Posted by This week has been quite busy for me which means more things have piled up in the notebook.
- Gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis wants your ideas for the state of Alabama. And he wants you to vote on ideas that others have left. Check it out here. (He even takes to the blogosphere at Left in Alabama to promote it.)
- Lagniappe had a story this week in which Sen. Vivian Davis Figures said she and at least five other members of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus did not know about the caucus’s resolution critical of Mobile County AG John Tyson Jr. and that accused him of selective prosecution of African-Americans. Figures: “It definitely doesn’t represent the total Black Caucus.”
- Joyce Vance appears headed toward confirmation as the top federal prosecutor in the northern district of Alabama if yesterday’s bipartisan support from the Senate Judiciary Committee means anything.
- Speaking of Artur Davis, you may have seen that the Anybody But Artur Davis Crowd (ABAD Crowd) was at work again this week looking for another Democrat to run for governor. This chapter is an odd story. What is the thought process that leads you to conclude that Charles Price is more electable than Artur Davis? Is the idea that they can’t find a Democrat who can beat Artur Davis so they’ll find a candidate that will make him lose to, say, Ron Sparks?
- The 2010 House Election Directory and the Senate version have both been updated today.
- Have you offered comments on the draft constitution from the Mock Constitutional Convention? A lot of people have. The deadline is approaching. Read about it here.
- Friday fun (or not)… A group working on mosquito control rapped before the Birmingham City Council this week. “Fight the Bite.” Yep. “If you’re going outside in the heat, make sure you grab a can of the Deet.” Maybe you had to be there.
http://www.politicalparlor.net/docs/video/mosquito_rap.flv
Thanks to Walt (and B’ham Weekly whose Tweet brought it to our attention). - When you head home this weekend, remember not everyone is going back to work on Monday.
From: Martin, Alice (USAALN)
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:32 AM
To: USAALN-ALL
Subject: Announcement of Resignation
Dear Colleagues,
It is with a smile on my face but sadness in my heart that I announce I will resign as United States Attorney effective this Friday, June 19th at close of business.
The smile comes from knowing each of you and the confidence that you will continue to do outstanding and impactful work for the people of this district and nation (and the knowledge that I am taking the summer off to spend with my girls before my eldest starts college in the Fall)! The sadness comes from knowing each of you – and knowing that I will not have the level of contact which has made the past almost 8 years so meaningful for me. Wow, I can’t believe it has been almost 8 years since I joined your ranks – you have had far more time with me than you deserved! So, as we learned in leadership classes, change can be good – just know that one thing will not change and that is my following your careers and successes. You are an important part of my life.
I have advised the Department of my decision to spend the summer playing and not prosecuting, and my recommendation that Joyce be designated Acting U.S. Attorney pending her Senate confirmation. Her nomination is on this week’s Senate Judiciary Executive Business Meeting, and I trust the process will be swift to her confirmation!
I am in Huntsville today, and Birmingham the remainder of the week. I will be coming by each office to wish you well, but know if we miss, I trust we’ll see each other at a party which is planned for July 16th to celebrate our successes since September 2001. They are many because of your dedication to the mission!
Thanks for your individual leadership and professionalism. There is no better U. S. Attorney’s Office in the country and I am proud to have served with you!
Warmest wishes for your every success,
Alice
Have a good weekend.
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Danny: I’m beginning to think you are artur’s campaign manager. Come clean…
No, Danny is just reporting on the sad, sad attempt of numerous Democratic elements in AL to kill Davis’ ability to win the Democratic nomination for Governor because they know that they know that he is not beholden to them and their do-nothing, dried-up, left-over regimes, and that he and not their old pimping- profiteers represent true progress for Alabama’s black communities, white communities, all communities.
It’s almost like the Sharpton/Jackson/Lewis resistance to Obama at first. But then they all got over it. Something tells me these folks will too.
I think AEA is done worrying about Artur and is focused on the Leg races. That would be the smart thing to do.
Different subject… what role will the change in leadership in the US Atty in the Northern District affect the investigation of you know who???
Dylan, I was but they let me go when I could not secure the Chuck Norris endorsement.
Are you suggesting that one of the two Davis items above is not of sufficient interest to be included in a blog on state politics?
Mr. Jinks, interesting question. If I were a betting man, I’d bet that it gets dropped (the Middle District passed on it already, or recused themselves, some have suggested). I suppose if it moves forward then you might guess they really have something worth pursuing.
The “AEA” resistance to Artur is really more Joe Reed than AEA proper. You can expect that to fade a little if Artur is matched up against Reed’s best bud Bradley in the general.
Yeah, a lot remains to be seen. You’re right, if it keeps going, then you know he’s in it deep.
I’m going to disagree with you, though, Danny, on Vance dropping it. I think the writing is on the wall for King, if you know your namesake Biblical book.
I am anxious to see what happens with the investigation as well. I doubt they will have any love for King so they may keep it going assuming, as has been said, it has some teeth to it. If I was Troy, I’d not be any less stressed about it just because Martin is gone.
and to follow up about artur…… I wonder if so many in the dem leadership do not like him because he is not part of the “old guard” in Alabama (and good for him). Or, is the problem that so many dems think he cannot win in the general election? Maybe some of both….I don’t know.
Mr. Jinks, from one King to another, Belshazzar to Troy, we’ll see. I’d still be interested to know about why the Middle District and Leura Canary passed on it.
2010 in #9, I think some are motivated by one, some by the other.
Alice is HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To #8, most of the insiders in the US Attorney’s office think that Martin’s departure and Vance’s arrival will not affect a single ongoing investigation. In fact, if Martin did not think so herself, either Sessions or Shelby would have raised a stink about her dismissal. That’s bad news for at least one Democrat seeking a certain federal office and one Republican seeking a certain statewide office.
To #9, a friend of mine who was at the trial lawyers conclave this weekend says that Cobb is a few days away from getting out. To #6, Reed was trying to split the black vote so that Cobb, his choice, had a better shot. Hank Sanders and Charles Price both said no. Supposedly, even the good Dr. Hubbert thinks the Reed “I hate Davis ” thing is getting a little weird.