See also the AL - 05 Big List.
Welcome to the AL - 02 Big List.
This list has been an attempt to keep up with everyone in either political party who has been credibly mentioned (in public or private) as a potential candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District since Rep. Terry Everett (R - Rehobeth) announced that he will not run for re-election.
Both parties’ qualifying period ended April 4, 2008. Three Democrats and six Republicans qualified for the primary race, and they are listed below. The primary is June 3.
The Political Parlor will update the Alabama Line (found in the sidebar) for the race, though perhaps not as fast as you like since input from a wide array of people is sought.
| Democrats |
Republicans |
IN
Bobby Bright, Montgomery Mayor
Cendie Crawley, Dentist, Troy native
Cheryl Sabel, Alabama NOW President
OUT
William Boyd, Montgomery Mayoral Candidate
Seth Hammett, Speaker of the House
Jimmy Holley, State Senator
Jimmy Lunsford, Troy Mayor
Gary McAliley, Pike/Coffee Co. DA
Wendell Mitchell, State Senator
Scott Ninesling
James Perdue, Crenshaw Co Probate Judge
Cooper Rutland, Union Springs Atty
Ron Sparks, Agricultural Commissioner
Terry Spicer, State Representative
Glen Zorn, former Florala Mayor
|
IN
David Grimes, State Representative
Jay Love, State Representative
John W. Martin, Retired Army (Dothan)
Craig Schmidtke, Dothan oral surgeon
Harri Anne Smith, State Senator
David Woods, President, WCOV-TV (Montgomery)
OUT
Greg Albritton, former state Representative
Wes Allen, former candidate for Auditor
Kenneth Boswell, Enterprise Mayor
Bobby Bright, Montgomery Mayor
Terry Butts, former Supreme Court Justice
Jim Byard, Prattville Mayor
Steve Clouse, State Representative
Mark Culver, Houston County Commissioner
Larry Dixon, State Senator
John Giles, former Christian Coalition of AL President
Jack Hawkins, Troy Univ. Chancellor
Jimmy Holley, State Senator
Tim James, Greenville businessman
Troy King, Attorney General
Ben Lewis, State Representative
Barry Mask, State Representative
Charles Nailen, Dothan businessman
Steve Pelham, former Everett staffer
Jim Sullivan, PSC President
George Wallace, Jr., former PSC Commissioner
Dot Waller, Autauga County Bd. of Ed.
Greg Wren, State Representative
|
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Thats a lot of names, I am ready for these candidates to start jumping in or get off the pot.
Comment by Anonymous — September 27, 2007 @ 10:23 am
How did Dot Waller get on this list?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — September 27, 2007 @ 10:31 am
A credible source told me she was not running.
Comment by Danny — September 27, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I was just surprised that there was any consideration of her running, that is what amazed me, not that she isn’t running
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — September 27, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Waller is a fixture in one of the more important counties in the district, I think she’d have made an interesting candidate. Certainly better than Terry Butts.
Comment by Anonymous — September 27, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
never heard of her
Comment by OldCloverdale — September 28, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Cloverdale made my point, she is a fixture and a great person and does great things for autauga county, but i doubt she could even win the race for this seat only counting votes in autauga county. And I believe you have Jim Byard in the wrong party.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — September 28, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Nevermind he appearantly changed parties.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — September 28, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Byard may be listed in the right party but Jimmy Holley is not. He is a long time Dem unless he plans on switching just to run in the 2d District.
Comment by none — September 28, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Jimmy Holley is listed in both columns.
He is a Democrat, but there has been talk that he might switch to the Republican Party even before Everett announced that he would not run again. I think we should consider that if he were to run for this seat in a Republican-leaning district, he might go ahead and run as a Republican.
Comment by Danny — September 28, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Not sure Sparks or Bright live in district 2.
Comment by Anonymous — September 29, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Spicer is not a threat to anyone but his ego may cause him to run. Holley would be more viable. Jack Hawkins will run for Gov and Harri Anne will likewise stay in state not fed politics. Word in the Wiregrass is starting to edge toward Charles Nailen a dothan businessman. Bobby Bright is in an interesting position to go in either patry’s primary. This will not end up a DEM seat however. It will stay Republican - look at the numbers and remember this will be a presidential election year and that will liekly be a boost for Reps down the line in district 2. and gearge wallace? has been…
Comment by Anonymous — September 29, 2007 @ 9:15 am
The boys better pray Harri Ann doesn’t run. She’d be a VERY, VERY stron candidate.
Comment by political_observer — September 29, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
typo of course “stron” s/b “strong” in above. Oops.
Comment by political_observer — September 29, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Where is Dwight Adams on this list?
Comment by Adams Fan — October 1, 2007 @ 8:38 am
Dwight Adams is not on the list as he has lost 2 or more elections for state senate recently.
Comment by Anonymous — October 2, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Candidates who have an actual chance to WIN: Tim James, Harri Anne Smith, maybe Barry Mask. Love is NOT a conservative and has a ton of pro-government/tax growth baggage. He won’t play in the district. The others are all pygmys.
Comment by anonymous — October 2, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
What about Wes Allen?
Comment by Anonymous — October 2, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
Wes Allen? Who is he?????
Comment by anonymous — October 3, 2007 @ 8:15 am
If Senator Smith chooses to run, the citizens of Alabama would be wise to elect her. Her recent stand against the pay raise the Alabama Senate voted for themselves shows her dedication to the people of her district. Her comments on the subject were to the effect that the people she represents didn’t get an almost 50% pay raise and it wasn’t right that she should get one either.
Senator Smith did everything she could to block the raise, including rallying on the steps of the State House.
Unlike many politicians who would have mouthed those words, knowing the bill would pass, then take the raise while still looking good to the home folks; Smith REFUSED the payraise. She literally put her money where her mouth was. Her ethics are beyond reproach. She is a breath of fresh air in a room that is too often stale, and her honesty and integrity should be rewarded. WHATEVER office she should decide to run for, she has my vote and that of most of my peers in the Wiregrass area.
Comment by MH — October 3, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Rep. Terry Spicer had bad news coverage today. He is linked with the group of state reps that also feed off public funds for their salary by double dipping as community college employees. This guy smells but his ego keeps him a viable candidate in his own eyes. No way he can win the primary but Republicans hope he will so he can get trounced later in the general election.
Comment by TroyBoy — October 3, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Harri Anne for State Treasurer!!!!!!!!
Comment by Anonymous — October 3, 2007 @ 10:54 am
While, Senator Smith would be a great Treasurer, she could do so much more for Alabama in Congress. We need to start a grass roots campaign to persuade her to run.
Comment by MH — October 3, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Harri Anne will not run for Congress - get behind another local candidate.
Comment by Anonymous — October 3, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Senator Smith hasn’t said ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ on the subject, so I wouldn’t rule her out just yet. Whatever she runs for, she has the backing of the majority of the voters in this area.
Comment by MH — October 3, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
You GOPers continue to be scared to death of Terry Spicer. Everyone knows the GOP is driving the whole bogus double dipper story(ies). Just invoke
the state and U.S. Constitution when it is convenient. Disregard whatever portions are not in line with stealing the legislature from the people of Alabama who voted on their representatives. Does anyone think Brandley Bryne never billed not one legal client while he was supposedly working in Montgomery
or in his car on the phone returning to Fairhope from a legislative day? A bunch of GOP b.s. You folks really think Joe Alabama is stupid. Granted the Alabama press is pretty damn lazy because they take the Riley/GOP line and never do a damn bit of research.
I can assure you the people of Coffee County would never have landed automotive suppliers without Spicer who took on himself to land these companies with very little help from the state and the Alabama Development Office. Without Spicer’s aggressive approach to ensuring his district benefiting from the’
automotive move to Alabama these companies would have located elsewhere. Riley will take all the credit despite his every effort to tell these suppliers
Coffee County could not supply their labor needs. You GOP’ers make me sick.
Comment by Trojan Horse — October 3, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Trojan Horse is right on. Very well said. Make sure Coffee County continues not to be taken for granted in Montgomery / and Washington. These Montgomery Gucci wearing repubs want to make sure nothing progressive happens in Coffee County. Enterprise is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Seems like Spicer has been pretty good for the area despite the countless lies generated by the Republican Campaign Congressional Committee and
Repub Czar Mike Hubbard - he who really likes no bid contracts from Auburn University. Gov. Riley says “BID IT”. He just does not say when to bid it. I guess he
means during the next administration. Riley is going to make Siegelman look like a saint when all is said and done. Ethic reform needs to start with
Riley’s own family. They seem to not be able to read the Ethics Law. Anybody want to check the security cameras at the capital and see who “the
family” brings to Montgomery for “personal” meetings with the Gov?
Comment by Sam — October 3, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
Did Spicer write that himself? Spicer barely won re election in his own state house district - much less having the ability to carry all of district 2. The best shot for a dem is Mayor Bobby Bright - even then, winning district 2, especially in a Presidential election year, will not be any easy task for a dem. Spicer would be a non starter.
Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 7:08 am
Right on guys. Rep. Spicer is the one candidate mentioned here that actually appears and talks like an Alabamian. He, among other things, can look another man in the eye. His wisdom and wit has allowed him to forge an across the isle working relationship in the Alabama Legislature, and without him, the state would be at a loss. An actual down to earth guy might not be what Hubbard, Riley, and the Canary/Daxbell twins are looking for here though. Classy bunch of guys - out for every Alabamian.
So here’s to overstuffing your undersized coat and blasting the district with some social conservative propaganda - real problem solving stuff. If the district listens to this crap, then maybe Love can snivel his way to DC (doubtful, he doesn’t even do this well), or Troy can execute his way there (I’m sure his moral compass is worthy of more front page news).
I’ll be in the lookout for an ugly response filled with the names of the National Democratic Congressional Committee and every Democratic scandal since Reconstruction to follow. Once again, real problem solving stuff. Go Terry!
Comment by Cassady — October 4, 2007 @ 7:11 am
Spicer must be writing these posts himself. he is looking at a new posituion alright - as a possible inmate due to his role in the Junior College scandal.
Remember “Landslide Spicer’ was reelected with only 51% of the viote. He’s toast.
On another front, Harri Anne Smith IS runing for congress, so all of you wishful thinkers who are scared of her will have to take anothe course of action.
Harri Anne will be strong in this district.
Comment by Get Real — October 4, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Sorry about the typos - this view cuts off my vision of what I have typed so I cannot correct my copy.
Comment by Get Real — October 4, 2007 @ 8:21 am
Anyone who knows the senator knows tht she never jumps head first into anything without examining all the angles-that is what makes her so good at what she does. I’m sure that she is thoroughly researching the pros and cons of running as we speak…otherwise she would have come out and said she is not running. The fact that she has not made a public statement either way speaks volumes.
Comment by MH — October 4, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Harri Anne would be strong but I doubt she will run from Congress as she will move ahead for a statewide run. As for Spicer - his ego and those posting here are not realistic. As noted, he barely won re election in his own district. They guy is done. Bobby Bright would be the best dems can do and he is not sure what party he wants to be in right now.
Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Spicer barely won because of several low blow campaign tricks and a load of money spent aginst him. Republicans wrote him off in that election and he still won because he’s a good bit more savy than they thought. His knowledege of that district shouldn’t be underestimated. As much negative buzz as these blogs contain about him, someone is worried - and should be.
Comment by Shug — October 4, 2007 @ 10:58 am
I think Harri Anne Smith IS running for congress. I am certain she has made some contacts and is weighing her options and I feel that it is highly likely she will run and will be formidable.
Comment by anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Good grief Shug - Spicer couldn’t handle money spent in a state house race but CAN handle a congressional race? Give it up - Spicer cannot possibly win - not even a contested Demo primary. He’s a joke. Move on.
Comment by anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 11:02 am
What about Charles Nailen? Has anyone heard anything about him? Rumor has it he’s thinking about running.
Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Charles Nailen has been on the list since early on. On the GOP side under “whispers” for now.
Comment by Danny — October 4, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
No-Name Nailen. No chance.
Comment by anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Why do you say Nailen has no chance? He’s got a lot of Montgomery support.
Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Nailen is connected but not known by the average voter. Hello? Can someone say Bob Riley when he first ran for Congress? Jo Bonner when he first ran for Congress? Terry Everett when he first ran for Congress? Best I recall, they all three won. All un known to the average voter but well connected and good candidates. Nailen is no different…someone to watch and is gaining support.
As for Spicer of the dem side - only his ego must be driving that perception.
Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Actually Bonner was known, he was Sonny’s chief of staff and he operated out of mobile. Who is nailen?
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — October 5, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Nailen is a businessman from Dothan. Self-starter. He and his wife built a successful business in the tri-state area.
Comment by Anonymous — October 5, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
If you think a Chief of Staff is known to the average voter you are wrong.
Comment by Anonymous — October 5, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
I still don’t see any of these potential candidates beating Smith in her own district or its surrounding areas. For two years I’ve heard people from outside her district say they would vote for her in any election in which they COULD vote for her. These have not been just ocassional comments, but frequent comments. I hear voters from outside her district say, “We wouldn’t have such and such a problem if Harri Anne represented us.” Joe Voter and Jane Voter LIKE Smith and they want her to represent them. And when it comes down to it, it is Joe and Jane Voter who will be making the decisions in the voting booth.
Comment by MH — October 5, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
Saw this morning’s Dothan Eagle has Smith as ’strongly considering’ running. YES!
Comment by MH — October 6, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Danny, You will want to check but I heard through the grapevine Jack Hawkins is NOT running. Love may have been given the kiss of death if it’s true Hubbard and Riley are backing that horse, worked with Randy McKinney didn’t it? Also, Love trapsing off to Washington acting like heir apparent will backfire. Several are mulling options, after all it is football season - only the political junkies are really paying attention right now. If Harri Anne Smith runs, she will win.
Comment by political_observer — October 6, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
I work with the Legislature and the impression among those work in and around the Legislature is that it will be a close race between Harri Anne Smith and Jay Love. I live in Montgomery so I saw Love beat a 24 year incumbent in the primary by campaigning like someone I have never seen. I don’t know how Smith is viewed in her district. By the way they are both two of the nicest people you will ever meet.
Comment by TideGirl — October 6, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Smith is popular in the district but look for Charles Nailen to have a voice in what goes on in the Wiregrass as well. In terms of Love he is in bed with Paul Hubbert. Hopefully Governor Riley will stay out of the mix on this one until the Republican candidate is chosen.
Comment by Anonymous — October 6, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Let’s be real, this job is over the head of many of these ego filled candidates. Especially the ones that float their name for any race that comes along. You have to want this job to be good at it and want it for the RIGHT REASONS. I am looking for the non typical politician and there are only a few of those so far. Jack Hawkins, Tim James, Charles Nailen. Hawkins may target state wide office so that leaves James and Nailen. Look for either or both to make a solid run and mix it up with the typical politicians out there.
Comment by Boxer — October 6, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Love is extremmely popular not only in his district but in the whole River Region. Hubbert has him on his hit list as he has sponsored
the cut in income tax bills that have been before the Legislature the last two years. The Democrat smear campaign has already started.
Comment by BB — October 6, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
The whole River Region? What is that? Take a look at AL Cong. District 2, no where do people refer to it as the River Region. So I am not sure where he is popular in terms of the Wirgrass or in the areas of Butler, Conecuh, etc. I am sure his popularity is limited to MGM and possibly Autauga and Elmore. But as with many of these candidates, they only have a pockett of name recognition in specific areas. In terms of Riley favoring Love - go back to the drawing board on that one. He knows many of the potential candidates both those in the house/senate and those not in office including James and Nailen. Nailen specifically hosted a fundraiser at his home for Riley when VP Cheney was in town. Riley will stay somewhat nuetral.
But to say AEA isn’t supportive of Love…think again.
Comment by Jason — October 6, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
A chief of staff is known to the people of the district when he comes back and is involved in the community. He was out there getting his name and face in the paper and on the news so that he could take over the office. He had the name recognition for the average voters.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — October 6, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
The Love and Harri Anne Smith faithful are hard at work attempting to close the deal on the GOP nomination long before qualifying. Have any of you
cheerleading for these two looked at what they have done in the Alabama Legislature. They have not done anything notable but be against stuff which
is really easy to do. Before you start throwing the usual reply of the GOP does not control the legislature don’t. There have been many effective
republicans in the Alabama House and Senate who have found ways to get things done with a Democratic Majority. These two have not had a creative
idea since they have been in the legislature. They show up make a few votes, complain about the reason they are lazy is because they can’t make a
difference with the democrats in the majority, and then they wait to see what Mike Hubbard wants them to say and send out to their district. Love or
Smith would get eaten alive in DC. Everyone better remember we have a lot of things in the district like Maxwell, Ft. Rucker, Lockheed Martin, etc.
that have remainded in the district because we have been able to elect people like Everett who although a “behind the scenes” type guy played hardball when it came to protecting the 2nd: granted Shelby has been the key to the Everett/Shelby one-two punch in that regard. Smith and Love are out of
their league. Hawkins will not run. His ego is too big to simply be elected a mere congressman. Nailen has plenty of money and can finance a large
part of his costs similar to the way Everett did when the GOP bosses first shunned him. Nailen is also big buds with Canary which makes it difficult
for Canary to turn his back to him even though the GOP bosses like Hubbard want a candidate they control (thus the Jay Love connection) Hubbard knows the state party can’t control Harri Anne which is why Dax Swatek is hooking up to represent Love. This thing is a long way from over. You Harri Anne
and Love Kool Aid drinkers need to reassess. You’d be much better off using your time to do something meaningful for Harri Anne and Love if you quit
wasting your time blogging and telling everyone how great they are. Seems like someone has you guys doing some aggressive promotion of these two.
Comment by Not Buying It — October 7, 2007 @ 8:53 am
Swatek is not “hooking up” to represent Love.
Comment by Anonymous — October 7, 2007 @ 11:28 am
“Not Buying It” take a chill pill. Let people support whoever they support. To call anyone a Kool-Aid drinker for supporting a candidate is ludicrous, at least they’ve found someone they really believe in (which is increasingly rare.)
The behind the scenes maneuvering is a game in and of itself and everybody’s playing for a lot of different reasons - most of which have nothing to do with the best interest of the average Alabamian. That’s the sad part.
Canary’s chickens may finally come home to roost and he may not be the force he was in the past. But everyone knows not to count him out either; it will be interesting to see how long BCA sticks with him.
As to all candidates - the more the merrier. Candidates will come and they will go. You are a bit confused it seems, you say Smith sits around waiting for marching orders from Hubbard and then say the state party can’t control her. Which is it?
Since I have a wild independent streak, I take a hankering to politicians who don’t like being “controlled,” there are very few of them. The race will sort itself out, it’s just a political fact that Smith is a force if she decides to run. That does not mean that others will not emerge, be strong or a force to be reckoned with themselves.
Unfortunately there are a lot of people who deem themselves kingmakers that believe all’s a done deal - it’s up to the voters to either think for themselves or be sheeple, led by a nose ring. Unfortunately, all too often, the voters let themselves be pulled right along to the slaughter house. I may be naive, but I have faith at least some voters will put their thinking caps on - even if i don’t agree with the way they think.
Comment by political_observer — October 7, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Preach on NOT BUYING IT…that is the best and most true to facts post I have seen so far. Hawkins is out - Love and Smith would be over their heads in Congress and Nailen seems the strongest from the Wiregrass thus far. Believe me, Love and Smith will not have this locked up before qualifying begins - far from it. They don’t control self financed well respected candidates like Nailen and James for example. If Love and Smith want to help the party - they will stay where they are and hold tight in the State legislature.
Comment by Jase — October 7, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
As a voter I want a person like Harri Anne who votes the way I would, on issues that impact the whole state. Harri Anne was the only Rep. that voted against Amendment 1, and by the way her area voted over 70% against that issue. Isn’t that what a true ‘representative’ should do–represent the mindset of the area? When you talk about being tough, I would think it was tough for Harri Anne to stand up against the governor, and fellow Rep. like Mike Hubbard when she wouldn’t go along with the crowd. I think she has proven she has gumption and will stand up to anyone to represent her people. That is the type of leadership we need.
Nailen led the fight as Chairman for BCA for Amendment one. He has already proven he is a puppet. I can see it now if he runs with Canary pulling his strings. I also can’t see this district support a candidate like Nailen who led the charge for the largest tax increase in the history of Alabama. We need someone who is in touch with the people of Alabama. He is in touch with Bill Canary. I just think that Smith is the only one who has stood up and is NOT part of the usual Montgomery crowd. She cannot be controlled. THAT is what I like about her. THAT is what we need in Washington representing SE Alabama.
As for Ft. Rucker and Maxwell, she and her husband both are very active in supporting our military. Has Nailen or Love ever served our country in any line or branch of the Military??? Harri Anne’s husband is in the Alabama National Guard. Seems the Smith family would know more about military sacrifice than the other candidates.
There is more to Harri Anne than people know. I like the fact she is quiet and works behind the scenes. She is not in it for the accolades; rather, she is in politics to better her home and ours. A lot of people can talk the talk, but I want someone who walks the walk. Her votes have always been in line with the Wiregrasses thinking. As for what she has done in the district…..Plenty!!!!
You know, people with no political experience often try to use the ‘ineffective’ card. Typical smoke and mirrors when you have no track record to stand on….just smoke and mirrors trying to draw our attention away from the fact that Nailen hasn’t got a leg to stand on. Sorry…that dog won’t hunt in the Wiregrass.
Comment by MH — October 7, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
I noticed Jimmy Holley has been moved to the Serious column for democrats. He might very well enter the race as he has always wanted to be a member of Congress. He will not however run as a democrat. Holley has major issues with both the republican leaders and the democrat leaders. All Holley would
do if he joined the field as a democrat is ensure no democrat or no moderate repub wins the district. Think about it, that might be a strategy
being exercised by some influential folks who have influence over Holley. Although once very close Holley and AEA are crossed up. No way Hubbert would
put his member’s money on Holley vs the likely democratic field. On the other hand Governor Riley and the repubs tried to get Holley defeated this
past election even though he was a rather firm commitment to the Senate members counter to Lowell Barron. Holley is not a lifer GOP and further he is not a GOP who can be controlled by the new noobies in the GOP. No one and I repeat no one tells Holley how to vote. Thus the problem of getting the party money to win. Holley can win without the party(ies) leadership in his district but not on the grander scale of the 2nd.
Comment by Anonymous — October 7, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
MH, do you work for Harri Anne? Has she promised you a job on her congressional staff? You are naive about the new politics of the 2000s. Additionally, Smith did vote against Amendment 1. Good for her.
Kudos, smart move on her part. Yet, are we going to give her the keys to the 2nd congressional office in DC simply because she was against something.
How about proposing solutions for how we deal with some of the tough issues - financial ones included. What is her biggest accomplishment since she has been in the Senate? I frankly don’t know of anything significant she has done. If you know of something please post it. If you every paid attention to the inner workings of the state senate you will notice Harri Anne is NOT a major player in the senate minority group. Harri Anne does not even return most calls to
her district members who call on her. Smith should follow the path of Baxley, Ivey, and Chapman. Go statewide and win (which she can) and then build a case for higher office. This talk about Harri Anne for Governor, Senator, or Congressman is a flat joke. An absolute waste of all our time. If she
were to be elected our strong military presence would be challenged. What little bit of agriculture influence we still have in Congress would be gone.
Comment by Anonymous — October 7, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
No, Anonymous, I don’t work for Harri Anne Smith, nor do I ever plan to. You think that because I have strong opinions I must be on someone’s payroll? That is the kind of politics Senator Smith is trying to get away from.
Whose payroll are YOU on? Are you the same Anonymous that thinks Smith should run for Treasurer????
Why would her election “challenge our strong military and agricultural prescence”? Face it, you are afraid of her, and well you should be. Ethical poiticians are rare in this day and age, and I can see how they would be viewed as a threat by many who don’t hold to the same high standards.
Comment by MH — October 7, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Give me a break MH! Ethical and ineffective. I applaud the ethical. She has that. But she is among the most ineffective in the Senate. She’ll
get run over in DC! As for being afraid, no way. What I am afraid of us is enough people like you actually electing her. We then will have
a do nothing in Congress that will ensure the 2nd gets kicked in the tail every day in DC. In a year or two after she shows she has nothing to offer we will be the laughing stock of the country. Yes she is a nice lady. She is not the best we can do. DC is hardball. Those who know how to play
gets things for their district. Those who don’t or who don’t wish to engage in the process get overlooked. When you get overlooked other states and districts steal things from your district and increase their influence. If you don’t get on the right committees you don’t get out of the gate
in the DC horse race.
Comment by Anonymous — October 7, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
That really sounds sexist to me. You think she is ineffective because she is a woman..admit it. Don’t you know a woman has to work twice as hard as a man to be thought half as good…yet women are the ones who shape the leaders of EVERY generation.
Why is it that in school, girls regularly out perform boys on every standardized test, yet the minute we try to enter The Boy’s Club, we are called ineffective and told to go home. Well, I’m sorry, I don’t think you can bully Smith. It just makes her stubborn and she tends to dig her heels in.
Comment by MH — October 7, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Oh, and by the way, boys….women vote. I know, it is a shock to find that out, but we’ve been doing it for quite some time now. Not only that, but we make up a VERY large proportion of the constituency. And some of us even have post secondary educations that we use to make informed decisions. We are your worst nightmare…a strong core constituency who can think for themsevles. En Garde!
Comment by MH — October 7, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
I have read many of the posts over the last week. I like Senator Smith very much but I do agree that she would be in over her head in DC. She has let her name be discussed many times before including running against Terry Everrett in the Republican primary and also running against Bob Riley in the primary. Neither time did she make the move. I believe she will do the same again and sie this race out.
Comment by Dothan Pol — October 7, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
Your exposed MH. You simply like Harri Anne because she is a female. You will of course respond and give various reasons why you support her otherwise. Won’t happen in 2008 at the Congressional level. Go catch some HGTV and a Lifetime special. You are out of your league as well.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — October 7, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Well,“Pookie” THAT is a VERY sexist remark, and regardless of what nom de plume you choose to call yourself, no woman would ever say that to another woman. You are the one who has been ‘unmasked’. The wonderful thing about the Internet is that the anonymity gives some people a false sense of comfort to be whatever and whomever they please…often someone quite different than who they truly are. It always cracks me up when men pretend to be women, though. Makes you wonder….
Why is it that when a woman supports another woman, and refuses to let The Boys Club treat her and other women like Barbie Dolls, Chattell, or door mats; she is treated like she has no brains? The last time a man did that to me, I challenged him to compare IQs at $50 a point. Pity he was too chicken to put his money where his mouth was. It would have made a nice start to Senator Smith’s warchest…
So, “Pookie”, why don’t you go watch some wrestling and guzzle some beer. I’m not going to hijack this blog in order to list the pages and pages of data on why Smith is the best qualified potential candidate. I doubt you would read it anyway. If she declares for the race, I’ll see if I can squeeze in time to build a website detailing her many fine attributes and accomplishments…in between polishing my nails, lunching with the girls, and shopping (at least, in your mind, that is how intelligent women spend their time…or do you ardently believe that ‘intelligent women’ is an oxymoron?)
Anyway, this blog is not about me. It is about the candidates and potential candidates for the seat that will be vacated by Terry Everett. As much as I enjoy this witty repartee, but we do need to get back on topic, before the other bloggers get disgusted and leave.
The floor is open to anyone who would like to discuss the subject AT HAND (as opposed to my personal life, which “Pookie” seems sooo interested in.)
Comment by MH — October 7, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
As for the personal life, don’t have a care in the world about it. You do have a nice vocabulary. Since you are such a historian of the great
accomplishments of Harri Anne why don’t you as requested note a few major accomplishments of her’s. I’ll be willing to bet anything you want
to give her credit for is really the work of someone else. She is great about taking credit for things she had nothing to do with. Example: to
hear Harri Anne tell it she was the lead advocate to pass the Enterprise schools relief bill in the legislature. She was quick to show up for press
conferences and ride the media coverage but she did not do anything but sit back and let others do the work. By the way, wrestling, beer, and a little
football too are on my schedule tonight. I’m not the brightest bulb but I know a fake when I see one. The real reason Harri Anne is getting any
attention at all is because she has a few coins in the bank. I applaud your passionate defense of the much maligned female.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — October 8, 2007 @ 7:05 am
Enterprise school relief was spear headed by jimmy holley…not my favorite guy but those are the facts. enterprise is his senate district after all. so, surely harri anne supporters will not point to that as one of her senate accomplishments. i am sure there are others…but that can not be one of them.
Comment by Dothan Pol — October 8, 2007 @ 8:15 am
Regarding Jimmy Holley and comment #59…
In case you are wondering, I moved Jimmy Holley to “Serious Buzz” based on this article in the Dothan Eagle. The main criterion I use to place a potential candidate in “Serious Buzz” is a credible report that the person has said that he/she is strongly considering a run.
There has been speculation that Holley might run as a Republican but the Dothan Eagle article said nothing about that, so I did not bump up Holley’s name on the GOP side.
Comment by Danny — October 8, 2007 @ 8:34 am
Enterprise school relief was not spearheaded by Jimmy Holley. I’m sure everyone is tired of hearing this, but it was spearheaded by Terry Spicer. Holley is on such shakey gound he doesn’t know who’s behind him. If Spicer hadn’t intervened, Enterprise would be stuck in trailer classrooms for the next two decades. Spicer’s House appropriation bill was gutted in half by the time it left the Senate. Go Jimmy!
Holley’s interest in this race is purely a passing-of-the-torch play - he obviously wants something to stay out of the race. Some of his Repub buddies have probably convinvced him that their behind him like Riley did before he campaigned against him last go-round.
Comment by Cassady — October 8, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Cassady has it right. Mr. Spicer got a $79 million bill passed out of the house first thing in the session. Spicer is a close ally of Seth Hammett. The senate leadership was so sideways with Holley that they had to spank him on the hand and embarass him. The senate was not going to not do the right thing and respond to the tragedy. But they surely were not going to go out of their way to help Senator Holley. The senate version was signficantly reduced to something like $30 plus million. Holley
was presented with the lesser deal and told to take it or leave it after a very heated committee meeting. He took it. I am not arguing that Holley should have lined up with the Senate democrats but if he had been lined up Enterprise would probably have surely gotten the $79 million if not more.
Comment by Blue — October 8, 2007 @ 9:15 am
Enterprise was not due 70 million. With insurance and FEMA monies there is no way enterprise was due 79 million. Get a grip. that is why the senate reduced the amount, and rightfully so. Yes, Spicer spear headed the effort in the house as he is the relevant house member that represents enterprise, then it went to the senate where holley spear headed the effort. Sorry guys but a monkey could have gotten those bills passed. the alabama legislature would not have stopped such an effort no matter who sponsored it. but yes, the amount was reduced, as it should have been.
In terms of Holley running - sorry but he is an old man - he is not up to being a freshman member of congress and staying in the job for 10 or more years so he can actually be effective. he will not run. Spicer is young but has problems of his own to deal with including having a sweet deal with the state to double dip and barely winning his lat state house bid by 51% i recall. not impressive for an incumbant whose supporters think he has the ability to be elected to Congress. Ego is an amazing thing guys…Spicer for President!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by CoffeeCy — October 8, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Has anyone heard a word out of John Giles? He is listed as having buzz about him as a possible candidate but I have not seen a word written about him in any articles or heard anyone talking about him seriously.
Comment by JT of Ozark — October 8, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
I am hearing more and more about Tim James making this race - and I think it is a serious buzz. He may have the biggest marquee name in it if the other “major contenders” are people like Nailen, who 9,999 out of every 10,000 people in the district have never heard of.
Comment by Get Real — October 8, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Giles cannot raise the money, BTW. That’s why you haven’t heard anything about him. Only people who can raise the dough will be serious in the end. Obviously Tim James and this “Nailen” guy have their own money. I am unsure if anyone else will have the moolah to stick it out in this race - Jay Love may have enough.
Comment by Get Real — October 8, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Agreed that james, love and nailen can “raise” the money out of their own pocket if needed. no one has heard or love outside his distrcit and tim james people have heard of but he has run for office before and it fell flat. if he was fob james, jr obviously his name would play better. remember that everett and riley had zero name recognition when they first ran for congress; so it can and has been done.
Comment by Anonymous — October 8, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
I think James has a following - and some of that following is with a few of the bigger players among state associations (primarily the ones that hate taxes - and James was way out front in opposition to Tax-Hiking Amendment One). Nailen’s sole political experience is heading BCA - the leading supporter of Tax-Hiking Amendment One. Get the picture?
Amendment One support + Absolute Political Nobody= Nailen has No Candidacy.
Comment by Get Real — October 8, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
If Smith chooses to run, she has the financial backing.
Comment by MH — October 8, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Amendment One Backers: Nailen - Love - Grimes
All of the above will never be able to live that down in District 2.
Amendment One Opponents: Tim James, Harri Anne Smith (although Smith DID vote for the referendum to vote on the tax package).
These two pass the first hurdle.
Comment by Get Real — October 8, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
“Nailen-Love-Grimes” LOL! Sounds like the title for an X rated movie.
Sorry, couldn’t resist…
Comment by MH — October 8, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
JT in Ozark,
Regarding your comment #74, John Giles is on the list because he said in an AP article that he was considering entering the race.
Danny
Comment by Danny — October 8, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Amendment One was a hot issue but that was a state not federal issue and it was years past. it certainly didn’t come back to haunt bob riley. once again - riley and everett had no political experince or name recognition when they first ran for congress. this is not a race for state office - issue are different and races are different.
Comment by Anonymous — October 8, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Did any of you happen to see the article in the Montgomery Advertiser last week where Jay Love was ranting and raving about the Chinese and how they’re up to no good? If not I encourage you all to read it. It’s a good laugh and a reminder of why local politicians like Love do NOT belong in Washington.
Harri Anne Smith ord David Grimes would be much better suited for D.C. Our little Subway manager needs to stayy in a more fitting setting, like the State House.
Comment by John — October 8, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
By the way, Tim James is finished in Alabama politics. Someone who expects to ride their father’s last name into a gubernatorial race and be surprised when he gets single digits against the sitting Lieutenant Governor and a U.S. congresman is clearly not cut out for the political arena.
Comment by Sue — October 8, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Agree on Tim James..intersting candidate but if you look at his numbers he did terribly in the 02 GOP primary for Governor. He came in dead last in his own county (Butler).
Comment by agreewithsue — October 8, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
CoffeeCy you do not know what you are talking about. Holley went through the motions in public. The leadership in the Senate would not even discuss
the bill with him. Enterprise got a good bill but they could have had a far superior version. I guess the senator told you how much he did to get it
passed and you believe him. What would you expect him to say? You are ill informed.
Comment by Bullet Shot — October 8, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
Tim James carried Butler in the 2002 GOP gubernatorial primary- he did NOT come in “dead last” so you display your ignorance,agreewithsue. I will post the link as soon as I can access the Secretary of State’s webpage. You are wrong - do not put lies on this page, please,.
Comment by Get Real — October 9, 2007 @ 8:24 am
http://sos.state.al.us/downloads/dl3.aspx?trgturl=election/2002/r-certresults-6-10-02.xls&trgtfile=r-certresults-6-10-02.xls
This page has the downloadable results from the 2002 GOP gubernatorial primary showing that TIM JAMES CARRIED BUTLER COUNTY. Please do not post outright untruths again, agreewithsue.
Comment by Get Real — October 9, 2007 @ 8:27 am
I don’t know much about No-Name Nailen, so I looked up his personal political contributions. He gives money (at $1000 a pop) to liberal Democrats like Artur Davis (see newsmeat.com for his federal contributions). On top of that he has the poor personal judgement to contribute to discredited disgraced gay intern harrasser Mark Foley (also on Nailen’s federal contributions list at newsmeat.com).
BCA tax-hiking support. Money for liberal Democrat Artur Davis. Support for pedophile Mark Foley. Nailen will remane a No-Name.
Comment by Money For Liberals — October 9, 2007 @ 8:41 am
I sent an email this morning referring the addressees to this thread for their information in case they might be interested in it. One of them, a self-described “wiregrass voter” who doesn’t know how to post a comment on a blog replied saying:
“My thoughts on Nailen vs Smith. I agree with person who wrote #58. Nailen is successful as a businessman (Taco Bell, KFC chain owner). He stood up to Paul Hubbert once while head of BCA. He is 100% BCA and hosts fund raisers for a lot of BCA supported candidates. Riley will back him since Riley is a BCA puppet also. If you want big corporate global business to control everything, vote Nailen. Nailen is 100% GOP but it’s the Bob Riley, Winton Blount, Bill Smith type GOP.
Note: it’s appropriate to call Terry Spicer “Dr. Spicer” since he, like Roy Johnson and many other Postsecondary imposters, has an honorary degree. His is from Univ. of West Ala. He was the rudest of the rude at the Aug 23 state school board meeting. His speech may still be on the DPE website. If you want Paul Hubbert for Congress, vote Spicer!”
Comment by Don — October 9, 2007 @ 9:03 am
My apologies - the power vote machine Tim James did in fact win his home county of Butler in the 02 rep primary for governor. he also came in #2 in crenshaw county. in the 14 remaining counties that make up the 2d congressional district he was last. my mistake…. please publish his fantastic numbers all you want - i encourage others to look at the web site that is noted. but believe me, i prefer time james over some of the state legislature candidates. my point is, tim james better hustle this time and get some votes.
Comment by CoffeeCY — October 9, 2007 @ 9:43 am
You are wrong again. Tim James was also second in Lowndes County in the 2002 GOP gubernatorial primary. It’s in the 2nd Congressional District. Look at the numbers from 2002 again referenced in the above link from the Secretary of State’s office.
Your consistent incorrect statements of fact call your credibilty into question.
James got more votes per dolar spent - by a wide margin - then the incumbent Lt. Governor of Alabama (Steve Windom) did in the 2002 primary. So his performance in that race - as a first time candidate and complete political outsider - is more impressive than you are willing to give credit for. Of course, your facts are incorrect so your conclusions might reasonably be unreliable as well.
Comment by Get Real — October 9, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Yeah - sorry - forgot that 2d place finish is whopping lowndes county -
Comment by CoffeeCy — October 9, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Tim James would be bored to tears in Congress. He would also be held to a higher ethical standard which would make it very difficult for James to make the type
of money he likes. Those James like a dollar.The James family and the Wallace family are done with Alabama politics. Looks like the Folsom family is still in the mix.
Comment by Camelia — October 9, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
Folsom wants to be Governor. Not a Congressman.
Comment by Anonymous — October 9, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Sorry, I did not make myself clear. No question Folsom wants to be governor. I did not mean to imply he was interested in the Second district.
Comment by Camelia — October 9, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Looks like the dems are polling the district. Got a pollster call today digging hard on Bright vs Spicer. Somebody is trying to figure out who to
run with.
Comment by Flagstick — October 9, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Bright is by far the better candidate but even he knows he will have to run as a rep to win the seat. a dem will not will come november 08. and spicer??? a freakin’ joke as a candidate for all of 2d district.
any word on barry mask? i hear he may be in and david grimes may sit this one out. we all know jay love is in though - i guess he has time to run now that he is not making sandwiches anymore…
Comment by gopboy — October 9, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Barry Mask may not want to talk about his business dealings with Democratic Operative Joe Perkins and Demo Insider Judge Mark Kennedy and the Montgomery Riverfront deal . . .he would have to if he ran for congress . . .and he does NOT want to talk about any of that stuff . . .
Comment by here Come da Judge Mark Kennedy — October 10, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Don,
Thanks for the comment you posted for the ‘blog challenged’ voter referencing my comment #58. I am so glad to see that someone can see through the haze of sleight of hand and misdirection that the Nailen supporters seem to be using to make it appears as if their ‘candidate’ has any potential. Perhaps I am naive, but I believe the voters of this area are too smart to fall for it and the Nailen supporters on this thread are a vocal, but extremely minor faction, rather than a legitamate cross section of the constituency.
As for some of the other recent comments to my posts:
It cracks me up when people say Smith doesn’t answer her phone. When she ran for her senate seat this last time, her opponenet amde that same accusation…yet his telephone numvber was not even listed in the phone book. I guess it is easy to accuse others of not answering their home phone (which probably rings off the hook all day long and into the night), when your own phone number is unlisted.
I know Pookie would love for me to post the Senator’s record on here so he doesn’t have to look the information up himself, but as I told him before, this is not my website. It would be rude to take up a lot of server space (which, incidenatlly, would also slow down the rate at which the thread loads for all of us) with a lot of data that is a matter of public record. And I’m sure that no mattter what I wrote, Pookie would swear someone else was responsible for it. That is the funny thing about politics…nothing happens in a vacuum. No ONE person is responsible for any single piece of legislation. Our forefathers wrote our government that way on purpose…it is called a system of checks and balances. Whether a representative introduces a bill themselves, or works behind the scenes to get it pased, it takes teamwork. Smith has shown she is a team player.
And while I am on the subject, she has never tried to take credit for getting the funding for Enterprise schools. Yes, she was in Enterprise, jut like she went to the coast after hurricane Ivan, and she wasn’t trying to stir up votes, etc., down there. Many of the families in this area are large and spread out, crossing many jurisdictional lines. If you have ever done any genealogical research on the local families, you know that most of us with well entrenched roots to this area have family all over the Southeastern US….from Virginia to Missisppi and beyond. I suspect that the reason Smith went to Enterprise was to lend moral support to someone she knows, is related to, or has some connection to. It’s just the kind of thing Harri Anne would do…like going down to the coast after Ivan to lend a hand, an ear, a shoulder. She truly cares about the people, not just their votes.
Comment by MH — October 10, 2007 @ 9:42 am
I apologize for the typos in my above post. My fingers seem to have a mind of their own this morning. I’ll try to do a better job of spell checking in future, but it is so difficult to proof your own work.
Comment by MH — October 10, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Good comments MH. Harri Anne does care about her constituents.
Interesting thread about Barry Mask and Riverfront in Montgomery…had not heard that.
There was an artcile in the Montgomery paper and the Dothan paper recently about the race and Nailen was quoted both times. He does seem to be looking at this hard and could be an interesting candidate. Whether he or Harri Anne, the Wiregrass needs a strong candidate to take down these typical Montgomery politicos!
Comment by INFORMEDVOTER — October 10, 2007 @ 11:13 am
You need to add Wes Allen to the list; his father (Rep. Gerald Allen) is already putting out feelers in Montgomery. Wes lives in Troy, works at Troy U. and just ran for Auditor last year.
Comment by jr. — October 10, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Wes’ father is a nice man. Wes has no credibility. He has no business at all as a serious candidate for congress. He needs to have some actual LIFE EXPERIENCE before he serves in any leadership capacity.
Comment by Wes? — October 10, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Not a comment by Wes at all. Just thought this was supposed to be a thorough, up-to-date list, regardless of anyone’s opinion. Just trying to help out.
Comment by jr. — October 10, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
I like Sen. Smith, but MH, come one, this is a political blog, not Harri Anne’s personal attributes website. Please contribute something else to the dialogue besides unconditional admiration for her.
Did any one follow the Montgomery council run-offs? Both incumbents (Janet May and James Nuckles) were soundly defeated. Bright couldn’t be more happy, as Nuckles never liked Bright and Janet May seemed as if she was ready to bludgeon the mayor several times over the past 4 years.
Comment by John — October 10, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
When all is said and done, I think these possible candidates have reasonable shots at raising the necessary money and actually winning the election:
Harri Anne Smith
Tim James
Jay Love
Barry Mask
Comment by Actual Legit Candidates — October 11, 2007 @ 7:59 am
“Actual Legit Candidates” left out one that can raise and self finance without worry, Charles Nailen of Dothan. Smith, James and Love can do the same but unsure that Mask has that ability.
Comment by ClayM — October 11, 2007 @ 10:02 am
I agree that Nailen has the money. I left him off because he cannot win the election. His BCA (elitist/tax hiking/County Club GOP)status combined with no political experience is too much of a burden to overcome.
Comment by Actual Legit Candidates — October 11, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Re comments 104 & 106, thank you, Jr.
Wes Allen has confirmed for me that he is giving “serious consideration” to a run for the 2nd Congressional District seat. I have added him to the list.
Comment by Danny — October 11, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
People talk about amend 1 and harri anne, nailen, etc. Do you guys not recall that Riley has run for office with no problem on this issue. he was re elected after amendment 1 and it did nothing to really hurt him. and in terms on a no name in politics…it gets old when the only candidates people think can win are those already in office..that is false. look at Terry Everett and Bob Riley. Both unknowns when running for their Congressional seats.
Comment by Pike CountyGuy — October 11, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
I think Riley had an advantage that other pro-tax candidates do not; he was the INCUMBNT GOVERNOR. When’s the last time an incumbent Alabama Governor was knocked off in the priimary? That would be NEVER.
In the fall he had Lucy Baxley who did not take a position on Amendment 1. However, Lucy is a DEMOCRAT and was unable to effectively use anti-tax attacks on Riley. If Riley had been a DEMOCRAT and had proposed Amendment 1 he would have NEVER won reelection.
If you think support of Amendment 1 won’t hurt congressional candidates in this district, you don’t understand the voters here. Pro-taxers like Nailen, Love, Grimes, etc. are at a big disadvantage right out of the box - they WILL have to try to explain their support of big taxes to people who voted 3-to-1 AGAINST Amendment 1.
Comment by Amendment 1 — October 12, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Excellent comment. I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Comment by MH — October 12, 2007 @ 10:43 am
MH will agree with anything anti Nailen, she has proven that from all of her posts. Amendment 1 will not be an issue in this race. Do you not realize that voters have very short memories? besides, Jay Love is the one with a VOTING RECORD on amendment one, Charles Nailen does not hace such. believe me, Love will not make an issue of amendment one not will any other republican in the primary.
Comment by Pike County guy — October 12, 2007 @ 11:04 am
I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty, Pike County Guy: Amendment 1 WILL be an issue in this primary. I have zero doubt because I am certain some candidates will be using it.
I also think that in THIS district - where so much of the GOP electorate are LANDOWNERS and whose land holding are often FARMLAND and TIMBERLAND - that Amendment 1 WILL be an effective issue against pro-tax hikers such as Love and Nailen.
You can’t just wish it away - or talk it away.
Comment by Hmmmmm — October 12, 2007 @ 11:43 am
I have read the threads and agree that it will be an issue for Nailen and Love. However, this is an election for federal office and on federal issues. Amendment one was a purely state matter. Agreed, though, that is will come up. I don;t see it as a huge factor however. I rather hear them discuss true federal issues such as immigration, national defense, government spending, taxes at a federal level, “family value issues” and then specifics to district 2 like agriculture, military base protection, and the overal economy of district 2.
Comment by Anonymous — October 12, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
I work in Montgomery and most pepople up here think Jay Love will be one of the two in the run-. I heard him speak two weeks ago and he seems to be a fairly intelligent guy. I don’t know much about his voting record but Ammendment 1 is never mentioned here anymore. From what I have heard Smith is well known in Dothan and Geneva county but no one up here has a clue who she is.
Comment by Tom — October 12, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
All you who think Smith is so anti-tax are wrong she voted for to allow people in Jefferson, Mobile and other counties across the state to raise your taxes in Houston, Dale, Montgomery,
Autauga, Elmore, etc. Check your latest property tax bill most of you are now getting and you will see an increase from whatever millage you had before to 10 mills. She Voted for it. At least Ammendment 1 did not pass.
Comment by Ozark231 — October 12, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
Sorry about the grammar in the above post for some reason part of my text was left out.
Comment by Ozark231 — October 12, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
There seems to be an Amendment 1 issue fanatic out there. It never passed and is a dead issue to voters. No one talks about it but some person on here…he must work for ALFA. I agree with post #117, people need to get through their thick heads that this is an election for a member of the UNITED STATES CONGRESS (that is a federal office after all!) Be concerned about how they feel about the War in Iraq, Social Security solvency and so forth instead how they felt about a state of Alabama issue years ago that never even passed.
Comment by Anonymous — October 12, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
I’ve been unable to spend much time here on the site lately. However, I did want to respond to MH. You still have not produced any creditable
accomplishments of Harri Anne. Your justification for not responding with actual accomplishments took up a lot of space. You could have
responded to my challenge and provided us with a few of Harri Anne’s accomplishments but rather you spent a great deal of time and space giving us all
a weak excuse for not doing so. As for her Enterprise School support all Harri Anne did was show up for photo ops and get everything she could
out of the death of these kids. It was shameless. I know first hand she did not lift a damn finger that meant anything. She said she helped Holley and Spicer get the bill passed. She only gave lip service and voted when they finally got it to the floor of the Senate. Put up or shut up MH! You are
insulting the intelligence of those who blog here.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — October 13, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
You cannot find a significant legislative achievement of Sen. Smith. She is popular and nice and folks recognize her name therefore MH and others think she is the obvious choice for U.S. Congress. It makes no sense to me either. Sure, she should be considered, but to the exclusion of all others? I say that as the threads on here that support here usually talk about other candudates from the Wiregrass as bad people, or they have no name recognition or how they would lose miserably, etc is not only unrealistic but close minded in my view. I doubt she will even run…she has done this type of thing before and ended up sitting out.
Comment by Anonymous — October 13, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Amendment 1 is an issue because it was not popular to the people of Alabama. Federal issues matter, but those are only what these candidates think. You have heard the phrase “Actions speak louder than words.” so what if Amend. 1 is not a federal issue, it is an issue to the people of Alabama and that is who the congressman (notice I said man all of your smith fans) is being elected to represent.
By the way mark my words Smith will not be elected to this seat this election. I will put up or shut up, if by some stroke of luck enough people vote for her (namely every sane person outside of Slocumb, ok so every sane person in the district basically which is hypocritical in itself Sane People voting for Smith?) I will forever leave the blog world, no more comments no more chance of resurecting my short lived blog, no nothing except keeping to myself and reading quietly.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — October 14, 2007 @ 1:37 am
I agree with 124, Smith will not be elected. In fact, I am confident she will not even run. Nice lady but not cut out for the US Congress. Amendment one may come up, but I agree with some others that it will not be a huge issue…certainly not in the rep. primary where several of the possible candidates were supportive. and in the general election is a dem really going to try and play the raise taxes card or a rep? I doubt it.
Comment by PikeCountyguy — October 14, 2007 @ 8:08 am
I don’t know if Amendment 1 wil be a huge issue, but it might be a “deciding” issue. It will hurt Nailen and Love and it might hurt enough for someone else to be elected.
Taxes are indeed a federal as well as state issue, and if you won’t stop taxes at the state level, why should anyone in their right mind expect you to fight federal taxes?????
The tax issue defines Nailen and Love to the LEFT of Smith and James, and believe me, to the left is NOT where you want to be in this district.
Comment by Taxes — October 15, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Agreed - you don’t want to be to the left at all but many in favor of Amend. 1 are far from leftist. It will not be an issue that will decide anything. It is dead and gone just as it was when Bob Riley, the very architect of Amend. 1 ran for re election. If it didn’t play a part in that race, why would any reasonable person think it would come up in this Congressional race…it will not.
Comment by Anonymous — October 15, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
The Harri Ann Smith campaign seems to be on its way to becoming one tease after another. Harri Ann is washing out as she has every time. She is running
the risk of becoming the “girl” crying wolf : or is that “a big fat elephant” she is crying about? HARRI ANN for dogcatcher, or is she interested in
running for constable? Make up your mind Smith.
Comment by Tim T. — October 15, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Amen Tim T. Harri Anne For Governor, Harri Anne for Congress, Harri Anne for President!!!!! It gets old after a while.
Comment by GOPer — October 15, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
Housekeeping Note: This page has so many comments that I have arranged the comments in pages with the last page showing first so that you don’t have to scroll past all the old comments to see new ones.
Comment by Danny — October 16, 2007 @ 12:31 am
What does everyone think of Ken Boswell?
Comment by Up on the White Verandah — October 16, 2007 @ 1:01 am
Boswell is a nice man but he would not win in my view. No money to put in the race and not a strong personality in terms of campaigning. He is doing a fine job as Mayor of Enterprise, however. A better candidate from that City would be former mayor and former Riley appointee Dr. Tim Alford. But I have nto heard any buzz on him at all.
Comment by Anonymous — October 16, 2007 @ 11:18 am
I think you are missing the point when you say that “Amendment 1 didn’t hurt Riley.” Exactly who could have actually used Amendment 1 against Riley? Roy Moore? Come on. Moore had a boatload of other issues hurting him. If there had been a serious Republican contender who could have used Amendment 1 effectively, the story may very well have been different.
I think a public position in FAVOR OF A TAX INCREASE - READ LOVE AND NAILEN - WILL HURT GOP CANDIDATES IN DISTRICT 2.
Comment by Garbage — October 16, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
I’ve been under the weather and am still not up to a lot of verbal jousting. Hopefully I will be back up to my usual P&V self in a few days. In the interim, I couldn’t help but nod in the direction of those who have been posting that the Amendment 1 issue will be a factor in the race. Taxes are taxes…whether local, state or federal. The history of any candidate on taxes will be an issue, no matter how much the ostriches want to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it will not be.
Riley had three things going for him in this last election…(1) no viable opposition (2) incumbents are hard to unseat (3) even though he had increased taxes and backed Amendment 1, the state was in better financial condition after his first term than it was before he became governor. We seem to be comparing apples to oranges on this Amendment 1 issue by folks saying that it won’t be an issue simply because Riley won reelection after having supported it, etc. It was a different race, with different candidates, for a different office…and it was a different climate. Amendment 1 will be an issue if any of the viable candidates for the office were publicly opposed to it.
Personally, I’d like to see this upcoming election be about issues and not about character assasination, back stabbing and mud slinging. Obviously that is not going to happen. We can’t even have a discussion on this blog without stooping to such petty maneuvers, why should we expect our candidates to behave any better? (And yes, I said, ‘we’…I’m not above reproach on this matter, either!) I’d also like to see all the anonymous bloggers at least use a screen name or some form of identifier on here. If you feel strongly enough about something to say it publicly, you ought to have enough guts to identify yourself in some way….even if it is some sort of pseudonym, at least give us a handle to hang the comment on rather than ‘anonymous’.
Comment by MH — October 16, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
This race scares me. The more I look into it and the more I think about it, there is not a good candidate for the job. Many of the people will get eaten alive in DC others will get run over and others will see dollar signs and follow the money and do as told by the money men. I guess I just have high expectations of getting a person that is not a politician setting up their next election with this spot after having Congressman Everett.
And I think Smith will run for this seat only if she thinks she can win and then turn right around after one term and try to be governor, but thank god neither of those will happen so that Slocumb can have her and not the rest of the state.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — October 16, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Amendment one is dead folks
Comment by ST — October 16, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
As long as somebody is on record supporting taxes it is NEVER dead in a GOP primary. Nice wishful thinking for tax-hikers like Love, Grimes, and BCA-spent-hundreds-of-thousands-trying-to-raise-our-taxes Nailen, but the tax issue is ALWAYS here in Alabama.
Comment by Zortag! — October 16, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
I can’t wait until this election is over and all these amendment one is still huge folks are proven wrong.
Comment by Anonymous — October 16, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
MH glad to have you back in the show. You found anything Harri Ann Smith has accomplished yet that she actually did?
Comment by Pookie Wilson — October 16, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
People who want Amendment 1 to go away are the people who want to raise your taxes - like BCA’s No-Name Nailen and Jay (Union Man) Love. Voters should remember the things tax-hikers wish fervently that they will forget.
Here is the crux: Jay Love voted to raise your taxes - several times in support of the Biggest Tax Increase in History. Charles Nailen’s organization - under his leadership- spent thousands and thousands of dollars trying to pass the Biggest Tax Increase in History. Whatever record Nailen and Love has is inferior to that of Tim James amd Smith on taxes. That is a fact no matter how much Taxman Nailen wants it to go away. If Love or Nailen was inn Washington, and there was a tax increase on the table, could you trust these guys more than someone like Tim James (who has NEVER supported a tax hike) to hold the line against new taxes?
Of course not.
The support of new taxes by Nailen and Love will be brough up and it does have resonance. You can wish it away all you want to . . .but wishful thinking has yet to win an election.
Comment by Zortag! — October 17, 2007 @ 8:21 am
Re: Amendment 1, and the many comments regarding it. Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that the legislature voted to allow Alabama voters to accept or reject the several proposals included in Amendment 1 and the Governor Riley approved of the legislature’s action?
Comment by Don — October 17, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Thank you Don! Finally, a rational statement on Amend 1.
Comment by JT — October 17, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Thanks, Pookie…glad to know you missed me. I feel so special! I’m still feeling a bit funky, but starting to get better.
As for Smith’s acomplishments, I’m not really up on how to find all her votes, legistlative proposals, etc, but I do know that she had a lot to do with some of the small rural towns in our area getting senior citizen’s centers. She is a very strong proponent of our seniors, agriculture and the military.
And face, it, she’s a nice person. Something you just don’t find very often in politics these days. The fact that she does not engage in mudslinging, back stabbing, and character assasination is enough to get me to vote for her. I’m sick to death of all the nasty stuff that gets said during elections.
I had to laugh when I first moved back to the area, though. I’d been living up in Yankee Land with my late husband and we moved down here during a big election year…right about this time of year. My late husband and I would watch all the commercials, and it seemed like the most horrible, vile expletives that were thrown was the one label that heralded the death knell to local politicians…. “He/She is a Liberal!” I reckon that is the one bit of mud that no one can sling at Smith.
Comment by MH — October 17, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
Just a note that many state legislators go around handing out “community grants” to senior centers and other such causes. They did nothing to secure the grant - each member of the legislator gets a pot of money to dole out as they wish. Governore Riley tried to stop this a few years back but of course the legislature would never stop such a practice.
Comment by Binformed — October 17, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Interesting since Riley, himself, helped make sure at least one of those grants was pusehed through. Maybe he is one of those really talented politicians who is able to talk out of both sides of his mouth?
In any case, these types of grants are essential to the well being of a community…especially the senior centers, which typically also provide all kinds of wellness programs for seniors who might otherwise fall through the cracks for screenings, or not have the financial wherewithal for enriching activities that help prevent or delay dementia. Anyone who has ever lost a lvoed one to Alzheimer’s or other dementias will appreciate the many good things the centers do for the members of our communities who should be resspected, cared for, and learned from.
Comment by MH — October 17, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
They all hand out community grants and yes, sometimes they serve really good purposes. But as Pookie said, how does that show a real accomplishment? A State Senator showed up and gave a check that required no action to secure.
Comment by JT — October 18, 2007 @ 7:26 am
OK, I have a question about something that I really don’t understand, so maybe some of you more experienced armchair political analysts can help me out with it.
The way I understand it, The Republican Executive Committee for the state of Alabama recently passed a rule saying that anyone who had made a donation to the opposing party (ie Democratic party), during the last year/election, could not qualify in the state of Alabama to run as a Republican. So, does this mean that folks who want to run for the congressinal seat would not be able to qualify if they had so donated? Nailen made donations of $1,000 each to the campaigns of Tom Foley (he of the sexual harrassment of a male intern/page fame) and Athur (Artur?) Davis…both Democrats.
Also, wouldn’t donating to Foley’s campaign tend to mark one as being a social liberal? I mean we already know that Nailen is a fiscal liberal based on his support of Amendment 1, but being both a social and fiscal liberal would pretty much kill his chances locally…if he can even get on the ballot due to the new rule.
Would this new rule also keep the potential candidates who have hinted at changing parties in order to run as a Republican for the seat from running if they had donated to their own or another Democrat’s campaign?
Seriously, I’m asking because I don’t know and would like someone to clarify how this rule will affect the campaign that is shaping up.
Comment by MH — October 18, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
There is no such rule within the AL Republican Party, MH. In addition, did I not read a post of yours where you suggested this blog be about ideas and not about character assasination? Once again you show you talk, or I should say type out of both sides of your big mouth. Oh sorry - was that not a post about ideas? Where is Pookie when you need him? Your trash Nailen and triumph Harri Anne is so last week. Is it it just weak?
Comment by Josh S — October 18, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
and by the way - Foley is/was a Republican.
Comment by Josh S — October 18, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
MH, regarding your comment #147,
You are correct that the state GOP Executive Committee passed a new rule this summer. (The Parlor was there.) It does not quite apply to the situations you are talking about. From my earlier post, the rule is (with my emphasis added) that the state GOP Executive Committee
It would not apply to Charles Nailen because he was (as far as I know) not an office holder, Republican or otherwise, when he supported a Democrat. And it would not apply to someone like Democrat Jimmy Holley if Holley decided to run as a Republican because while he was an office holder who “publicly participated in the primary election of another political party” and presumably supported Dems in the last 6 years, he was not a Republican office holder.
And regardless, there is some discretion in the application of the rule. Ballot access is not automatically denied for transgressors; the GOP Executive Committee reserves the right to deny ballot access.
Comment by Danny — October 18, 2007 @ 11:27 pm
Thanks for clearing that up Danny. I had heard that some sort of rule had been passed, but none of my friends could tell me if/how it would apply to this situation.
I really appreciate the info and clarification.
Comment by MH — October 19, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
In answer to your question/comments, Josh, I was asking legitimate questions. I’m glad that Danny was able to clear up the Republican rule for me.
I suppose only the election will answer the other legitimate question. I have yet another one, but am afraid to ask it for fear of being accused of being nasty again. However, I would like to say tht no matter what I have said on the blog, nothing comes close to the rumor about Smith taking advantage of ‘those dead children’ in Enterprise in order to be a ‘glory hog’. But nobody has said a word about how absolutely horrible (and outright untrue) a statement that was to make.
Comment by MH — October 19, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
You are correct MH. I recall reading that comment about Senator Smith and the Enterprise tornadoes. I did not make the comment, nor would I, and whoever did so was wrong.
Comment by Josh S — October 19, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Thank you, Josh. I appreciate you saying that. It means a lot to me.
Comment by MH — October 19, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
MH your posts are tired. Somebody as informed as you supposedly are about the “many” accomplishments of Senator Smith ought to be able to point to something more
than a senior center. Every legislator in the state has these things in every corner of their district. MH you can do better, come on!
To the 2nd race:
Smith and Nailen better keep an eye on Steve Pelham. He is building a sneaky coaltion they may very well come out of no where to grab the nomination.
Granted he is not a personally wealthy candidate but he is building an interesting coalition that may very well include ALFA. Remember he does not
have a voting record to defend which is tough for any politician.
Comment by Pookie Wilson — October 22, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
Steve Pelham will not run due to dirty laundry.
Comment by Ivan — October 23, 2007 @ 9:28 am
ALFA and Steve Pelham “sneaky”…Imagine that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by GOPer — October 23, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Awww…Pookie, You poor thang. I don’t know wht is worse, having to read my ‘tired’ old posts, or having someone behind the scenes make you read them. I do apologize for boring you, but I’m just not going to be goaded into doing your homework for you and posting the Senator’s many fine attributes on here. As I said, before, when, and if, she deicdes to throw her hat in the ring, I’ll be glad to set up a website all about her many laudable accomplishments. Perhaps you will do the same for your chosen candidate.
I think I should point out, though, that having the governor support her on the one senior citizen’s center in an atmosphere where you guys have so aptly pointed out he was trying to close off the door to such fine contributions to the social and healthful benefits of our seniors, speaks volumes to her ability to work the system. Seems to me if she can get the governor to go against his own stance, she will do just fine swimming in the Grown Up Pool with the Big Kids.
I do think it is interesting the number of people on this blog who would like to dismiss her as a viable candidate when all the polls and professional political analysts show her as being ,‘the one to beat’ in this area. Could it be that this blog is ’salted’ with folks who are afraid of her and are trying to minimize the impact she would have on the race? A Lady can’t help but wonder…..
Comment by MH — October 23, 2007 @ 11:52 am
MH, of course she does well in the polls locally - her name is recognized because she is the sitting State senator from this area - not because she has done a great job. She has warmed the chair so to speak and is a noce lady, but handing out community grants is not anything to brag about. And believe me, Harri Anne was not the one to defeat the Governor’s attempt to stop community grants.
Comment by JT — October 23, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
I never said she did. What I said was, he personally helped make sure that she got the funding for the center… If he was so opposed to the grants, and yet helped her ascertain the funding, she pulled a big coupe. It might not look ike it from your side of the fence, btu anytime you get a sitting governor to throw his support behind something he is publicly opposing, it syas a lot about your influence and ability to get things done.
Furthermore, it is not just the local political pundits who are saying she will be ‘the one to beat’. All (or at least most) of them are saying it. Here is an interesting quote about her from the charrisGOP blog:
“Senator Harri Anne Smith is a GOP rising star because she is tenacious, she’s smart, she has strong principles, and she has courage. Also, she’s a Republican who has consistently proven an almost uncanny ability to win where Democrats far out number Republicans. This characteristic more than any has drawn the attention of pundits and baffled Republican and Democratic opponents. She has an aptitude for being able to sell a partisan agenda beyond its partisan audience. It’s all about the issues — the issues Harri Anne stands for. Also, she works closely with constituents. She tells the truth. If she says she’s going to do something, she does it. She listens to people. Every time she comes home to the wiregrass she listens to anybody that wants to tell her something”. –Charles Harris
Comment by MH — October 23, 2007 @ 12:43 pm