AL-02 Bits
FWIW, there was a forum last night in Wetumpka sponsored by the Wetumpka, Millbrook, Elmore Co and Tallasee Chambers of Commerce. All candidates, Republican and Democrat, were in attendance except for Republicans Harri Anne Smith and David Grimes.
Anyone know what Smith’s conflict is tonight that will keep her from participating in the televised debate?
Her campaign has picked up Bill Harris of Prattville to serve as Coordinator of her Congressional campaign. From the release:
In 1996, he successfully ran Robert Aderholt’s first bid for the United States Congress, and then went on to serve as Congressman Aderholt’s District Director. In 1997 he ran the state’s Republican Party in the role of executive director. In 2004, he was elected as a Bush/Cheney delegate to the Republican National Convention from the second congressional district. Harris was elected this year as a Huckabee delegate, and will again represent the Republican Party as a convention delegate for the second congressional district.
Jeremy Cline, President of the Troy University College Democrats emailed me to say the group will host Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright on Tuesday, April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. along with other local Democratic leaders.
Related Articles:
Smith and Love are apparently in a race to hire the most consultants, in the vain hopes that the image makers can turn them into something resembling a leader.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bright shows he is a real leader at every turn.
Comment by Bright Fan — April 18, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
How does Bright do that? (I don’t have a horse in this race, but when someone makes a statement such as yours, I always want them to explain.)
Comment by Margaret — April 18, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
Bright has not run with a big D by his name before. When he does this time, that big D will mean defeat. he ran on the wrong ticket folks…and he knows it.
Comment by NotSoBright — April 18, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
Harri Anne is not doing a campaign event or anything else tonight. She is known for saying she has a conflict when she doesn’t want to do an event or go to Montgomery to cast a vote. That debate threw softballs - she is a nut for missing it. Fine consultants she has!!!!!!
Comment by GetReal — April 18, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
Take a look at Harri Anne Smith’s press conference video from last week and you will know why she was not present.
Comment by Have-You-Seen-Her-Video — April 18, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
http://www.mydothan.com/Bingo/041408HASbingoBillStopped.wmv
OMG….please keep her off TV at all cost. I cannot imagine her speaking for us. After tonight, Love looks better and better to me.
Comment by Peeps — April 18, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
Bobby Bright, Harri Anne Smith and Jay Love all have more than being professional politicians in common. Each has stated more than once over the last 4 years that they wanted to run against Congressman Everett. And then they fell all over themselves to praise him when he retired. They are all professional pols and careerists. Bright has the biggest ego of three. He once said that he wanted to run against Everett so that Montgomery could get its own congressman again. Funny now he is calling himself the “Wiregrass Values” candidate. Which way do you want it, Bobby? Are you the Montgomery or the Wiregrass candidate? Also, why did you go back and forth so long before you finally decided to run as a Dem? You were never seriously courted by the GOP. None of these three is appealing.
Comment by Concerned Citizen — April 18, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Bright…Yawn
Comment by Nuttyprofessor — April 18, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
I can tell you that Bright is definitely in this race to win! He is going to be a formidable candidate in the 02 district race. He spoke on issues tonight that made me like him even more. He is a man of conviction whom is not afraid to tell the people of 02 of his willingness to cross party lines to achieve what is best for this country and the 02 district of Alabama. You rarely ever see a candidate that is staunch enough to make statements like that. Usually, they are all supporters of his or her party desires. This caused me to gain more respect for him and also leaves me to believe he is looking at all aspects of what’s best and needed to turn this country around and to get it back on the right track.
He appears to be extremely dedicated to his beliefs and knows that voters are tired of the present day inflation rates and are desperate to see some drastic changes in a positive manner put into works. I truly believe he has the right connections and will get involved with other Congressman to make positive changes and will strengthen our military while also helping the farmers in our district.
When he spoke tonight about his involvement in the BRAC and that he was instrumental in helping save hundreds of jobs at Maxwell and Gunter, this made me a firm believer that he has already worked to do just that. Why would he make that statement if he wasn’t involved. I know that if not for his support of that initiative, hundreds of jobs would have been cut and sent to other military bases, as was the case at other military installations.
Is a downsize of our local military installations what we want to see in the future? Absolutely not, this is why we need to get behind him and see that he gets the necessary funding to get elected to Congress. Send him to Washington so he can begin the fight to save jobs, reduce gas prices and assist our farmers and military personnel alike. This is what we need now! He will make a great Congressman for all of us while also standing up for the state of Alabama. Therefore, lets see that he gets elected by supporting his campaign in every way possible. Let him know that he is needed as the next Congressman from the great state of Alabama! God Bless America…
Comment by Evaluator — April 18, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Is anyone excited by the candidates? None of them are very articulate.
Comment by Mullet — April 18, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Bright didn’t save jobs at gunter in the latest brac all by himself. that was an effort on the montgmery chamber, everett, shelby, sessions and yes, bright. but give credit where it is dude…to everyone involved. that term paper you just wrote on bright is a little much.
Comment by get real — April 18, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
>>He is a man of conviction whom is not afraid to tell the people of 02 of his willingness to cross party lines to achieve what is best for this country and the 02 district of Alabama.
He may (or may not) be a fine man, but he is for sure a man who, if he is elected, will help keep Pelosi, Murtha, Rangel, Waters, Waxman, Wexler, Moran, Stark and other such miscreants in power.
Comment by Onelife — April 18, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
EXACTLY - if the folks in this district want to add to the democrat power source and have a representative that is part of the pelosi - murtha - conyers - rangle team then sure - send bobby. he will be a dem - plain and simple. if he wants to be a republican then run as one.
Comment by BBB — April 18, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
Looks like Bobby’s campaign staffers are doing a good job at getting the talking points on blogs- see comment #9.
Comment by Terry — April 19, 2008 @ 12:10 am
Blog 9 is freakin’ ridiculous.
Comment by PikeCountyguy — April 19, 2008 @ 8:27 am
Looks to me that Love was the most impressive. I thought Schmidtke did a good job. What’s up with David Woods hair?
Comment by db — April 19, 2008 @ 9:09 am
Disagree strongly with the last comment - Love looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights - he was Quayle without the good looks (and what was up with his combover?). Schmditke was Tim Kazurinsky from Saturday Night Live - geek to the max. All the candidates looked bad, but those two bottom-fed. I was one of those that thought Harri Anne Smith was a fool to miss this but that decision now looks like a good and sound one - I have never seen such a befuddled collection of losers as the ones that inhabited that stage.
Comment by No — April 19, 2008 @ 11:06 am
I have two thoughts after last night’s debate. First, Bobby Bright said twice that he’s been promised things from the Democrats in Washington? What’s he promised in return? Nothing comes for free, especially in Washington. What does he owe Nancy Pelosi and her gang?
Second, what was Harri Anne thinking? If she can’t publicly answer the questions they asked last night on Iraq, energy, healthcare, the economy or this district’s bases, what business does she have in this race? It seems like every American except Harri Anne Smith is talking about these things.
Comment by John Deere — April 19, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
Post 17 - you’re a freakin’ idiot. Love and Schmidtke did the best - hands down. Apparently, you wish to support your cowardly harri anne by trashing everyone else instead of realizing who did well. Typical. i do agree some of them didn’t do well though - woods has more problems than just his hair.
Comment by BBB — April 19, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
I watched the debate and now I think I will be changing to Demoncrate.I liked the way Bright can turn people on with his integrity. He knows how to get things done.He is for the working people.the old the young and the baby boomers.It’s going to take someone like him to get things done in the right way. He’s my kind of politician.WAY TO GO BRIGHT!!
Comment by upscale — April 19, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
Bright has no integrity. He is a captive stooge of the KennedyClardyWallace Mafia. He has ruined the Mongtomery Police Department and many legal issues surround the Fire Department. Bright raised the sales tax to 10% and crime is out of control. Bright, quite simply, is an idiot.
Now Harri Anne Smith has sold her credibility down the river with Swinehart and Jack Campbell. She has spilt her seed, now unrecoverable.
Comment by publius — April 19, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
>>I will be changing to Demoncrate…
I have a difficult time believing that you are not already a Demoncrate…
Comment by Onelife — April 19, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
Ask Bobby Bright how much money Janice Clardy Massa has made in Grant commissions. She is his sister in law. Ask Bobby Bright how much money Joe Perkins has made from downtown land deals. Ask bobby bright about sam adams and lofts. ask bobby bright about no bid contracts. If you dont ask, dont worry… you will hear loud and often around May 27….
Comment by Publius — April 19, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
#11. Bright had nothing to do with BRAC jobs being saved. That credit,locally goes solely to General Paul ‘forget his last name’… The General worked with chamber and the Alabama congressional delegation and lobbyists on this complex issue. Bright simply did not possess the gray matter or gravitas to deal with this issue. He was quickly marginalized and scripted to simple statements when dealing with any public statement on the issue. God love him, somebody has to, but he is not Congressional material, even mayoral material. The only winners from his service as mayor has been the KennedyClardyWallace mafia in Montgomery.
Comment by Publius — April 20, 2008 @ 9:13 am
I find it so amusing how all these bright fans act as if he has this race wrapped up and point to him dooing well in the city of montgomery in terms of votes and how republicans voted for him in the past. get real. only a portion of the city if montgomery is in the second district and secondly, when bright ran before it was non partisan. it will make a big difference to a mjority of the voters in district 2 when there is a big “D” by bright’s name on the ballot. sorry bright, you can’t win as a D in this district.
Comment by JohnJohn — April 20, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
#24 I see where you have, on several occasions, both here and on other forums, used the KennedyBrightClardyWallace mafia line. Please explain to those of us who may not be as well informed as you. In my 20 plus years in the Montgomery area, I don’t recall any news reports, or even rumors, of any wrong doing involving those mentioned. So, is it sour grapes or do you have some info you would like to share? I can’t even imagine Mrs Clardy, at 80 plus years old, being the involved in any illegal activity. I have fished at her place often and she is a sweet little old lady.
Comment by JRay — April 20, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
#18 HASmith has had plenty of time to prep for tomorrows event in Troy. Wish I could be there to see if she is up to the challenge.
Comment by JRay — April 20, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
JRAy, You are a poor fisher of minds. In your world corruption only exists if it is in the paper. I suppose you watch keith olberman too. I dont go to forums, for what it is worth.Do you proffer publius as the only one who has ever heard of the kennedyclardywallace mafia?
Comment by publius — April 20, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
Publius, perhaps the kennedyclardywallace mafia is only a figment of your rather bizarre imagination. If you know something, share it. Like JRay, I’ve been around Montgomery for a long time and I’ve never heard of it. Enlighten us.
Comment by Anonymous — April 21, 2008 @ 5:20 am
It exists. Before Bobby was mayor he would use threats of taking people to court and tieing it up costing them lots of money, as a way to try to push them around, instead of burning down businesses.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 21, 2008 @ 8:16 am
Publius, are you going to offer some evidence to support your claims? If not, I’ll just write you off as some disgruntled former city employee. Are you the city employee that was fired for falsifying his time card? Or perhaps you’re the MFD employee that hates Bright because he promoted blacks to management positions within the MFD.
Comment by JRay — April 21, 2008 @ 8:20 am
WWW, OK. That’s what lawyers do. But what does that have to do with this alleged KCW mafia that Publius speaks of?
Comment by JRay — April 21, 2008 @ 8:28 am
Publius, Please disregard #31. I withdraw my questions. I am not interested in starting a war of words with you. I have better things to do.
Comment by JRay — April 21, 2008 @ 8:34 am
I can tell you who Mr. Publius truly is. He is a very disgruntled wanna be City Council Member that didn’t make the cut on the ballot. Now since then, he has been nothing but a Bright mudslinger and non-supporter in every aspect. But the truth is no one really cares who or listens to his one sided biased opinions. And this is the truth, people! He is always ready to voice opinions but never produces any substantial claims to support them, any of them… Enough said, now let’s get the story straight there Mr. Publius or quit bashing the current Admin, end of subject!
Comment by Let Me Set The Record Straight — April 21, 2008 @ 11:57 am
Thanks Straight. I used to visit al.com several years back, before it became passe, and saw very similar accusations. They were always directed at Bright and Clardy, and were always unsubstantiated. I’m not a Bright coat-tailer, but I do have great respect for his sister-in-law, the ex-DA for Elmore county. Now - I’m going to go check out the comments on todays forum in Troy.
Comment by JRay — April 21, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
Yawn… It is clear Bright has his trisomes working the net. I am not now, nor have I ever been in government. I am a self employed businesman. JRay et al… please produce reciepts for Janice Clardy Massa’s income from grant writing that benefits the city of montgomery. Please produce reciepts that show profits of Mayor and Judge Bright. Please produce land sales records of Bright/Clardy/Mark Kennedy/Joe Perkins and others connected to the former daycare center downtown. purchase price and share distribution. You can do this now and save yourselves much embarrassment, to say the least. Polonius is having dinner, not where he eats, but where he is being eaten. And, the worm turns.
Comment by publius — April 21, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
A lawyer should not push frivilous lawsuits on people that he thinks he can use to get has family’s way. He says you do this for me or I will bring a lawsuit until you cannot afford to fight me anymore then the suit drops. That is unethical and an abuse of the legal system. He would do this one behalf of the Clardy family to push land deals.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — April 21, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
Sorry Publius, but I have no idea of what you are talking about. But Bright will have to disclosure his financials soon as a part of his AL02 run. Maybe you can find your answers there.
Comment by JRay — April 21, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
Let me tell you this Bright is a man that doesn’t mind setting the record straight.He’s a true gentleman in everyway.He is the one with the most integrity of all the candidates.
Comment by tips — April 22, 2008 @ 4:51 am
Tips….get real
Comment by Jboner — April 22, 2008 @ 11:02 am
Publius sure throws around accusations. I bet he couldn’t win a contested election for dogcatcher, so he comes in and slags people who are honest and hardworking.
Comment by RealTalk — April 22, 2008 @ 11:20 am
yawn… May 27th.
Comment by Publius — April 22, 2008 @ 11:30 pm
BRIGHT came from a family with good morals and as they say’The apple doesn’t fall for from the tree” I’ve known his family for years now and he was taught the value of hard work.He helped to work his self through school very dedicated .He was also the 13th of 14 children.He never expected help from anyone .He put everything he had into it.AND for him to do just that and get to where he is now I think that is saying much for his character.He learned from all of that.
Iknow that you don’t want to listen to this ,but he had the greatest most christain mother that ever lived..He was taught the valves in life and how to apply his self worth.You might say he was a like John Boy on the Waltons..from the time he was in elementry school ,he wanted to be a an attorny .He stuck by that and worked very hard.He was told that “anyone could be what they wanted to be ,if they wanted to bad enough”.He proved them right.No one gave him anything.He has come to what he is on his own.BY working hard to get there.
He was a go get her then and still is .Now you figue it out. I KNOW I was there.ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS, GOOD LUCK MAYOR BRIGHT.You really deserve it.
Comment by let me tell you thiss — April 23, 2008 @ 4:38 am
Publius — why would anything the Repubs have to say about Bright have anything to do with May 27?
Comment by Real Talk — April 23, 2008 @ 11:06 am