Verne Kennedy of MRI Research confirmed some poll numbers that I came across. The numbers represent the % of support among decided voters for the GOP primary. About 30% of voters were undecided. Mr. Kennedy said that in races without an incumbent, undecided voters tend to break out about the same way that decided voters do. His firm conducted the poll for Harri Anne Smith’s campaign.
| State Rep. David Grimes |
9% |
| Greenville businessman Tim James |
27% |
| State Rep. Jay Love |
18% |
| Dothan businessman Charles Nailen |
5% |
| State Sen. Harri Anne Smith |
43% |
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Birmingham News - Birmingham mayor-elect sets meeting with Governor to discuss state funding for proposed dome.
Birmingham News - Second prosecutor denies any political involvement in Siegelman prosecution.
Birmingham News - Attorneys argue whether child welfare case should be revived in appearance before three-judge federal appeals court.
Birmingham News - Riley pledges to fight for water in meetings later this week in Washington.
Mobile Press-Register - Schools dispute classification as “drop-out factories.”
Montgomery Advertiser - Governor halts plans to open state-run liquor stores on Sundays.
Anniston Star - The Anniston Star says that calls for book publisher to alter text to be used in course on impact of the Bible to accomodate one particular denominational group as crossing “a constitutional line we should not cross.”
Decatur Daily - Selma officials form biracial panel to address problems.
Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News calls for moratorium on executions.
Tuscaloosa News - “Alabama Exposure,” Dana Beyerle’s political roundup for reader of the NYTimes regional papers.
Washington Post - Water battles between Alabama, Georgia and Florida places Bush in bind.
New York Times - Supreme Court’s actions in staying Mississippi execution reflects that Court intends to block all executions until Kentucky case is resolved next Spring.
Senate Sketches - “Senate Sketches,” Sen. Hank Sanders’ (D-Selma) weekly column for his constituents.
(more…)
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I have become convinced that state Sen. Harri Anne Smith (of Slocomb) will be a candidate in the Republican primary for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. The announcement may be days, may be weeks, but watch for it.
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Has Republican Greenville businessman Tim James committed to joining the race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District? Yes and no, he told the Parlor. He’s looking at it “very seriously,” doing due diligence, not making a decision yet, and probably won’t until Thanksgiving. One consideration is that this seat doesn’t come open very often. Only two people have held it since 1964, and only eight since 1900. On the other hand, there is the Governor’s race in 2010 that he is considering, and he wouldn’t do both. “You can say that my main interest is public service.”
The Parlor had heard that he was pulling some folks together for a run. Yes, he said, he was putting a team together and had done some polling with a good Washington polling group. He was putting together a team of “Bob Riley quote world-class folks,” he said with a laugh. Don’t misunderstand him to mean that some of the Bob Riley crowd was helping him, as I did. He was making reference to Riley’s penchant for saying “world class,” and you know, Riley does.
James didn’t believe the selection process should be “smooth and pre-ordained,” saying “I believe a good rough and tumble primary is healthy for the party. It’s healthy for the country.”
“This is a very serious time in the country,” he added, noting considerations such as the war, economic signs that possibly point to a recession, and the real estate market that has been sagging. “I can’t remember a time in my life when things have been this tense.” Remarking that the Democrats had both houses of Congress and may take the White House next year, he added, “My party needs to find itself.”
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Birmingham News - Clinton leading Obama in new state poll; Giuliani, Thompson tied for GOP nomination.
Birmingham News - State finance director Jim Main says he will seek seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Harold See.
Birmingham News - Projected liability for health care for current and future education retirees drops.
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News characterizes the state’s GOP congressional delegation members as “voting against the interests of the state’s poor children” by refusing to support last week’s reauthorization of SCHIP.
Mobile Press-Register - State Health Department considers tracking staph.
Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register contends that reports of a widening income disparity between the wealthiest Americans and low- and middle-income families are “bogus.”
Cullman Times - Dueling KKK organizations plan opposing demonstrations for Cullman.
Gadsden Times - Harper Lee to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Decatur Daily - Group wants to increase allowable alcohol content for beer.
Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily calls for Democrats and Republicans to seek common ground and pass reauthorization of SCHIP.
Tuscaloosa News - Incoming president of American Bar Association and Attorney General Troy King spar over report that found Alabama’s death penalty processes “deeply flawed.”
Tuscaloosa News - 42 state high schools classified as “dropout factories.”
(more…)
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Recent news of interest from around the Magic City…
- The Jefferson County Election Commission set a Feb. 5 election date to replace Larry Langford on the Jefferson County Commission. Gov. Bob Riley has not publicly yielded in his conviction that he will appoint the Langford’s replacement. Irresistible force may meet the immoveable object in court.
I am not schooled enough in the legal particulars to suppose how it would turn out (and in an amusing moment last week, a judge reminded Riley that Riley also was not schooled in the particulars of law), but I do believe that a loss in court would be something of an embarrassment for Riley especially after he lost in court on the matter of whether he could appoint a replacement to the Mobile County Commission.
- Birmingham Mayor-elect Larry Langford is not letting grass grow under his feet. Not even sworn in, a legal challenge to his election, but he meets with the city’s police chief and she announces she’s stepping down.
- Regarding Hoover High School… If you didn’t know something was wrong before, you have to suspect it when a NY Times blog is taking note of a far away high school football team in Alabama, here and here.
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Former Alabama head football coach Mike Dubose is coaching at Millsaps in Mississippi and might should be on a suicide watch after Saturday’s game against Trinity University. I always considered the end of the 1982 Stanford-California game to be an unbelievable finish, but this…
Trinity takes over on its 40 with 2 seconds left…
Picture the ending of the Stanford-California game in 1982, without the band and with three times as many laterals.
Trinity University used 15 laterals after a completed pass on the final play of the game for an unlikely touchdown and 28-24 victory Saturday at stunned Millsaps. Call it the “Mississippi Miracle” for the Tigers, an NCAA Division III team in San Antonio.
Via YouTube:
Hat tip to The Huntsville Times’ Breaking News site.
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Birmingham News - Forever Wild set to acquire 10,000 acres.
Birmingham News - Study shows state’s rural roads more dangerous than urban.
Birmingham News - Contract to hire attorneys to sue drug companies going to Legislative Contract Review Committee almost three years after being signed.
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News sees Attorney General’s efforts to bar Shelby County DA from capital case another example of King’s effort to score political points.
Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register calls for giving counties the authority to regulate private utility companies.
Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register praises Governor for complying with HAVA, calls for legislature to enact campaign financing reform.
Huntsville Times - Attorney General defends his call for ending parole.
Tuscaloosa News - American Bar Association calls for nationwide freeze on executions.
Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News endorses Governor’s proposals to strengthen DUI laws.
Montgomery Advertiser - Water wars moves to Washington.
Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser calls for reforming state’s campaign finance disclosure laws.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Alabama murder conviction.
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Associated Press tells us this weekend that Republican Public Service Commission President Jim Sullivan does indeed plan to run for re-election next year.
You can also read there what you read here in the Parlor a month ago: former Lt. Governor and gubernatorial nominee Lucy Baxley (D) is considering a run, as is Ed Gentle, chair of the St. Clair County Democrats.
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Folks in House District 12 (Cullman area) are getting polled. One source reported a home polled twice in the last two weeks. One poll asked about the Democratic primary. Another asked about favorability ratings of Riley and Folsom, followed up asking about which HD 12 primary the respondent would vote in, and then asked about matchups in the HD 12 general election.
Sounds like AEA, ALFA, and who knows else may be crawling around to learn what they can. If I can sniff anything more out, I’m glad to pass it along.
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Birmingham News - Showdown looms in water battle.
Birmingham News - Montgomery federal prosecutors say that they overruled Justice Department attorney who wanted to end Siegleman investigation in 2004.
Birmingham News - VOICES for Alabama’s Children Communications Director calls for Bush and Congress to reauthorize SCHIP.
Birmingham News - ADAP associate director finds that DHR’s poor results in finding permanency for children in foster care is its “greatest failing.”
Huntsville Times - Thursday’s 5% increase in foster care rates welcomed, but insufficient for needs.
Montgomery Advertiser - PSC president says he will seek reelection, may face opposition from Baxley.
Montgomery Advertiser - State’s ABC stores see a first: Birmingham liquor store to be open on Sunday.
Tuscaloosa News - New leader of State Fire College remains hopeful in spite of continuing investigation.
Tuscaloosa News - State’s Silver-Haired Legislature convenes today.
Decatur Daily - Morgan County data shows shrinking middle class as income disparities grow.
Daily Home - “It’s a Thick Book” still providing push for state’s constitutional reform efforts.
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Birmingham News - Gasoline prices expected to surge as crude oil hits almost $92 a barrel.
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News finds that the legislature’s ‘to-do’ list is growing while comments from Senators make the prospect of a productive session dim.
Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register finds Justice Department targeting as many, if not more, GOP elected officials.
Huntsville Times - Riley says he is encouraged about chances of compromise in continuing water battles.
Huntsville Times - Environmentalists question ADEM’s claim to have improved air, water quality.
Clarke County Democrat - Editor of The Clarke County Democrat discuss Ag Commissioner’s “Rural Alabama Committee of 100″ and finds that rural Alabama “is finally getting the attention it deserves.”
Tuscaloosa News - Alexander City taking drastic measures to deal with continuing drought.
Times Daily - U.S. House Judiciary Committee chair apologizes to Rainsville attorney about the manner in which the transcript of her interview was released to the public.
Anniston Star - The Anniston Star differs with House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard’s assessment of U.S. Rep. Artur Davis’ comments regarding Siegelman prosecution.
(more…)
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The Fix at washingtonpost.com today looks at the top ten U.S. House seats most likely to switch parties in the 2008 elections.
Considering the 15 (so-far) House members stepping down in 2008 (13 Republicans, 2 Democrats), the Fix offers this aside about the second Alabama Congressional district where Republican Terry Everett is retiring:
Democrats are also making noise about two other newly open GOP seats — New Mexico’s 2nd District and Alabama’s 2nd, though both are much longer shots given their clear Republican tilt.
Indications are that the Democrats acknowledge the GOP advantage but are not conceding the seat.
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Southerners know that in the South you can say anything you want about anybody as long as you add “Bless his heart” - to demonstrate, I suppose, you are not poor-mouthing but that you have real concern for the individual and his shortcomings. As in, “She doesn’t have the sense God gave a fence post. Bless her heart.” Or, “His drinking problem is going to do him in. Bless his heart.”
The Alabama-Georgia water wars escalated to the point that Georgia’s Gov. Sonny Perdue leaned on the tradition and, in response to Riley’s op-ed, laid one on our own Gov. Bob Riley in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “My good friend, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, bless his heart, is just plain … misguided.”
Hat tip to bethbking who wrote, “Sonny Perdue’s response was near hostile, and by hostile I mean delicious.”
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(R) Jeff Sessions (1-19)
(D) Vivian Figures (33-1)
(D) Artur Davis (1-49)
(R) Mike Hubbard (13-1)
(?) David Bronner (OFF)