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The Political Parlor has confirmed that there are those on the judicial staff for Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb that are looking for other employment, presumably because the Chief Justice is “pursuing other opportunities” and will not need her judicial staff.
This indication comes on the heels of Jere Beasley’s endorsement of Artur Davis for governor. Does this timing indicate that Cobb has bowed up her back at Beasley’s endorsement of Davis and so will respond with her own announcement to run? To my surprise, multiple Democrats have suggested that as a possibility to me. As likely, I think, is that if she is going to run, she may feel the need to announce as soon as possible in the wake of Beasley’s endorsement to stem the erosion of support that may follow Beasley to Davis’ camp in the absence of any announcement from her.
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Who is Jere Beasley? In the big scheme of things do endorsements really gather enough votes to help a candidate. Especially one who is a generational person like Beasley. Sure there are those of us who barely remember Beasley. But for those who were not around during that time he may not have much pull.
Stephen, you clearly have no concept of how politics work. That’s like saying Paul Hubbert’s support of a candidate akin to a trivial celebrity endorsement
Unless, she or someone else has dug up “the bombshell”, ain’t no one beating Artur in the Dem Primary.
We’ll see what happens in the fall, but short of the proverbial live boy or dead girl, Artur is going to be the nominee.
I agree with comment #1. Unless Beasley is willing to pump a lot of money into Artur’s campaign, his endorsement means very little.
i have always said cobb is bluffing. but as a Republican – I hope she is not. Please let her run!!!!! Artur will still win the primary but Cobb will hopefully shake things up, make artur spend more and more money in the primary, and maybe rough each other up a little and leave artur limping in to the general election. plus it opens the door to the chief justice position.
yes, that sounds bad (me hoping the dems do each other in) but hell, the GOP is famous for doing that to each other in primaries. It is about time the dems do it.
as for beasley’s endorse meaning anything…..I agree that it is sort of like paul h and AEA….it does mean something to dems because it likely brings with it contributions and a certain voting category (trial attys).
http://www.timjames2010.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Articles.View&Article_id=dd73c266-6abc-43f7-b4b7-432a2e90661a
a little bit of change of topic……. I find this interesting (see link). It seems that Tim James is going out of his way to court Roy Moore supporters by saying “hey – look – former moore supporters are for ME now”. He obviously sees Moore as real competition. There is an obvious danger that Moore will skim off some hard right supporters from James. Apparently, James is trying to prevent that.
#1 and #4, you are wrong. Beasley’s endorsement is huge to anyone trying to finance any race in Alabama
Why would she want to run? Why take the chance?
She may lose in the primary … she may lose in the general…
… and if she wins it all she takes a pay cut!
Color me still skeptical. She’s a smart cookie and ultimately I think she knows this isn’t the right choice for her.
8,
I think CJ Cobb has qualified for a full judicial pension. Don’t think she will be taking a pay cut!!! Remember, Alabama has the highest paid appellate court judges in the country.
10: not quite. The Supreme Court is the 8th highest paid in the Country (including DC). Obviously, that goes up if cost of living is included, but still not to the top.
http://contentdm.ncsconline.org/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/judicial&CISOPTR=272
(check page 2)
Regardless of where her judicial pay ranks, Judge Cobb will not be worried about money. In addition to what would be a substantial retirement, her husband is a successful lobbyist.
I hope she runs because it would elevate the conversation on the Democratic side but I doubt she will – Jere Beasley’s role in Artur’s campaign will be significant.
On the flip side, I’m not sure this was the smartest move on Artur’s part. He could have had Beasley’s support without such a public role – he will stir up opposition in the business community that he wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Sue Bell Cobb would make one hell of a good governor.
She has a vision, she is articulate, and has the ability to reach across the aisles and work with common sense folks no matter their party affiliation.
Artur Davis will create a domino effect in the Democratic Party. I don’t believe those polls. He will get a tail whipping in the Fall and take a bunch of D’s with him. Sue Bell is the only clear choice to stabilize the Democratic Party in my mind.
No. 9, you are dead on.
Folks in Cobb’s staff have been looking for alternative employment since she was first floated as a candidate. This “leak” was intended to stem the flow of supports to Artur behind Beasley’s endorsement as Danny suggests, but without having to actually announce.
If Cobb runs now, she’s not sitting flat in the boat! Beasley just blew her out of the water!!! It’s all about money and power!! Beasley is maybe second only to Dr. Paul Hubbard when it comes to money and power in Alabama politics!!
What about Ronnie Sparks. Maybe he’s working on getting Jerry Newby to endorse him!! Yea, right!
lil ronnie sparks is so insignificant these days. sort of like kay ivey. they both should be wise and run for each others jobs. sparks for treas and ivey for ag commish. at least they might could win those!
Kay should run for LG.
I won’t argue about the fact that she is smart or that she would be a good candidate, but what is Sue Bell Cobb’s vision for the state?
Lil Ronnie Sparks will have to follow the lead of Susan Parker and I LOVE LUCY, after he gets embarrassed in the Gov’s race. He’ll have to drop back to one on the public service commission slots to keep in head in the trough! That seems to be where the embarrassed one’s end up these days!
I think this big loss will end Kay Ivey’s political career!
Heard Hubbert is really pushing her to run. I wouldn’t bet against her. She is a relentless campaigner.
Still a lot of mixed signals on Cobb’s plans. A close ally of hers told me today that Cobb had been ready to announce if a chunk of the black legislative caucus would endorse her, but that she has been surprised that not a single black legislator would come out publicly against Davis, whom many of them dislike and resent.
This person says that Cobb is all but out and that she may even announce a no go at the trial lawyers retreat this weekend. On the flip side, I called a friend in the Davis circle who says that the Davis camp is absolutely convinced that Cobb is running and that this explains the rushed decision to get Beasley’s name out before she can tie down trial lawyers. Got to give SBC credit: when’s the last time a political announcement was genuinely suspenseful?
One more insight on a Tuesday night: Hubbert and Reed have been cooling on a Cobb candidacy. The talk is that they are now telling Cobb to back away now and wait and see how Davis looks next spring. If he blows up or stumbles she can get in late and that way she avoids a year long fight.
#6, almost all of Moore’s 2006 supporters who have money are with James. I think it is probably a good idea for James to point out to Moore’s remaining base that Roy has 1) no significant financial support in-state (and his out-of state has probably fallen off a cliff as well) and 2)all of Moore’s influential backers are with James now.
I think Roy’s campaign will be dead by January 1, 2010.
Del, I am always glad to read your posts. You tend to confirm what I hear from people close to Cobb and close to Hubbert and Reed. I think you are absolutely right. Cobb is waiting to see how Davis looks in the Spring. This “leak” about her staff looking for alternative employment is an effort to keep her name in the hat in the wake of Beasley’s endorsement. And, while a lot can change in eight months, I just wonder how long she can keep up this cat and mouse game.
Regardless of where her judicial pay ranks, Judge Cobb will not be worried about money. In addition to what would be a substantial retirement, her husband is a successful lobbyist.
Comment by Anonymous — June 16, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
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hasn’t his career wound down?
Re: 23 — If she becomes a candidate for governor later than this November, the guv’s CJ appointee (likely GOP) will get a pass till the 2012 elections … just collateral damage from a late decision.
Number 24#
Roy Moore is getting more money faster than he ever in 2006. And now like last time most it is small contributions from large numbers of donors.
Tim James is bragging about getting Ron Creel and Roy Smith’s support. Those aren’t money bags.
Frankly, anyone is better off having them against you than for you.
Esp. Ron Creel, I personally suspect he was a plant by Tim to undermine Moore back in 2006.
In any case Ron Creel is almost universally disliked by all who know him regardless of age, background, political beliefs etc…
I don’t think that it really matters. Someone who is supporting Roy Moore please tell me why I should. I just don’t get it.
#28 you are whistling past the graveyard. Roy Moore not only is broke, he wanted to run as an independent but COULD NOT GET THE SIGNATURES on the petition. That is a fact known buy a lot of people. He can claim all the stuff he wants, but that is a cold hard fact.
He can’t raise any real money, and he couldn’t even find a few thousand people willing to sign a petition. He has zero chance, and that’s good for Alabama.
Hey 28 – Dean Young, is that you? Are you worried about Russo’s deal? Are you going to be indicted soon too?
I agree that Roy Moore will go no where. Not that he cares anyway…..this campaign is not about Alabama…it’s all about him. So if he gets some publicity he thinks he wins.
Sue Bell Cobb, she may want to clean up the mess her husband caused, while building there new home in Orange Beach Al. This could cause her problems down the road. People need to get paid for work they have done.