison County Democratic Executive Committee will meet Thursday, Jan 12 at 6 PM at the Optimist Park Rec Center on Oakwood Ave in Huntsville. Longtime party chairman Doug Dermody will be retiring and there will be an election to fill that position and any other vacancies. There are also several vacancies on the MCDEC which will be filled before a new chairman is elected. All Democrats are encouraged to attend.
Number 3: The Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday January 12 at 6PM at their headquarters, 2027 4th Avenue North in Birmingham.
Number 4: The Northeast Alabama Progressive Democratic Women (a loosely organized group from Jackson-DeKalb-Marshall Counties) will meet at Moonlight Bistro in Mentone on Friday, Jan. 13, at 12 Noon. Contact Reita or Regina if interested in attending.
Number 5: The United Steel Workers District 9 will be holding a protest against Cooper Tire Co. over its failure to bargain. "We need to send the shareholders at Cooper a message that we will not accept unfair treatment. The assembly area will be at the old Mazers parking lot on Greensprings Hwy in Homewood at 7:30 Saturday morning (Jan. 14). The protest will be across the street at one of Cooper's largest retailers."
Number 6:Obama for America - Huntsville will kick off 2012 with a meeting on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 3:30pm at 117 N. Jefferson St. in downtown Huntsville. "We'll be getting organized for campaigning, including phone banking, canvassing, voter registration, and much more! Please attend and bring people that are enthusiastic about working to re-elect President Obama. Together, we can make a difference. We Can't Wait!"
Number 7: Meet Rhonda Gore Dennis, Democrat running for United States Congress in AL-04. She will be speaking at the Democratic Women of Dekalb County's monthly meeting on Thursday, January 19. The meeting will take place at Ryan's in Fort Payne beginning at 6:00 pm. We Deserve Better!!!
Number 8: Iraq combat veteran, LGBT Civil Rights Hero and a former American infantry officer in the United States Army, Lt. Dan Choi, is coming to UAB! He will be speaking Thursday, January 26, 2012, 8 pm at the Hill University Center, Alumni Auditorium, 1400 University Boulevard in Birmingham. This is a free, public event courtesy of the UAB Gay/Straight Student Alliance (GSSA).
Well, this is an unusual primary challenge for you. No matter who wins, Alabama loses. Anti-immigration poster child & State Senator Scott Beason is set to challenge insider trader and incumbent Representative Spencer Bachus in March.
Beason will announce his candidacy formally 9:30 Thursday morning at the Alabama GOP headquarters. [...] Beason will likely leverage media attention, so-called “free media” among politicos, to counter Bachus’ war chest and access to campaign cash. Bachs has almost $1 million on hand for the primary campaign.
Whitmire's article ends on this hopeful note:
The winner of the March 13 primary will likely face a Democratic opponent in November.
We should hope so! A primary fight that pits Scott Beason's mouth against Spencer Bachus' wallet will be a sight to behold. Whoever "wins" will be a wounded warrior and the ADP would be nuts not to have a challenger ready to go.
Political junkies rejoice! Beason vs Bachus... there's not enough popcorn in the world....
So my message to business leaders today is simple: ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to the country that made our success possible – and I will do everything in my power to help you do it.
I watched the President's speech on the TV today, and his words about our responsibility as Americans were refreshing -- and about ten years overdue from an American president. He said we have ...
... a responsibility not just to the shareholder or the stakeholder, but to this country that made it all possible. That’s a responsibility we should all live up to – whether in the private or public sector; on Wall Street or in Washington. Because the more Americans who succeed, the more America succeeds.
No man is an island, nor is any corporation, much as they'd like to be.
In the last 10 years, U.S based multinational corporations outsourced over 2.4 million American jobs. They did it in a race for short term profits and CEO bonuses, conveniently ignoring the fact that the very American consumers they were giving pink slips were the ones who laid -- and defended -- their golden eggs.
I also learned an astounding thing from the President this morning: Corporations are still getting tax breaks for outsourcing jobs.
in the next few weeks, I will put forward new tax proposals that reward companies that choose to bring jobs home and invest in America – and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.
Yes, even after the 2010 election, when Republicans rolled into office with promises of job creation, Congress did nothing to close the tax loopholes that reward companies for moving jobs to other countries. There's no better indicator that Washington has been out of touch with real Americans for at least a decade. Why have they been out of touch? Because they've been in the pockets of the very corporate geniuses who discovered you get a lot better return on investment from buying a Congressman than from building a new factory or investing in new technology.
Barack Obama wants us to double our export of manufactured goods by 2014, saying he doesn't want America to be "a nation known for financial speculation and outsourcing and racking up debt buying stuff from other nations." That's an ambitious goal, but not nearly as ambitious as the goal of convincing corporations that they aren't islands, but part of a shared economic system. We're all in this together. Truly.
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Sometimes things just come at us so fast and furious that we just need to do an open thread dealing with a whole bunch of them.
Remember a few months ago when the GOP was bemoaning the fact that they couldn't get the "really good" candidates to get into the race? They were sure that if only Mitch Daniels or Haley Barbour would get in, they would be all set.
So here's Mitch, showing his brilliant sense of timing by trying to make Indiana a right-to- starve state, just before the unionized NFLPA* comes to Indianapolis to play in the Super Bowl. Sometimes it's hard to get national media attention, so always do unpopular things when the biggest sporting event in the country is coming to town, bringing a pro-Labor message.
And good-old Haley. Mississippi never disappoints, do they? Haley leaves office and before he goes, issues a couple of hundred pardons, including four convicted first degree murderers and Bret Favre's brother. No discussion with the families of the victims; no reasonable explanations- but it is an old tradition, Haley says to pardon prisoners who worksd as household staff in the Governor's mansion.
Republican thinking: the gift that just keeps on giving. See lots more below. * National Football League Players Association
Santa visited State Senator Scott Beason this past Christmas. But it's obvious from Beason's Dec. 24 Facebook post that his gifts from the "Jolly Old Elf" didn't include a replacement for Beason's political tin ear. Here he is "checking Santa's papers."
Here's how Beason described the scene:
"Good news, Alabama! Christmas is still on! Santa stopped by our house and of course, I checked his papers. He is lawfully present and good to go. Merry Christmas!"
Now, those who've been watching Beason closely during this past year won't be too surprised by his sense of humor. What is surprising though is that Beason received a visit from Santa. Really, given the year Beason has had, with his award winning comments about "emptying the clip" to control immigration and the so-called "Aborigines" who inhabit Greene County, one would have thought that the Grinch had taken up permanent residence in the Beason household.
For Alabama Democrats however, it's good to know that Beason is still going strong. Even though the GOP removed hims as chair of the Rules Committee, there's a good possibility that the senator's wacky antics will continue entertain us during this next legislative session.
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Alabama's 6th district has gone 5 election cycles without a Democratic contender, and now they have two! In addition to retired Colonel 
Not only are Republicans the party of no new jobs and no new ideas, now they 
In other words, Scott Beason* is officially challenging Spencer Bachus for the right to carry the GOP banner in Alabama's 6th congressional district. This is the internal division within the Republican party, distilled down to its purest form: white supremacists vs. corporate shills.
Alabama ranks 47th on the Opportunity Index
President 
In the last 10 years, 
