On the Blue Dot Ball
Last night at the Jefferson County Democrats’ Blue Dot Ball…
Lucy Baxley was in strong voice and good humor as she greeted the crowd of about 200 from her wheelchair. She said she has not been able to use her left side since her stroke on November 24. If you wanted to torture someone, she said, send them through the “horrendous therapy” that she is going through. The crowd enjoyed seeing her and gave her a standing ovation before and after her brief greeting. The Parlor wishes her continued recovery.
Many elected officials were in attendance, of course, including Supreme Court hopeful Deborah Paseur, state Senator Linda Coleman, state Senator E.B. McClain, and occasional Republican, JeffCo Tax Collector J. T. Smallwood, who must officially be telegraphing his intention to run as a Democrat.
The “Hillary for President” contingent was out in full force, and several remarked that it took some effort to enter the event without becoming adorned with a “Hillary for President” sticker. (At least two commented to me about J. T. Smallwood’s “Hillary for President” sticker. Not sure if that said more about him or the phalanx of Hillary supporters.)
In a night of many quips, attorney Greg Hawley had one of the better ones in introducing Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, saying that he believed he may have first met him on a tennis court in Mountain Brook.
Lt. Governor Jim Folsom (the “Father of the Alabama Automotive Industry“) spoke briefly, sharing an anecdote or two about bringing Mercedes to Alabama, and of course speaking positively about the future of Democrats in Alabama.
I thought state Sen. Rodger Smitherman or his wife, Birmingham mayoral candidate Carole Smitherman, might be in attendance. I also thought Jefferson Co. Commissioner and mayoral candidate Larry Langford might attend. As it was, I saw no Birmingham mayoral candidates.
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Doc:
Lt. Governor Jim Folsom and Representaive Artur Davis both
have star appeal and alot of charisma.
Comment by Tom Davis — September 21, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
How often does Doc attend “red” state events?
Comment by Doc = Dem — September 21, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Same as “blue” state events, which is to say every chance I get. For example, I was at the Red State Summer Dinner and the GOP State Executive Committee Meeting.
Comment by Danny — September 21, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Danny, i’m curious to know what the turn-out was at this event.
Comment by Big Mo — September 21, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Big Mo, I had intended to estimate a headcount myself, but forgot and left without giving good thought to it. I emailed an inquiry to a leader of the event, who said “about 200, with over 250 tickets sold.”
I gathered from speakers’ comments that the attendance met or exceeded their hopes and that it was more than last year’s attendance.
I’ll edit the post to include the count.
Comment by Danny — September 21, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
It was not as many as 2006 –really not–(2006 Election year) but I was surprised at the attendance in off year.
Good crowd–
Comment by blue dot — September 21, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Thanks, blue dot, for the info.
Comment by Danny — September 21, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
I do not know anything abou this particular event, but I do understand prominent Democrats are still apologizing to J.T. Smallwood about the fixed democratic nomination in last year’s probate race.
Comment by Barbara — September 21, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
Hey Babs, you are throwing some sh@t. No prominent demos are saying any such thing.
Comment by Ziggy Stardust — September 22, 2007 @ 6:13 am
Barbara’s statement would be accurate if she had placed a period after the seventh word.
Who invited JT to sit at their table during the program? Anyone?
Comment by ChimChim — September 22, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Hey Babs–are you a blood relative or just an employee of JT?
Comment by blue dot chuckles — September 22, 2007 @ 8:23 am
There are Democrats that were appalled when they found out about that scheme. There are some honest Democrats left, as well as Republicans.
Comment by Barbara — September 22, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Scheme? What scheme? Mark Gaines is a troll and had no business in the job of running the Probate Court. Alan King was experienced and was the best candidate for place #1. Ms. Smallwood was unqualified to hold either spot. Judges King and Friday did us all a big favor. The only apology needed should come from J.T. Smallwood, but I guess buying tickets to a Democratic fundraiser and wearing a Hillary for President sticker is apology enough.
Comment by Roy — September 22, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Roy, Obviously you don’t know. The place #2 position was handpicked by some selct individuals and fixed so that any challengers for Friday were blocked from entering the race for the place #2 position. That is what happened to Ms. Smallwood. She was blocked from running in that position in the democratic primary, so she ran as republican. Can you think of anything more un-democratic than that?
Comment by Barbara — September 22, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
I’d like to add my voice to Doc’s in sending my wishes for a full recovery to Lucy Baxley.
Comment by Susan — September 23, 2007 @ 8:15 am
“Blocked” or “handpicked” or “fixed” my fanny…Ridiculous–the whining does not help your cause.
She lost as Rep. by the widest margin in Jefferson County, Alabama in a campaign called deceptive by the Bham News–so now we are to believe this version of events???
You’d think having a dad as a Circuit Court Judge would have allowed a rather rapid mandamus order if one was truly “blocked” –as opposed to finding the right horse (party) to ride on the last day to qualify.
More excuses and convoluted explaining than Sen. Larry Craig at his airport police interview!
Comment by blue dot chuckles — September 23, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Regarding the Smallwood matter — don’t know who is right but it looks like all is well in the end. The right people were elected as probate judges (Mark “the Troll” Gaines and Sunny D. had no business even thinking of being judges), while bro, J.T., once so miffed that he bolted parties along with sis, now wants back in the Demo Party’s good graces. Only the GOP apparachniks are left out in the cold, which they will find to be more and more common in Jefferson County.
Comment by Ziggy Stardust — September 23, 2007 @ 10:17 am
The phrase you used “last day to qualify” says it all Blue Dot chuckles. It looks like you are someone that knows exactley what happenend, LOL! As far as the Birmingham News thing goes, I understand that a personal attorney of the Birmingham News is quite active in probate court and had a stake in the turnout of the race.
Nothing is convoluted about anything I have said. It makes perfect sense. That place court race was the ONLY open seat judgeship where the democrat did not face any opposition in the primary. The others had three candidates each. Luck? I think not.
Comment by Barbara — September 23, 2007 @ 10:40 am
RE 17: I do know what happened–I think most Dems in leadership will let JT back/good luck etc –but quit yapping re your own bed you made.
Like this crazy statement: “As far as the Birmingham News thing goes, I understand that a personal attorney of the Birmingham News is quite active in probate court and had a stake in the turnout of the race.”
yea right all a grand conspiracy. And why did the Bham News also endorse The Troll Gaines R in place 1? (and come to regret it mightily I might add) Only a “stake” in the race with no incumbent so they endorse the D over Smallwood R? Who is this attorney that pulled that off re the Bham News Editorial board ??–do tell more??
Having no primary opponent does not assure victory–ask Pat Moore locally or numerous statewide candidates.
Enuff of this silly old stuff–post 17 is right on the money
PS watch out for the Black Helicopters Barb!
Comment by blue dot chuckles — September 23, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Post 19 should read re 18 –
Comment by blue dot chuckles — September 23, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Ziggy Stardust, you need to rethink what you said. Someone that went so far as to have competition blocked from entering their race should not have been elected judge. I believe probate judges are supposed to oversee elections and make sure the election process is fair. If that is their definition of a fair election, then that is scary.
Comment by Barbara — September 23, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Mrs. Moore ran as a republican. There were three democrats vying for that position and the top two ended up in a runoff. There was much heavier interest in running as a democrat in the open seats last year.
Comment by Barbara — September 23, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Blue Dot Chuckles AKA Danny. LOL.
Comment by Barbara — September 26, 2007 @ 12:21 am
And add Ziggy Stardust too. He is getting creative with these names.
Comment by Barbara — September 26, 2007 @ 12:27 am
Barbara,
Re your comments 23 & 24…
When I have something to say about this, I use my name.
Danny
Comment by Danny — September 26, 2007 @ 7:50 am
Barbara what is all of this crap you are talking about. I don’t believe a word of it and I remember being at qualifying because I wanted to see if a certain someone was going to qualify. If I remember correctly it just seemed to be the buzz that the person trying to qualify Sunny D did not have the correct App. fee and time was running out. What else? Let’s hear your comeback to that… I like JT and I hope he will stay with the party but there is no elaborate nor do I think there was an elaborate scheme to keep anyone out. If there was then the person the scheme was brewed up against probably shouldn’t have ran that year anyway. Politics is politics…good, bad, indifferent.
Comment by Danny 2 — December 2, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
[…] Speaking of former Democrats who are becoming former Republicans, I see that J.T. Smallwood has qualified (as many expected) for re-election as Jefferson County Tax Collector as a Democrat. Smallwood was elected to his current term as a Republican. […]
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