Posted by Let’s catch up a little…
- I talk to a lot of politicos who give the Tim James campaign high marks (some admit they are surprised given his 2006 showing) for running a strong campaign and for the relatively diverse support he is gathering. This week he announced eight regional directors for his gubernatorial campaign.
- I get email. FWIW.
I'm hearing that Jere Beasley has been tasked with telling Sue Bell Cobb that if she decides to run [for Governor], she will not have the support of the trial lawyers. I'm sure you've heard much of the grumbling/protests among judges/attorneys regarding SBC's flirtation with the gov. office. I'm just not sure if she's passed the point of no return. Though, she would definitely step on some toes (Hubbert) pulling away from the race, I think its in her best long term interest to do so.
I do what I can for you, so I ask another who I hope might know something about Beasley & the trial lawyer support and who responds: “I don’t know about this, but it has a ring of truth to it.” (If you know more about this, I’d be glad to hear from you.)
I’m told Cobb may have cooled on the idea of running. I thought she had cooled last time I heard anything about it. I’d still be surprised if she runs, but I’ve been surprised before.
- The Florence Professional Firefighters Association made an early commitment to endorse Democrat Tammy Irons in the SD 1 race. Is this the earliest endorsement for any 2010 legislative race?
- Related to the failure of the Alabama Legislature to pass a new occupational tax that the Jefferson County Commission so wanted… The Alabama Legal Rights blog looks at an affidavit filed in an occupational tax lawsuit from “a certified public accountant, certified fraud examiner, certified business valuation analyst and forensic accountant” who “reviewed audited financial records kept by the Jefferson County Commission as required by State law for the fiscal years of 2000 through 2007, along with the operating budgets for fiscal years 2008 – 2009.” Their conclusion (Spoiler alert): Perhaps the sky shouldn’t be falling.
- Jeffrey Poor of Lagniappe interviews Democratic gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis here.
- The state GOP introduces a new good-looking monthly e-newsletter: the e-lephant (.pdf). If you are not already on the list for email distribution and want to be, sign up at the algop.org website.
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Tim James is doing all the right things. He’ll be a “finalist” in the GOP race.
Danny, I have heard also that Kay Ivey has told people as recently as Thursday that she will NOT be a candidate for governor. Have you heard that? Maybe reason has set in.
She hired a campaign manager last week
Umm #1, looking at today’s Tusc News, Tim James may need to take some time off from campaign organizing and instead study up on the issues.
Last night, I talked to someone close to Kay who told me she is defintely running for Governor.
Ran across the website for the Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus, a while ago. Seems to be an attempt by libertarians to influence the Republican party.
post 3 – can you post a link to the article?
James will be formidable. He’s articulate and as one observer said earlier he is the most telegenic candidate.
As far as Kay goes if she is having to decide at the time of her announcement if she needs to get out that is trouble aplenty right there.
What’s on my mind today?
Beer, Danny, Beer!!!
The Hops are Free, thanks to Governor Riley, the State Legislature, and thousands of citizens at Free the Hops.
I’m about to make my last run up to Tennessee (distribution hasn’t been set up yet) to buy high gravity beer – Oskar Blues Imperial Stout – brewed in Colorado by a great Alabamian.
walt – the (L/l)ibertarians do have some influence – I like them for the most part but I’m not much for zealotry (unless it’s one of my issues ;)
post 3 – i went to the tusc news website and read the only story I saw on James. He talked about a reading initiative….how can you say from reading that article that he needs to study up on issues? Sounds like you are throwing bombs that make no sense and doing it anon. get specific if you have something legit to say.
James is a lot of things, but he is definitely not weak on knowledge of the issues. You may disagree with him but he can make very strong arguments for his views.
Reactionary, the sign is signed and sent to the Secretary of State? Great.
Libertarianism does have some attractive elements but then so does the Juche Idea, and anarchy.
Re Tim James reading proposal, and as I posted on the Daily Headlines, is he aware of the Alabama Reading Initiative? ARI is a nationally-recognized program that has produced real results. Gov. Riley has made it a budget priority and expanded it significantly during his term. I don’t understand why James would create a duplicative effort when one exists that it is showing results. Either Tim James doesn’t know about ARI or he wants to go down the worn path of redundant gov’t programs — I’m not sure which answer reflects more poorly on him.
walt – ah, the correct Juche Idea – in which political ideology and religious ideology are combined to create a socialist paradise ruled by the benevolent, virile, and handsome Dear Leader…
post 13 – i am not an expert on James’ policy positions but I have heard him specifically comment on Riley’s ARI. He praised it as a good start but noted more needed to be done. To act as if he is ignorant of ARI is false on your part.
Sue Bell not getting the trial lawyers’ (Alabama Association of Justice) endorsement means that Artur will. Sparks will have ALFA. Artur will have AAJ. If Cobb doesn’t get in the race, who does Hubbert and the AEA get behind?
#15, unless Tim James mentioned ARI and the Tusc News didn’t report it in their story (which I will concede is entirely possible), then he is the one who is acting ignorant of ARI. I do not dislike James, but stories like this perpetuate the knock on him that he is less experienced on the important issues of the day. ARI is now a $40 million-plus program in the education budget, so if he’s going to tee up the issue of reading and literacy (which I agree are very important) he needs to do it with some reference to ARI, i.e. improving it, scrapping it, supplementing it, or whatever his plan is.
for all those that think Byrne will have a problem for being a “former democrat”….here is a good example of why it will not be a problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRUbwnkEPqc
Byrne may have more of a problem for not showing at a single PACT board meeting for 2 years (according to the minutes they FINALLY released).
Reactionary, those are the flaws in the Juche Ideal, its good points are self sufficiency in all things and a proper respect for the opinions of trans national bodies.
Tim James has as much chance being elected governor as I have getting invited for lunch by the Obamas during Ramadan.
Response to 2010 in comment #18, (since he is double-posting, why don’t I?):
If Byrne pulled that one, and I was one of the other candidates, I’d hand him this one as a retort:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI
Nuff said Scorpius? That clip has zero to do with my point that folks on here screaming that Byrne was once a democrat better think of something else …
Small-l libertarians have significantly more influence than a lot of people suspect and they cost the Republicans dearly in 2006 and 2008. Read this for more: http://thenextright.com/stephen-gordon/the-gop-needs-libertarians-more-than-libertarians-need-the-gop-right-now