Posted by All eight announced gubernatorial candidates attended the candidate forum hosted by the Business Council of Alabama today.
Press-Register political editor George Talbot was there tweeting away in real-time. After the fact, he gave me permission to post his tweets here.
Thank you, Mr. Talbot! You may follow George Talbot here on Twitter.
RT @ArturDavis: Just finished participating in the BCA gubernatorial forum. It was a great event! Thanks BCA!
Published 3 minutes ago from TweetDeck
RT @timjames2010: Today’s BCA gov’s forum gave us a good look at the contenders. An outstanding event! Let’s have more!
Published 3 minutes ago from TweetDeck
BCA buzz: rumors about a Palin event in Ala for one of the candidates. Her appearance fee: $50k
Published 12 minutes ago from TweetDeck
1 sharp exchange: Sparks said he will oppose expansion of unemp benefits. Davis “surprised and disappointed” by that answer.
Published 35 minutes ago from TweetDeck
Not much disagreement on taxes, ethics reform, econ dev, health care, state budgets. All v polite and few punches thrown.
Published 41 minutes ago from TweetDeck
Byrne and Johnson have yard signs along Hwy 98 (rd to hotel). This is BB’s home turf – he’s from Montrose/Baldwin Co
Published about 2 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Post-interviews with the candidates. All saying they’re up for more debates.
Published about 2 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Bentley: we need to resist this punishment the fed gov’t is trying to do to the South. No to card check.
Published about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Byrne: i’ve been a partner to BCA for 15 years. I want to contin that partnership.
Published about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Davis: recogzs Riley. “He & I don’t agree on ev. But all of us on this stage would do well to follow his example.”
Published about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Ivey: competition in politics just as healthy as in biz. This will be a great campaign.
Published about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Johnson: I am a compassionate conserv. I bel in helping the less fortunate. But gov’t not the best tool for doing it.
Published about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Moore quotes my column from Wed – nice shout-out!
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Sparks: i pledge no new taxes on working fams. I will tax the fastest growing ind in Ala – gambling.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Moore: we must have ethics reform. If you shine a light on Montgom you’d see pols scurryring out in ev direction.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Davis: My party is wrong on cap & trade. My party is wrong on hc. Both bad for Ala.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Sparks – “you should consider me because I’m electable. I won 62 of 67 co.’s in last elec.” That’s a shot at Davis.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
James: I will build a union of conservative Govs to resist fed encroahment on the states.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Byrne- Washington will destroy the best hc system the world has never known.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
Bentley leads off w/health care Q – “I will make hc more affordable for biz.” He’s a doctor.
Published about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry
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Sparks sure does like to talk about those 62 counties…
Has he seen the polling that shows him trailing just about everyone??? http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2009/06/alabama-governor-looks-competitive.html
I wouldn’t put a penny on Sparks’ electability in this race.
Who would Palin support?
JACK, probably someone that well quit before their term is over….
I heard that Kay Ivey and Palin developed a strong relationship at the Republican Governors meeting last year.
“union of conservative Govs” Tim James is starting to sound like his daddy. Not a good thing to remind voters about
i don’t think palin is a big draw…so i hope it is ivey she is trying to help. i also agree with post 1, ron sparks is a joke at this point…davis might as well be un opposed.
Where did Roy Moore fit into this puzzle today?
Ronnie Sparks is a lost ball in high weeds. Against expansion of unemployment benefits!!! Sounds like a republican! Guess he’s repeating what he’s heard from his ALFA buddies!
Ronnie talks about the 62 counties, but he’s in a totally different class of politics now! He needs to consult with I Love Lucy Baxley and Susan Parker! Both of them can tell him what it’s like to get their plow cleaned when going from the minors to the majors!
Ronnie’s let ALFA blow smoke up his @$$ until he believe’s it himself now! Fortunately, no one else does!
#4 I have been a big Palin fan, and have defended/praised her on my own website. However, if she campaigns for Kay Ivey, I will scratch Palin off my list for 2012.
Does that mean it’s not Mr. Moneybags recruiting Palin?
Sparks is toast. Davis will be making a big mistake if he does not endorse an education lottery in general election. Siegelman simply didn’t dot the i’s and cross the t’s on his plan. There is no downside for Davis to endorse it.
Rev. Killian, I can’t imagin Palina supporting Ivey.
Palin would only support a strong dependable social conservative and that lives out Ivey.
Palin would be a huge draw. If she did make an endorsement in the primary – that would be news.
Supporting the nominee – that’s not a big deal.
Here are my thoughts, in the alphaorder they were presented:
Bentley: Solid presentation, thoughtful answers. Better than expected, lived on HSA establishment, whihc is a good idea.
Byrne: If there was a winner, it was Byrne. He answered the questions, stayed on his message, 3 E. Helped with Riley talking 3 E too. Had best opening.
Davis: Did fairly well, but when was asked specifics, wandered elsewhere, notable on education. Was asked specifically what 3 programs in education would he keep, what 3 would he cut. He talked about PACT. When he did get specific, highlighted why this audience wouldn’t benefit from him as Governor – take the stings attached unemployment stimulus money?
Ivey: Felt sorry for her as clearly her time has passed, and did so in the late 1940’s.
James: Forrest James, I’m not a smart man, Jenny. Came off less than smart, wandered around, gave many many cliches. I just can’t see him leading our state, much less some imaginary league of conservative governors traveling the country.
Johnson: Shouldn’t be on the same dais with these others, not ready for prime time. His wife is his greatest asset, er, lifeline.
Moore: Convinced me he will be a Moore-than-2006 candidate. Talked taxes and fiscal responsibility. Still scary looking, and will never be Governor.
Sparks: Bad grammar in 2009 is not a winner, Ron, nor is his plan to pin the resurgence of Alabama on taxing gambling.
from all accounts, james is stumbling as of late. has he already sputtered almost to a stop? maybe he lost his groove once others actually jumped in the race with him. we still have a long way to go but right now it seem Roy Moore will take what votes James was hoping to get….
My version of 13, based on e-mails i have seen and two first hand accounts: on performance, Davis was the winner here, while Byrne was solid and polished, and certainly more in line with this group’s philosophy, Davis aced the closing comments and seemed consistently effective in grabbing the crowd’s attention.
On substance, there was a lot of talk about the fact that Davis held his ground on the stimulus unemployment benefits. Some were impressed with his candor, some thought it a mistake to add this position to Jere Beasley and Employee Free Choice act as strike with the business community. My read, Davis knows this crowd will pick Byrne over him and that it will lean his way if James pulls the upset on the GOP side, so not a lot rode on this answer. As for Sparks, one of my sources “no one in that room thinks he will crack 40% agn Davis”.
The BCA is not going to side up with Davis and the Trial Laywers over ANY Republicans.
Bradley should have knocked the ball out of the park, this is Riley’s crowd, Canary’s organization and Bradely has been courting them for years from the senate on forward – but these folks are NOT Alabama. Luther Strange was butt kissing buddies with these folks and just barely beat Wallace and lost the general. Bradely is about as out of touch with real Alabama as Luther was. I would’t read this as ANY kind of litmus test here and I think it’s fair to say, no surprises here(?).
Donkey, former rac member here, the BCA membership will not side with beasley, the trial lawyers or the unions over ANY republican including Roy Moore, much less James and remember this.
From a guest at the forum last night, this is my breakdown of the results:
Winners
Byrne: Stayed on message, concise answers, economic development platform played very well in the room. GOP frontrunner IMO.
Davis: Definately the winner on the Dem side, still a little too liberal for my tastes on issues like taxes but I think he will blow Sparks away in the primary. There really was no comparison between the two.
Losers
James: Jumbled thoughts, pie in the sky ideas(crusading conservative governors association), his lack of experience really showed last night. I think the wheels may already be coming off his campaign.
Sparks: Look much like James, jumbled, less intelligent. Basing an entire campaign on gambling and the lottery is not a good idea IMO.
Suprises
Bentley: He was without a doubt the suprise of the night. He came across as the elder statesman with ideas and solutions, unlike most of the others. If he can overcome his money/name recognition problems he will be the darkhorse in the GOP field.
Moore: I admit I was expecting to see religious zealot Roy Moore on display, I was pleasently suprised that he came out well spoken on economic issues. He is apparently trying to reinvent himself, I am just not sure voters will be able to see past the “Ten Commandments Judge” image.
Ivey and Johnson both were extremely underwhelming.
here’s where we agree..a Davis/Byrne race, BCA pats Davis on the back but goes with Byrne, no doubt about it. here’s where we might differ…if James, the only other plausible GOP nominee, wins over Byrne, the BCA types will be licking their wounds and cursing a return to the Fob/Guy Hunt Republican brand. If Davis makes them some promises on right to work and cabinet appointments (like keeping Neal Wade) there will be a BCA constituency to back Davis. My source on that, a little higher placed than a former rac member.
I would hold off on that Byrne having the Republican nod.
Remember the Religious Right is awfully big in the primary.
Byrne is not showing any appeal to them or the populist crowd.
Your going to see a real fight on the Republican side.
nice try “doesitmatter” If you have allegations to make – make them with specifics – don’t just try to drop an unsubstantiated bomb. Ridiculous….
Danny, does 21 not violate your rules against “Unfounded or irrelevant allegations”
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Princeliberty (or others) – which Byrne stance isn’t attractive to the religious right? I have been told he is a Christian family man who is pro-life, pro-homeschooling, and anti-gambling. If he’s not, I’d like to know. If he is, then why vote for Moore?
Hmmm… is an insinuation the same as an allegation? Perhaps it is.
Thank you for weighing in, Common Sense.
Byrne is speaking to the Christian Coalition on August 24 in Montgomery.
Everybody who runs for office in Alabama is a Christian.
You mean Byrne is speaking to the phony Christian Coalition that accepts gambling money and has no credibilty with Christians.
That right there is a mark against Byrne.
That group is not legtimate a real social conservative would not come near it.
Its one thing to mouth social issue conservatism.
Almost all Republicans do that and as we have seen few are willing to actually do anything to advance a social conservative agenda.
And there is nothing on Byrne’s record to indicate he was fight for social conservative issues.
Further, he does not show that has any understanding of the Founding Fathers and has a is willing and able to fight for the Constitution.
He appears to be another empty suit that plays to the big money interests and does what it takes to advance himself.
Christians want true servant leaders who about upholding the Constitution and the dream the Founding Fathers had for this nation.
Only Roy Moore fits that bill esp. in terms of have dmeonstrated those virtues in his actions.
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is a Christian.
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is pro-life.
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is pro-Charter schools
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is pro-homeschooling.
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is pro-2nd Amendment.
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is against gay marriage.
Not everyone who runs for office in Alabama is against gambling.
Bradley Byrne is all of those combined with the experience of being a state school board member, state senator and chancellor of the 2 year schools. He knows how to get things done in Montgomery and he has shown that he is a fighter and will stand up for our values.
#23 “2010″ It’s obvious, you are not in-tune with state government as you think you are!!
Actually, William – everybody does claim the name Chrisian.
What religion somebody says they belief in, means nothing to me.
I am concerned about their Worldview, understand of the Constitution, the way of the Founding Fathers and
faithfulness to those traditional values and political principles.
Byrne has not fought for those values – he only has carried the party line.
He has done nothing to demonstrate he nothing but another empty suit.
please fill us in 29….. no one else seems to mention the same thing as eluded to about Byrne in a post that has now been removed…
That post was removed because “someone” typed in a new name over my address!
Like you, princeliberty, I am concerned with one’s worldview, their understanding of our laws and Constitution. Unlike you, I am planning to support the one candidate in this race that has stood up for the people of Alabama to stop the corruption and underhanded tactics of Paul Hubbert and the Democratic establishment.
No other candidate has the level of experience that Byrne has with the values that Byrne has. None.
So, William, denying a citizen of Alabama the right to hold an elected office, dispite his or her job, makes a person experienced and have values??? Bet you don’t see millionaire Mike Hubbards position in that light! Byrne is an opportunist!
doesitmatter – you sound like terry spicer – the matter you bring up has been addressed by a court of law and what bright and the board of education did…. it is legal.
and in terms of someone typing in a new name over your address – wake up man – Danny removed your posting.
oops – i mean what byrne and the board of education did…
Actually, denying people the “right” to take public money for two jobs at the same time (note sarcasm) or take public money for doing no job at all IS part of what I like about Byrne.
“doesitmatter” = state rep. terry spicer ???