Posted by Here is Friday night’s debate between GOP gubernatorial runoff candidates Robert Bentley and Bradley Byrne with the audio broken down by question. The original audio came from WAPI’s live internet stream of the debate. (WAPI has the debate available for download or streaming here.)
I very much wanted to throw in some comments below. Perhaps I’ll have a chance to do that yet, but I wanted to go ahead and make this available before we got too far removed from the event and while people were still thinking about it.
Opening Statement
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 1
The first question asks the candidates if they will support iniatitive & referendum, citing what it has done in California.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 2
Do you plan to continue Gov. Riley’s Task Force on illegal gambling, and how do you feel about the people’s right to vote on allowing slot machines in the state of Alabama?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 3
What economic impact do you foresee health care reform having on Alabama citizens, and what is your plan to help us absorb the blow?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 4
As Governor what are your plans to grow the Alabama Republican party to make it more attractive to working class, young people, and other groups that are conservative but not normally associated with the party?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 5
Would you return to the old method of having your property reappraised every 4 years?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 6
How would you address special interest influence?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 7
How will you improve our state’s reputation?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 8
What are your long term plans for stabilizing the tourism industry after the oil spill?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 9
Would you support a consumption tax or some other system to replace or reduce the state’s reliance on income tax?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 10
What part will your faith and interpretation of the Holy Bible play in your role as Governor?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 11
Is coastal insurance and insurance reform an issue that affect the whole state or coastal counties only?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Question 12
What influence will AEA and Paul Hubbert have on your administration?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Closing Statements
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Well done Robbie. Skirting around the truth just like I taught you.Do you like my new “Conservative Coalition” ads, btw? I thought it was a nice touch myself. Gimme a ring sometime buddy.
We’ll be cranking out ads using “Campaign 2010″ money for Bradley Byrne soon. In fact, my next move is to call a special meeting of the GOP executive committee to rubber-stamp approval of declaring Robert Bentley a Democrat and disqualifying him. No need to trust voters. They are way too stupid to come to their own conclusions.
The booing of Bentley Closing Statements didn’t come through nearly as loud as it was in the room.
In the room I led all the Byrne staffers and HQ personnel (actually those are the same people) doing “the wave” after Bradley got finished talking.
Did Bentley really think that anyone in that room believes that Democrats want to elect Byrne?
The gentleman who asked the first question about Initiative and Referendum (I&R) couldn’t have found a worse state than California to cite as a state that has I&R, which is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Any of the more than 20 other I&R states that have I&R in different forms from what California has would have been more representative of how I&R, as Teddy Roosevelt said in 1912, that initiative and referendum should be used. He said I&R should be used, “not as substitutes for representative government, but as methods of making such government really representative. Action by the initiative or referendum ought not to be the normal way of legislation; but the power to take it should be provided in the constitution, so that if the representatives fail truly to represent the people on some matter of sufficient importance to rouse popular interest, then the people shall have in their hands the facilities to make good the failure”.
I believe a majority of Alabamians will agree that the Alabama legislature over many years and in many instances has failed to “truly to represent the people on some matter of sufficient importance to rouse popular interest”.
That’s why I’m in favor of Alabama becoming the next I&R state under the provisions outlined in Representative Mike Ball’s constitutional amendment bill which he has introduced in the legislature for several years, most recently as HB201 in the 2010 legislative session.
Representative (and now gubernatorial candidate) Bentley clearly does not understand the role of I&R in a representative form of government.
Democrats elected Byrne to his first two terms in office – as he ran as a Democrat.
I don’t think Bentley said Demos want to ELECT Byrne – he said they want to run against Byrne as the easier candidate to defeat in November. I would have argued that Byrne would be the stronger GOP candidate until June 1 but now I think Byrne is damaged and bentley might actually be stronger in November. I think the James, Moore, and Bentley voters sit out the November gov’s race if Byrne is the nominee.
I will be voting for Sparks, the Republican party in Alabama has been too far Talibanized. What’s next, removing our women’s lower back tatoo’s.
anonymous –
Byrne was elected as a Democrat once in 1994 and switched parties in 1996. He has since then been elected as a Republican three times (once for the State School Board, and twice for the State Senate).
Wrong. Byrne switched in 1998…and was endorsed by AEA then too…in 1996 he was still too busy hob nobbing with Bill Clinton to be a Republican…
My apologies, he switched in 1997.
I went to the debate Friday night undecided ( I had voted for Tim James in the primary.) I sat with friends who were VERY supportive of Bentley, and I really tried to see what they saw in him. After being there, my husband and I both came out supporting Byrne. Bentley talks so much about how he refuses to run negative ads, yet every time I have seen him (which has been several times now), he doesn’t hesitate to get little digs in as much as possible. That strikes me as dishonest, and even mean. Bentley said that Byrne focuses too much on AEA, but I don’t think we can overestimate the detrimental effect of Paul Hubbard and AEA on Alabama politics. Byrne has shown that he WILL fight them, and that cannot be a bad thing for our state. On gambling, Bentley wants to include harmless paper Bingo in a bill on gambling – that seems like a sneaky way to get a bill opposing gambling defeated. Also, when referring to the people on the gulf, Bentley called them “the little fishermen.” That just smacks of elitism and condescension. A governor should not be referring to any group of people as “little,” unless, of course, he is talking about children. Byrne talked about the people on the gulf as his friends, family, and colleagues. He was much more respectful of their dignity.
Finally, Bentley made a big deal out of the fact that he has always been a Republican, and it sounded very accusing of Byrne.
Bradley Byrne has my vote.
If anyone believes what vcfmama just posted…I have some really great beach front propert in lower Alabama that is oil free.
curious5251, I have several clients who beleive what Bentley says who are interested in the property of yours.
Curious5251, I don’t understand what you are saying. What is not to believe? I stated things that were said at the debate (I assume it is all in the audio above), and my impressions of what was stated. You don’t have to agree with my opinions or what the candidates themselves stated, but please don’t call me a liar. I don’t lie. There is no need to attack me.
vcfmama, what I’m saying is that I have a very hard time believing you. Get your moma panties out of a wad. I can say I don’ t believe you without it being some sort of attack. You sound as bad as Byrne and his loyal bloggers. Do you need a bottle and blankie as well when someone disagrees with you?
Oh and by the way vcfmama, all those little fisherman loved Dr. Bentley and are voting for him, so your sympathies are completely misplaced. Your candidate Byrne tried to put these same fisherman you have so much sympathy for out of business the entire time he was in the senate. Here are a list of bills in case you need proof of what I claim. SB 257, SB 261, SB 340, SB 109. Look them up. Bryne refers to these same fisherman as “those people”. Friday night he called them his friends. Biggest damn lie I have ever heard told, so if you want to know why I find it hard to believe you think Byrne is more honest that Dr. Bentley, there it is.
Curious5251, bill number do no good without knowing which session there introduced in.
Haven’t heard the “those people” remark since Perot’s debate fiasco.
Here are the sessions for ya waltm.
SB 257, 261, 253 – 2003
SB 340 – 2005
SB 109 – 2007. That one was a little harder to find bc it had Lindseys name attatched first.
Much easier to search that way, otherwise it would have to wade thru ALISON from during Byrne’s terms. Hmm these are the Regular sessions?
Much easier to pass along a link to SB340 of the 2005RS(pdf), just takes a bit of typing
No bottles – breastfeeding all the way. But that’s a different discussion.