Tim James Looks at AL-02
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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I just cannot see him running and gathering the support and money he would need to win in. He would be much better served running for the Governor in 2010, and even that would be tough to do with the little name ID he has.
At this point, Harri Anne Smith is the only legitimate candidate that is entering the race with a real chance to win. She can raise the money, gather the support, and most importantly is right on the issues for the people of CD-2.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 9:54 am
I disagree with some of the premises of the previous post - most notably the idea that somehow james would have trouble raising money. I think Tim James has the money to run already, andd if he chooses to run he will be a very very strong candidate - perhaps even the frontrunner.
Additionally, James name ID is probably better than any other possible candidate, so I don’t “get” that part of the post.
Comment by TJ — October 30, 2007 @ 10:06 am
So your saying the man would spend $4 Million on a Governor’s Race or possibly even $2 or $3 Million on a Congressional Seat? That makes no sense to me - as if a guy cannot raise the money himself it is going to be hard for him to convince people he would be a good elected candidate.
In regards to him being a front runner - please show me that Polling Data as I would love to see it. The data that I have seen is Harri Anne Smith is the Republican front runner by far.
Do not get me wrong though - I think Tim is a great guy and has a great future in Public Service for Alabama. He is young, energetic, and has a great track record. Unfortunately he is trying to leap frog the pack into a position that is out of his reach.
If he is patient and works his way up the ladder - it is being Governor is definitely in his reach.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Wow I suck at spelling and punctuation.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Don’t sweat that stuff Jeff - we all suck at spelling and punctuation on this board. It is an epidemic.
Comment by TJ — October 30, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Bob Riley put a “world class” whipping on Tim James in the GOP primary. I guess that’s one way you could use that phrase.
Comment by Anonymous — October 30, 2007 @ 10:52 am
I think Tim James showing in 2002 was more credible than that of Steve Windom given the amount of money both candidates spent.
James is articulate, likable, telegenic, and has a solid anti-tax record. I think he’ll be a very strong candidate and, along with Harri Anne Smith, a frontrunning contender.
Comment by BR the Governor — October 30, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Hey Jeff - I don’t disagree with you about Harri Anne. I believe she would make an excellent candidate and a fine congresswoman. But I do think that Tim James is a stronger candidate than some are giving him credit for. I think he will do well in TV spots and his record might strike a chord in this anti-tax district.
Comment by TJ — October 30, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Son of Fob. ‘Nuff said.
Comment by Susan — October 30, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
He is far from Fob, don’t hold that against him. I agree that he was unfailry slammed in the first post - he has plenty of his own money to spend and i think that will be important in this race as money will be tight. he is a good candudate as is Harri Anne. All the people on here that act as if Harri Anne is the heir apparent to every office that comes open makes me laugh. Get real guys. She is a nice lady but stop acting as if she is the best cabdidate for every open position. She has warmed the seat as Sebnator, at best.
Comment by JT — October 30, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
You guys are right about spelling on here! You can’t see hlaf of what you are typing at times!
Comment by JT — October 30, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
I think that this race boils down to Harri Anne Smith and Tim James. All the others are second tier.
Comment by TJ — October 30, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
Regardless of the public opinion of Fob, the James name is still well known throughout the state. Name recognition should not be a problem. The james name is on several South Alabama Projects, and apparently there is no such thing as bad publicity.
With regards to Riley’s power in the GOP, he’s not the powerhouse we all once thought. The political issues which are coming to light state wide are putting egg on his face.
Dan, thanks for the “world class” link. I had a good laugh with that one.
Comment by Pointed Observer — October 30, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
The thing about James is that he is articulate, good-looking, and has a very commanding presnce. he is NOT just “Fob II.” I think he will be formidable.
Comment by Anonymous — October 30, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
TJ - I am not one that thinks that Smith is the “heir apparent to every office that comes open.” I never thought she had a chance for Governor against GBR. I do think she is the front runner for the CD-2 seat.
Please do not misinterpret what I am saying - I think James is a formidable candidate, just not (yet) for CD-2. He needs to run for State Office and work his way up the ladder and take the Governor’s office in 2014 or 2018. He is all that you said above, and if ran right can be a great candidate to lead the state into the future.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Hey Jeff - that was “JT” not me that said Harri Anne was the “heir apparent” . . .hey I like Harri Anne too.
I think this district would do well with either James or Harri Anne, so I think we agree there. We may disagree as to how strong Tim James is in the district, but we’ll both see eventually. I do think most of your analyses are correct.
Comment by TJ — October 30, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
My apologies on that. We shall see how it goes.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Jeff . . . what do you think Tim James needs to run for . . . state rep.? James has already run for governor once, and he is a major businessman in the state. I could see him running for Lt. Governor instead of Governor (which would maybe make sense for him), but to say Congress is out of his league I believe is off mark. It’s not like Harri Anne Smith has some amazing political record.
Comment by ptclearer — October 30, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Well said ptclearer. It goes back to my point that so many poeple act like Harri Anne is the only qualified candidate. She is not. Nothing against her, but there are plenty of people that can and will run a good race for this seat.
Comment by JT — October 30, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
No offense, but what has HA Smith done for her district in Montgomery, aside from being “reliably conservative”?
Seems to me she goes along with what ALFA and the other hardcore repubs want. Is that the way to get ahead in Congress? Is that the way a congressperson will help ensure Ft. Rucker’s future?
Also, isn’t all the Harri Anne talk a little premature? Does she even have an exploratory committee open?
Comment by DUH — October 30, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Harri Anne cries wolf all the time. Best I recall she was going to run for Governor in the Republican primary against a sitting Republican Governor and sure enough backed down after the attention over her possible candidacy passed. That told me a lot. She will float her name for anything that comes open. Don’t get in between her and a camera - you may get run over. Nice lady but all she is is a smile and a fast but superficial comment for the news.
Comment by GOPer — October 30, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
But back to Tim James…it will be interesting to see if he runs for Congress or holds off and tosses his hat in the ring for Governor in 2010. He will not do both.
Comment by GOPer — October 30, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
DUH - I will be honest and state that I do not know of her accomplishments (off the top of my head) outside of her stance on the conservative issue and refusing the 62% pay raise. To me, if I lived in the Wiregrass area, I would be happy that I had a conservative Senator in the Alabama Senate doing what is right. Sometimes not being heard from in Montgomery is the best thing.
In regards to her running, I know she has told a few people that I trust that she will be running; but I guess we cannot believe anything until it is official.
JT - I think a run at AG or LT. Governor would be a good fit for James. Whichever office
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
[Hit Submit by Accident]
JT - I think a run at AG or LT. Governor would be a good fit for James. Whichever office Luther Strange does not run for would be a good fit for him and allow him to move up in the Republican Party.
As much as we all want to think the political process is not a game, it very much is and Tim needs to make sure he is playing it correctly.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Jeff, or anybody, I don’t want to single Jeff out, I enjoy his posts — just a question. What does being conservative really mean in this state? I’d venture to guess that 9/10 members of the Democratic caucus in the house and the Senate are for low taxes, against abortion, etc.
And, as far as federal issues go, don’t you want a congressperson to bring home the bacon? Especially in a military district/farm district? So you really want someone who will go up there and vote the ADM/Monsanto/Big Ag line and destroy more family farms? Do you want someone who will push more money into Boeing and the like’s pockets instead of supporting things like more flight training for pilots at Ft. Rucker who will be sent to Iraq?
The problem with being an orthodox “conservative” or “liberal” for that matter is that when you toe anyone’s line exclusively, which Sen. Smith apparently does in Montgomery, it may come back in a negative way on the people of the district you are supposed to represent.
Also, the pay raise issue is NONSENSE. She can afford to give the money back, but many of the people serving are normal average joes who need to be compensated for the job they do. I would have preferred it coupled with a lobbist spending ban, but maybe that will come up in the next session, if the “conservatives” don’t block every piece of legislation in a hissy fit over not controlling a body of the legislature they weren’t able to win control of through the democratic process.
Comment by DUH — October 30, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Jeff, I still don’t understand your reasoning on Tim James. You say that AG or Lt. Governor would be a good fit for him, but he does not have the experience (or paid his dues) to run for Congress? I could understand your point maybe if this was a U.S. Senate seat, but it’s not. It’s a Congressional seat. And while Congressional seats rarely come open and are certainly prized possessions, it’s not like it’s a huge step above being AG or Lt. Governor. In fact, I think many would argue that AG and Lt. Governor in Alabama are bigger offices than a Congressional seat. Anyway, I just think its absurd to act like Tim James must pay his dues and is not ready to run for Congress. It seems to me like you want Harri Anne Smith, and you would prefer she not have to go against James, and so you are trying to convince yourself he’s not a good fit for the job. He very well may be a better statewide candidate, but Harri Anne Smith is no more qualified or deserving of the seat than Tim James. And I’m a Democrat so I hope neither of them win. But I have been impressed with the business savvy James has demonstrated over the years. He seems like a creative thinker that knows how to bring people together and get things done (he even had people believing Bayou La Batre was the world’s next paradise before Katrina hit).
Comment by ptclearer — October 30, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
I’m of the opinion that James’ chances for CD-2 are as good as anybody else’s that I’ve heard mentioned.
The question here is not whether he would run well, the question is WHY he would run? Bob Riley is an exception to the rule that Alabama governors don’t get elected from the state’s congressional delegation.
If Tim James has serious intentions to run for Lt Gov or Gov, he doesn’t need to pay any dues or burnish any credentials by serving a stint in Congress.
Unless you are elected to a leadership post in the House, you are not a well-known quantity around the state. If he sincerely has a desire to merely “serve the public” then the congressional race is a worthy venture. But Tim James doesn’t strike me as “1 of 435″ material. He strikes me as somebody who wants to be the big cheese.
2010 is wide open on the GOP side for Governor. James may, in fact, be the answer to Jim Folsom’s phony-baloney good-ol’-boy populism.
Troy King can’t get elected Gov and Bradley Byrne is viewed by too many as elitist. Kay Ivey is somebody who could do well, though.
Comment by Scorpius — October 30, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
The race for Congress is wide open. I do agree that Congress is not usually a path to the Governor’s Office…Riley is indeed an exception. Candidates that actually want to be in politics at the federal level and deal with federal issues need to be the ones in this race. And it needs to be someone that will stay in Congress a long time instead of just using it for a platform for another office. It is all based on seniority there so the longer you stay the more you can get done so we need someone that is actually committed and not looking at the Governor’s office. A couple of the names mentioned have always wanted to be Governor and just see a run for Congress and maybe a term or two a way of polishing their name. We don’t need that experience and it is not in the best interest of district 2.I am looking for a candidate with the interests of the district at the front of their minds, not their own interests in other political office.
Comment by PikeCounty guy — October 30, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Who is Jeff Vreeland? He sounds like an idiot.
Comment by PikeCounty guy — October 30, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
How come nobody mentions Steve Flowers? Is he done with elective office? This race seems right up his alley.
Comment by Scorpius — October 30, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
To begin, this is the first I have heard of Bradley Byrne being an elitist. If by elitist one means “smart,” then, yes, I suppose he is. Still, I am fascinated to learn who thinks he is an elitist and why.
Second, this race will come down to one thing and one thing only on the Republican side: money. The NRCC does not want to spend money on this district and will quickly coalesce around whoever can either largely or completely self finance his campaign. Tim James’s money gives him a decided advantage in that manner. Not only that, his advertising will go on the air far sooner than any other candidate, making up this alleged “name ID gap.”
Believe me when I say all other considerations, particularly when it relates to a reliably Republican district that the NRCC does not want to spend money in, will be trumped by money.
Comment by Will — October 30, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Really? Money trumps, huh? Go tell that to Randy McKinney who also ran in a “reliably Republican” district and outspent his opponent by gobs and gobs. Go tell that to Harold See when he outspent Roy Moore 5-1 in 2000 in a “reliably Republican” state.
My point was that NO Democrat is going to win the district by “transcending” party. Even if some jackass candidate was successful in making the polling close, the NRCC would not allow the district to be lost with scarce resources as an excuse.
As for Byrne, do you shop at a Walmart? I don’t dispute that Bradley is educated—Duke, very impressive! But, like it or not, that kind of education means Zippo to the typical Alabamian. If education mattered, don’t you think that Princeton-educated Drayton Nabers would be Chief Justice right now. Of course not.
The people in this state can sense an elitist. I’ve been around Byrne, talked with Byrne and heard others talk of Byrne’s days in the senate and on the school board. If I was the right opponent’s campaign brass in the GOP primary, I’d relish taking him on. They don’t serve sushi and drive B-mers in Clanton, Alabama.
Comment by Scorpius — October 30, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Now there is no need for name calling =)
PikeCounty guy - drop me an e-mail and we can chat and get to know me.
ptclearer - I see your point and maybe I am looking at the Congressional Seat a bit higher than I should be. With that said I still think Smith is more qualified due to her Years in Public Service already and her proven track record. I am by no means saying that James is not a good candidate and if he wins I think he would do a great job within the US House. So please do not misinterpret that fact - all I am saying is that Smith is more qualified for public office and (IMHO) is the frontrunner and candidate to beat.
I have to agree with Scorpius, money is not necessarily going to be the outcome. He also brings up a good point on Steve Flowers. He ran for Senate 14 in 2000 and was beaten by Sen. Hank Erwin but since has moved backed to Montgomery. He is a respected journalist now and living back in Troy (i think) so maybe his name could pop on the radar.
Funny how my one comment stirred up so many reactions =) Almost makes me want to start blogging again.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 30, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Scorpius, the problem with your analogies is that by listing them, you are only providing the exception to the rule. Further, do not forget that in a race with Roy Moore, particularly at the peak of his power, normal rules of politics more or less went out the window. I reiterate, the NRCC is going to back the individual with the best chance of funding his own campaign. Every dollar they spend in District Two is a dollar they could have spent in a district that is a potential net gain in Congress.
As for your comments about Bradley Byrne, it’s nice to see that class warfare has not gone out of style. Of course, you are arguing about the wrong party. If George Wallace, Jr.’s campaign against Luther Strange proved anything, it is that class warfare does not work in a Republican primary. The so-called “Wal-Mart Republicans,” whatever that means, failed to get the most famous name in Alabama politics nominated over a man who had never run for office. Ironically, at least in this conversation, it was MONEY that made the difference.
Leave class warfare to the Democrats, for such tactics are the last grasp of those who have run out of ideas. It’s going to be a great day when ignoramuses such as Troy King and Jim Folsom have been defeated by reformers such as Bradley Byrne.
Comment by Will — October 31, 2007 @ 3:00 am
Steve Flowers? Thanks for giving me a laugh guys. Good Lord, can we be reasonable here??? And saying Harri Anne is qualified due to her years in the Alabama Senate? That is amazingly naive. Being in the Senate tells you NOTHING about being in the US Congress. Everett and Riley had zero ezperince before enetering the US COngress and both did great jobs. Thinking that because someone has held state office before and thus they are the most qualified is totally false. I agree - maybe Jeff is an idiot.
Comment by JT — October 31, 2007 @ 7:25 am
All this talk “convinced Harri Anne will run” is so bogus. She does this all the time until the attention dies down then she returns to her bank office and actually settles down. The AL Senate is all she can handle guys. It’s amazing that people think she is up to other challenges.
Comment by Stephen — October 31, 2007 @ 7:28 am
JT - I just cannot see the legitimacy of an argument were someone would state that a person with years of experience in a particular field is not more qualified then someone with zero experience.
Also, I am not trying to compare the Alabama Senate to the US Congress, but I am stating that someone with experience in Public Service is more qualified than someone without.
Comment by Jeff Vreeland — October 31, 2007 @ 8:46 am
I read the threads and I agree that “non traditional” candidates like Terry Everett and Bob Riley were when they first ran for Congress are very viable and interesting candidates as opposed to those that have been in office for years in some capacity. Holding office as State Senator does not build a resume in my view toward Congress. It may build a resume toward higher statewide office, however.
Comment by Wiregrass Voter — October 31, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Bradley Byrne is an elitist. He might be able to win a statewide Republican primary, but he would get thumped in a general election. The guy has Duke
written all over him. He thinks he is the smartest guy in the room. And he doesn’t just come off this way. People that know him well say its true.
Comment by ptclearer — October 31, 2007 @ 9:33 am
I’m actually shocked more people have not jumped in this Congressional race. What is everyone so scared of. Your chance only comes a few times in life.
Harri Anne Smith has every right to run. But she needs to get in the race and put the doubts that she is just show boating to rest. Also, she needs to not come into the race acting like she is frontrunner and the woman to beat. She has nothing to back that up. She might be competitive, but there is no data that suggests she is stronger than anyone else. She and others need to end the talk, get in the race, and show us what they’ve got. I agree with the comment that state office does not mean you are the most qualified person for Congress. Congressional seats normally go to well-respected leaders in community. Sometimes these leaders have a record in the state legislature and sometimes they don’t. But to act like that is the premier training ground for Congress is absurd.
Comment by ptclearer — October 31, 2007 @ 9:38 am
ptclearer — Byrne usually IS the smartest person in the room. Personally, I would like to have an intelligent person, with a strong moral compass, running the state of Alabama. Maybe I’m in the minority.
Comment by Montgomery Republican — October 31, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Well said ptclearer. I agree that anyone can run and the race is wide open. No one needs to come in with an heir apparent attitude either. They need to say they are in and let the best man or woman win. I just hope we will ahve someone run that really wants the job and wants to stay in it for years and build some seniority instead of only wanting to hold office a couple of terms and use it to further their personal career agenda. And kudos for noting holding state office does not put you a step ahead of anyone in this race. It is wide open - so let’s see who is out and who is really in - and in for the right reasons.
Comment by JT — October 31, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Byrne is doing a great job and more power to him. If he keeps ir up, he will have a great future I think. And I agree, don’t we want smart guys in office? Bobby Jindal is a Rhodes Scholar and was just elected Governor of LA. Is he too smart to be Governor because he has Rhodes Scholar written all over him? I think not.
Comment by GOPer — October 31, 2007 @ 9:51 am
I’m sure Bradley Byrne is a very smart man. And more power to him. My only point is that he will never be elected statewide because he has an attitude problem. You can be smart and not be obnoxious about it. The voters of Alabama are not looking for a know-it-all when they go to the polls, they want someone they can relate to and believe in. If Bradley Byrne wants to win an big election in Alabama, he needs to learn to not be obnoxious about how smart he thinks he is. Because, if your governor, no matter how smart you are you have to work with people to get stuff done. And someone that acts like they are better than everyone else will not be able to effectively do the job.
Comment by ptclearer — October 31, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Bradley Byrne needs an attitude adjustment. Acting like you are the smartest man in the room is obnoxious and not attractive to voters.
Comment by ptclearer — October 31, 2007 @ 10:06 am
First off, JT, my question about Steve Flowers was not to be construed as my endorsement of him. I just find it odd that a guy that has the history of elective office and running for office and now, writing about politics isn’t making more noise in a district and race that would appear to be of great interest and allure to him.
Second, Will, my analogies may be “exceptions” to you, but they are real examples where money doesn’t always trump every consideration. Those situations, just like referenda like Riley’s Billion Dollar Tax Scheme and the MAPS debacle in Jefferson County show that money isn’t the end-all be-all. Having said that, I’m not an idiot about the advantages of overflowing warchests, but there are lots of rich folks who bombed running for office (Winton Blount, Stan Pate, Mac McAllister, Charles ??? (from Dothan who was badly disfigured).
Another thing, I’m not a class warfare kind of guy, but you’re whistling past the political graveyard if you deny that Bluebloods are easy pickings in this state. In the GOP Primary last year Luther Strange won the battle but lost the War. The same would happen to Byrne against Folsom if they were the respective nominees for Gov. You ignore it at your own analytical peril. I’ll argue that Wallace would have defeated Folsom. The Walmart Republicans I talked to were the same ones saying, “OK, Luther bought his nomination, now let him get elected with all that cash.” They, and some conservative Dems were the ones with bumperstickers that read “Riley/Folsom ‘06″. There were hard feelings and mistrust— post run-off— over a guy that never put to rest the initial reservations and doubts many people had about his candidacy. I’m a pro-Luther GOP’er. I hope he’s able to appeal to more folks over the next few years because I think he’s got a lot to offer this state and her people. But Byrne is a different story.
Bradley has an air about him that Luther doesn’t. I’ll guarantee you that if you put Strange and Byrne in front of a representative sample of folks from Limestone, Marshall, Chilton, St. Clair, Pike, Winston and Covington counties, they would vote Strange as more genuine, congenial and authentic. You’ve been around both of them and you know it too.
PT Clearer is absolutely correct.
Comment by Scorpius — October 31, 2007 @ 10:11 am
“Charles Woods (1921-2004) was an Alabama businessman and broadcaster and aspiring politician [ed. - Democrat]. Woods was raised in an orphanage. He enlisted in the Canadian Air Force before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He was a decorated pilot with the Air Corps.
Woods had been severely injured in a 1944 airplane crash on December 23. He taxied down a runway in Kurmitola, India, carrying 28,000 pounds of aviation fuel to be delivered in Lulaing, China. After making the trip alone, hundreds of time, on this particular trip, he was flying with a pilot-in-training, Captain Stalmacher, in first seat. Stalmacher erred on take-off, braking too soon causing the plane to lose speed with too little runway left. The bomber exploded on take-off, and he was the only crew member who survived. He suffered severe burns over 70 percent of his body. The fire erased his face, destroying his nose, eyelids, ears and hands.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Woods
Comment by Reactionary — October 31, 2007 @ 10:51 am
If you think Byrne has an attitude problem and thinks he is smarter than everyone else, you should meet Congressman Artur Davis. They would get along great!
Comment by PIkeCountyguy — October 31, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Well said Scorpius. I agree with you on just about everything you said. I do think it is hard to overestimate the importance of money in a race like this one though.
Comment by ptclearer — October 31, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Charles Woods was a character. A buddy of mine sat next to him on an airplane and said it was quite an experience.
Comment by ptclearer — October 31, 2007 @ 11:02 am
To begin, Wallace would not have defeated Folsom. With all due respect to the man, and he certainly is a great guy, he has spent his life collecting a paycheck based upon his name. His attempt at populism would be doomed to failure against Folsom, as Democrats will always win the battle when class warfare is pitted against class warfare. Further, we can in many ways blame Wallace for Strange’s defeat, as he began the whole class warfare game. In doing so, he made it all too easy for Folsom to divide Republicans on the issue, if one can even call it an issue. I would argue, and I am sure you will agree, that if Wallace conceded to Strange without a runoff, election night 2006 would have gone in a completely different route. One wonders how different the State Senate situation would be if that had been the case.
As for Byrne, I find it apalling, quite frankly, that anyone could say that because Mr. Byrne is a “know-it-all,” he stands little chance of victory in 2010. As a previous poster pointed out, Louisiana found out what happens when one scorns a candidate with original ideas by electing Blanco in 2003. I believe 2007 should show just how effective such thinking proves over time. I admire a man who does not dumb down his rhetoric when speaking to a crowd. Doing so implies he believes such a crowd is too stupid to comprehend him. Alabama, now more than ever, needs not only a reformer but a man with the ideas to accomplish reform. Let Bryne stand next to Folsom on stage in a debate. We will quickly see the difference between original ideas and tired rhetoric.
Comment by Will — October 31, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Preach on Will…. Republicans need a strong candidate against Folsom in 2010. Byrne has the brains and hopefully others will step up as well. It certainly is not Rob Riley, harri Snne or Kay Ivey that we need, although I like Kay. Byrne should look at the race but I am hoping Jack Hawkins of Troy University will consider it also. Alabama needs to move ahead, not be stuck with the past…i.e. Folsom.
Comment by GOPer — October 31, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
The Senate would be solidly Democratic if Luther had won — part of his platform was that he would use the “bully pulpit” of the office to elect a Republican majority to the Senate in 2010. How do you think that would have gone over with the Democrats that were voting with the Republican minority to hold things up most of the last session? People like Larry Means and EB McClain would have gone back to the D’s a lot quicker, and Tom Butler and other would have found it a lot harder to work with Luther. And by the way for those that are Bradley Byrne fans, why is that the Republicans in the Senate were not sorry to see him go? Reports are that they found him very hard to work with, even on the same side of the aisle.
Comment by Graves — November 1, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Byrne is doing one hell of a job now. Dems hate him because they were by far the majority of the ones double dipping. sweet jobs at community and junior colleges with doing little to no work and also sitting in the legislature. Byrne is helping the school board and riley clean up the mess and Dems hate him for it. I love him for it.
Comment by Anonymous — November 1, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
“Tim James for governor 2010″
Honesty, Integrity, a true patroit, an upholder of the constitution of the United States of America.
Comment by Anonymous — September 1, 2008 @ 8:52 pm