See a runoff election decided by just 32 votes. See the loser pay $750 for a recount. See the Madison County GOP vote to cancel the recount - after spending the $750. What do we "see" here? Republican notions of "fairness" on full display.
It appears that Madison County Republicans belong to "no organized political party," but instead affiliate with an organization controlled by a cabal of 7 members who set policy according to their own whims.
A recount of Eddie Sisk's narrow win over Parker had been set for Wednesday, but the campaign committee of the Madison County Republican Party voted 4-3 Tuesday not to allow it, said county GOP chair John Noel. [...] After losing by 0.86 percent of the vote (or by 32 votes) in the April 23 runoff, Parker - a teacher and the boys basketball coach at New Hope High School - immediately sought and received permission from Noel for a recount. Parker paid $750 for the recount last week and has been told he won't get that money back, either. [...]
Noel said opponents of the recount said there was no proof offered that there was an issue with the initial results and that it would set a bad precedent to have the recount. Had Sisk's margin been less than .5 percent, a recount would have been automatic, Noel said.
As for the $750 Parker paid for the recount, Noel said it went to a business in Birmingham that prepared the ballots for recount. Those services were rendered, Noel said, so the money is gone.
Yep. Making sure that all ballots are counted and the results are accurate would set a bad precedent, wouldn't it? Just ask Al Gore.
That Executive Committee is a busy bunch:
The executive committee voted to block longtime Democrat Tom Butler from the ballot for the District 2 seat on the County Commission after Butler changed parties in October 2011. Butler eventually lost an appeal to the state Republican Party.
The local executive committee also voted to stop Jeff Cooper, Sisk's opponent in the general election, from running as a Republican.
There are no guarantees in politics. In general, you pay your money and take your chances. But at least if you pay your money, you expect to get a chance. Joey Parker just got taken.
As for the county committee? What a bunch of losers.
Productivity in the economy grew by 80.4 percent between 1973 and 2011 but the growth of real hourly compensation of the median worker grew by far less, just 10.7 percent, and nearly all of that growth occurred in a short window in the late 1990s. The pattern was very different from 1948 to 1973, when the hourly compensation of a typical worker grew in tandem with productivity. Reestablishing the link between productivity and pay of the typical worker is an essential component of any effort to provide shared prosperity ...
There was a time when wages tracked productivity. Workers who were more productive -- working harder and smarter -- could expect higher compensation in return. That bargain fell apart in the late 1970's when "job creators" started skimming productivity increases right off the top. Working harder and smarter didn't increase your wages, but it sure as heck made more money for somebody.
“the top 1 percent of households have secured a very large share of all of the gains in income—59.9 percent of the gains from 1979–2007, while the top 0.1 percent seized an even more disproportionate share: 36 percent. In comparison, only 8.6 percent of income gains have gone to the bottom 90 percent”
As a society, do we value work? Or wealth?
We give lip service to the value of work, but when it comes to actually compensating those who do the work, so-called job creators are skimming the cream.
How much cream are they skimming? Look at the chart above. It's that wedge-shaped gap between the productivity line and the hourly compensation line that's been growing all out of proportion since 1975. That's what's been stolen from workers, and its absence is the reason middle class families are having an increasingly hard time making ends meet.
It's not just a bad dream ... you really have been working harder but not getting paid more for it.
A cadre of male Alabama Legislators walked off the floor last night as a group of women Senators staged a filibuster against SB20. According to Senator Tammy Irons, a filibuster was necessary because the bill's author, Senator Shadrack McGill, reneged on an agreement to allow an amendment. For someone so concerned about religion, you'd think that McGill would have noticed that lying is frowned upon in the Bible.
SB20 is the bill that allows the state health insurance exchanges to "opt out" of providing abortion coverage. It's almost identical to Greg Reed's bill - SB10 - that addresses the same issue, so I'm wondering why the Senate is even taking time on it.
Anyway, according to Senator Irons, McGill had agreed to accept an amendment to make the bill less restrictive:
He gave his word that he would allow Sen Coleman to offer an amendment to Sen. Bill 20 excepting rape or incest from the Abortion Prohibition Coverage act (opt out of insurance for abortion coverage). When Sen Coleman got up to present the amendment, he moved to table her amendment (not allow it). You can imagine her (and our) shock when he had been working with her on an amendment to let her offer.
He sent an apology through another legislator.
After his actions, a female filibuster ensued and almost 100 percent of the Republicans (all men) walked off the floor showing their disrespect. They really believe this is a laughable matter!
Sen. Figures said at the microphone to "leave us women alone" and that "we are smart enough to make our own decisions". Etc. Finally, after all the Republican males left the floor, sen Figures moved to adjourn.
So Senator McGill lied to a colleague and wasn't even decent enough to apologize in person. Perhaps he needs to spend some quality time with Roy Moore's Ten Commandments traveling roadshow.
The bill is to be brought back up today and we're sure that Senator McGill would LOVE to hear from constituents on this matter. Give him a call: 334-242-7858.
Money, money, money! If you want the Alabama Democratic Party to be more vocal, help them hire a communications director. The following letter is from Chairman Mark Kennedy, explaining the situation.
Friends and Fellow Democrats,
Yesterday, I received the latest edition of the Alabama Republican Party's rag sheet newsletter. It appears their Chairman, Bill Armistead, is at it again – all talk and still praising great Americans like Dick Cheney...the Darth Vader of American politics.
Armistead says that I am evil because I support the President of the United States AND actually refer to him as a “good President worthy of our praise.” Like most Americans, I root for our country to succeed, and I think that the fact that Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive is a praiseworthy fact.
Bill, it’s easy to throw stones from the other side of the fence, but if you really care about Democracy and the free exchange of ideas, why do still refuse to join me in a public forum to discuss the issues that are important to Alabama? I’ve been asking you for more than a year, but instead, you just choose to hide behind snarky talking points given to you by the National Party Big Boys. Come on Bill, I don't bite!
Democrats, some of you may see Bill’s rants and ask, “Why doesn’t our Party communicate with the same level of frequency?” The answer is that it takes money and capacity. Bill has a Communications Director. I don’t. This a shame because Bill Armistead, even on his best days, doesn't have a clue about working class families or what it's like for your kids to not have access to healthcare.
The folks at the ADP today have a great message -- fair taxes, fair wages, justice and fair treatment for everyone -- that not only resonates with people like us, it will resonate with lots of Alabamians whether they pay attention to politics or not. Please get behind Judge Kennedy and his team and help them get the Democratic message out.
The final editions of PBS Frontline's "Money, Power and Wall Street" aired last night. The final chapters (3 &4) dealt with the Obama WH's handling of the crisis and the fallout for countries and municipalities. The corruption and bankruptcy of Jefferson County was highlighted in the final part of the program. Here's Part 3, in case you missed it:
This documentary looks at the crisis in a broader way than the Oscar-winning Inside Job, and in my opinion is Emmy Award caliber and a program that should be seen by every American.
OK, so Guvnah Dr. Bentley has finally come around to the realization that "our entire health care system goes under" if the Legislature's proposed cuts to Medicaid stand. He says he'll veto the General Fund budget if it cuts Medicaid funding to $400 million.
Bentley continued to oppose a cigarette tax proposed by some lawmakers as a funding solution. He said he could not support a tax at the "present time."
Far from protecting Alabama taxpayers, as Bentley and Norquist maintain their pledge does, it endangers us by hamstringing state government's ability to respond to economic crises.
Alabama didn't elect Grover Norquist (a yankee, after all, born in Pennsylvania and raised in Massachusetts) to run the state. We elected Robert Bentley. He knew Alabama faced a budget crisis when he ran for the office. No revenue -- not cigarette taxes and certainly not tax increases on the 1% -- should be off the table in dealing with that crisis. The stakes are too high to let Grover Norquist make decisions Alabama citizens will have to live with.
How homophobic is the GOP base? They're so hardline that they don't even tolerate "out" gay & lesbian campaign staffers. The Washington Post broke the story yesterday that Richard Grenell, Mitt Romney's openly gay spokesperson resigned from the campaign. Grenell's statement didn't mince words:
While I welcomed the challenge to confront President Obama’s foreign policy failures and weak leadership on the world stage, my ability to speak clearly and forcefully on the issues has been greatly diminished by the hyper-partisan discussion of personal issues that sometimes comes from a presidential campaign. I want to thank Governor Romney for his belief in me and my abilities and his clear message to me that being openly gay was a non-issue for him and his team.
It probably wasn't an issue for Romney himself. Remember in January, he touted his record of non-discriminatory hiring while Governor of Massachusetts.
But the GOP base seems to consider tolerance & commitment to equality as a bug rather than a feature....
This is not just an Etch-A-Sketch moment for the governor, it is a crossing-the-Rubicon moment. It appears to be a dog-whistle to the homosexual lobby, a way of saying to them I’m with you, not with them. It appears to be his way of saying to gay activists that when push comes to shove you can count on me. I’ll be in your corner, not theirs.
Grenell's support for marriage equality drew the ire of National Review writer Matthew Franck:
Grenell has made a particular crusade of the marriage issue, with a kind of unhinged devotion that suggests a man with questionable judgment.
It seems pretty plain that, whatever fine record he compiled in the Bush administration, Grenell is more passionate about same-sex marriage than anything else. So here’s a thought experiment. Suppose Barack Obama comes out — as Grenell wishes he would — in favor of same-sex marriage in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. How fast and how publicly will Richard Grenell decamp from Romney to Obama?
It's a well-worn trope used against any outgroup: they only care about each other, their loyalty is in question, they can't be trusted, etc. etc.
Not that I'm crying any tears for Grenell. He's hung out with these people for years: how did he expect them to react? In many ways, he fit right into the crowd: remember his misogynistic Tweets - 800 or so! - that he deleted after Romney hired him.
Maybe now Grenell will take a long, hard look at the people he's been associating with.
Let the games begin! President Obama's re-electon campaign released a new TV ad yesterday that hits Romney's claims to be a "job creator." Well, he may be, the ad notes. Romney's "created" jobs in China, India, and Mexico - by eliminating American jobs & shipping them to other countries.
From the campaign press release:
Romney’s economic scheme stands in stark contrast with President Obama’s efforts to continue moving the country forward by rebuilding an economy that’s meant to last, by out-building, out-innovating and out-educating the rest of the world, and making the things the rest of the world buys by closing loopholes and providing incentives that are bringing jobs back to America.
“Swiss Bank Account” will air in Virginia, Ohio, and Iowa.
Last week, Americans for Prosperity, a Romney Super PAC, released an ad attacking the President on false claims of using government funds to support overseas companies. This latest ad is part of the group’s larger dishonest attacks that have been consistently debunked by independent fact checkers.
Remember: it's not just "independent" groups running dishonest ads against the President. Months ago, Romney's very first TV ad took Obama's words out of context:
The Romney campaign’s very first television ad, released this evening, dishonestly presents a 2008 McCain campaign quote as the words of President Obama. The ad features a voice-over of Obama saying “if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose.” Then-candidate Obama indeed said those words, perhaps dozens of times during the closing month of the 2008 campaign. The only problem? Obama was actually quoting the words of a strategist from Sen. John McCain’s campaign. [...] Politico reports that the Romney campaign is asserting that its ad was intentionally deceptive and dishonest. “We used that quote intentionally,” Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstorm said.
Just the behavior you'd expect from a political party that disdains facts, distrusts science, and distorts reality.
Cullman County Republican Party Chair Ken Brown is blaming Democratic crossover voting for several upset victories in primary runoff elections. Of eight candidates in runoff races, only one held on to her first place finish and won the runoff. In the seven other races, the second place finishers in the primary surged ahead to win the runoff.
One race was a particular surprise. A school board candidate almost won the primary outright with 49% of the vote. But that tiny deficit forced Gene Sullins into a runoff and he won by 164 votes.
Turnout was abysmally low in the runoff - 18% compared to the 42% who voted in the primary. So it seems odd that Brown blames Democrats for the results:
According to Cullman County Republican party chair Ken Brown, Democratic crossover voting played a significant role in switching the order in which his most of his party’s candidates finished Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, tonight’s results do reflect the ability of local Democrats to crossover vote in our Republican election process and affect the outcome in some races,” said Brown.
“We hope to remedy this before the next primary election in 2014, by having Alabama join more than 20 other states in moving to voter registration by party, and closed primaries. Then, Democrats will be free to pick their own nominees — and we will be free to choose ours without interference.”
Instead of blaming crossover Democrats, perhaps Brown should wonder about the effectiveness of candidates who can't motivate their voters to head to the polls.
I know there are at least a couple of LIA folks who are familiar with Cullman County politics.... would love to have your comments!
And everyone else... what do you think about party registration and closed primaries?
If you knew me well, you would know to avoid getting me started on the subject of abortion.
If you are unfamiliar with the "Personhood" movement or Personhood USA, it is the latest attempt to make all forms of abortion illegal by giving legal "personhood" to an egg from fertilization.
If an embryo is a person right from fertilization it trumps the personhood of the woman carrying it. ALL terminations of all pregnancies would be banned. This would include terminations of pregnancies to save the mothers life (such as ending an ectopic pregnancy where the embryo implants into the fallopian tubes and as it grows will cause the mother to bleed to death internally). Apparently supporters of this agenda don't realize or dont care that when the mother dies so does any embryo or fetus she is carrying anyway.
Alabama is now considering personhood. Alabama’s so-called "personhood" bill, SB 5, is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health - Tomorrow, May 2nd at 11am in room 304.
Planned Parenthood is planning to demonstrate in front of the State House at 10:45am.
Perhaps a little afraid people will blame him for starting his budget slashing by cutting funding for sick children, our beloved Guvnuh has announced a health screening program for the Black Belt.
More than 300 members and supporters of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ) will join hands and form a circle around the Alabama State House urging lawmakers to repeal HB 56, Alabama’s disastrous anti-immigrant law. The Senate will convene at 10:00 AM and is expected to take up debate on immigration legislation.
“Although ACIJ appreciates the legislature’s willingness to address the deeply flawed HB 56, these tweaks don’t fix the inherent problems with the law,” said Zayne Smith, coordinator of ACIJ’s One Family, One Alabama campaign. “We’re gathered here to serve as living, breathing reminders to the legislators that their vote today has real consequences for real people.”
WHEN: TODAY, May 1 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
WHERE: Alabama State House 11 South Union Street Montgomery, AL
Lucy Baxley, President of the Alabama Public Service Commission, will speak at a luncheon of the Birmingham Downtown Democrats on Friday, May 4 at the Harbert Center, 2019 4th Avenue North.
For more than 25 years, Lucy Baxley has served the people of Alabama in her role as a civil servant and as an elected official. Lucy served two terms as Alabama State Treasurer and one term as the Lieutenant Governor of our great state. In 2008 she was elected as President of the Alabama Public Service Commission where she continues to grace our state with her leadership and integrity.
Please RSVP by emailing downtowndems@gmail.com or by calling Judy at 822-8416. Please do this as soon as possible because we are again expecting a large crowd and need an accurate count for lunch.
The cost for lunch is $15. Plan to arrive a few minutes early because the Downtown Dems programs begin promptly at noon.
Lucy Baxley is seeking re-election this fall. Her campaign website is LucyBaxley2012.com.
Alabama's GOP super-majority doesn't know nuthin 'bout raising no taxes to help feed poor folk. But they're downright committed to preserving the honor of the Confederacy. You see fellow rebels.... some legislators had this foolheaded idea that the money earmarked for the Confederate Memorial Park could be used to help other struggling state parks upgrade their facilities - or at least keep the buildings from falling in.
States parks around the country are reeling from budget cuts & Alabama is in the same boat. But one park is definitely worth saving. With the speed & ferocity of a Confederate cavalry charge, Senator Cam Ward & Rep. Kurt Wallace joined the battle:
“Not only is the Confederate Memorial Park a part of our heritage as Alabamians, it is a tourist attraction for families traveling throughout the state,” Ward said. “The park brings tourism money to our county that is essential to our families’ livelihoods.”
In the Alabama House of Representatives, House Bill 610 would have taken 80 percent of the funding from Confederate Memorial Park and redistributed that money to five other parks, according to Wallace.
“It would have completely destroyed the park and forced it to close,” said Wallace. “We have some hard choices to make in our state budgeting, but cutting tourism dollars for Chilton County is not a choice we are willing to make. Our heritage and our way of life must be defended.”
You got that campers? We have to make "hard choices" with our budgets but we must defend our heritage at all costs. Well damn. Who can argue with that, right? Pesky little tasks like dialysis for kidney patients, prescriptions for mentally ill patients, nursing home care for our grandparents... all that pales before the priority of "our way of life" and "Confederate Honor" doesn't it?
We're not talking chump change either:
Confederate Memorial Park is funded, in part, by a property tax that was once used to support Confederate veterans and their wives.
The tax was also used to operate the Alabama Confederate Soldiers’ Home, which was located on what is now park grounds. The veterans home closed in 1939.
According to an Associated Press report from July 2011, the tax brings in more than $400,000 annually for the park.
After all, what wars did our grandparents fight in? WWII? What's a fight to save Europe the world compared to the defense of slavery & state's rights?
Here's an idea Let's continue to fund the Confederate Memorial Park - with Confederate money.
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If you knew me well, you would know to avoid getting me started on the subject of abortion. 
More than 300 members and supporters of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ) will join hands and form a circle around the Alabama State House urging lawmakers to repeal HB 56, Alabama’s disastrous anti-immigrant law. The Senate will convene at 10:00 AM and is expected to take up debate on immigration legislation.
