Tea with your fireworks
4th of July… family time, cookouts, fireworks, and this year… tea parties!
If that is your cup of tea then check out this list of ten tea parties around the state to find the one nearest you.
Related Articles:
July 3, 2009
June 19, 2009
Friday Bits
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.
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.
June 12, 2009
Friday Notebook - Updated
Friday bits…
- Radio show host Dale Jackson is suspended for one week by station WVNN in Huntsville after his fake news release stunt on election day this week. Hat tip to The World Around You
- Candidate for Governor of Alabama Ron Sparks will be interviewed by Glen Beck from the Fox News Channel tonight at
5:304:00 p.m. central. Edit: The Sparks campaign sent out a new release with a new time. - Did you see where Roy Moore’s campaign said he had already received campaign contributions from every county in the state and every state in the Union?
Candidates for state office have only been able to raise money for 11 days, but former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore already has accomplished something he did not do during his unsuccessful run for governor in 2006. He has raised money from all 67 counties in Alabama and every state in the union, according to his campaign.
AdvertisementHis campaign claims no other candidate in Alabama history has ever accomplished this feat.
- Maybe it’s not a surprise that state Sen. Zeb Little (D - Cullman) is running for re-election even after recently pleading guilty to DUI. He confirmed that to the Cullman Times this week. But I bet he wishes they were running another ad with the story besides this one for this hardcover book that is running under the headline “Sen. Little to run for re-election” (screenshot is from today):
- Republican nominee Phil Williams takes his campaign for the House District 6 special election to television Monday with this spot:
I hope your weekend is going to be a good one.
Related Articles:
June 5, 2009
Friday Bits
Clearing out some notes…
- Did you see that state Democratic Party Joe Turnham chair has a book out, Leading from our Knees? The Montgomery Advertiser calls it “a Christian’s perspective on being a leader:”
He writes about the first lobbyist in the Bible, whether people should pray for their own victory, and about taking gifts and becoming obligated to earthly “unscrupulous persons.”
At Turnham’s website you may read excerpts from the book.
- Les Phillip was named Minority Outreach Director for the state GOP in March and has successfully recruited a minority Congressional candidate to run for CD-05 against incumbent Parker Griffith - himself! He has former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee headlining a fundraiser for him in Huntsville on the 23rd. Nice. Details are here (.pdf).
- Republican Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks is considering that AL-05 race also.
- Former state Rep. Dick Brewbaker announced this week his candidacy for Senate District 25, Larry Dixon’s seat. Dixon has long been rumored to be retiring, but has not announced (as far as I know). Does Brewbaker know Dixon’s out? Or is he trying to give Dixon a reason to go ahead and announce?
- The 2010 Senate campaign directory has been updated with that and other info. Help us keep it up-to-date with the info you know.
- June 1 marked open season for fundraising for 2010 state races. For some reason, I am reminded of the comedian who said he gave $5.00 to the cause he disliked so much because he knew they would spend so much more than that trying to get more out of him.
I hope your Friday is a good one.
May 29, 2009
Friday Bits
Notes…
- Democratic Congressman Bobby Bright is getting major ad support in his district from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, while the National Republican Congressional Committee is robocalling his district working the Pelosi connection again. Sixteen other House Democrats are targeted. (Click to listen to the robocall.)
- After managing Democrat Bobby Bright’s Congressional campaign to victory in an R-13 district and managing Todd Strange’s winning campaign for Montgomery mayor, David Mowery’s stock has never been higher. Now he is opening the doors on his own outfit, the Mowery Consulting Group.
- Both the 2010 Big List and the 2010 Senate Elections Directory have been updated this week. Let us know if you know of other changes that should be made to them. Both links are available in the sidebar.
- In case you are interested, the Times of India notes that an Indian-American has been named Honorary Lt. Governor of Alabama.
- “SRY BOUT THE ROSES.” Here is an automated robotic mower that will not only mow the lawn for you, but will text you if there is a problem.
I hope your Friday is a good one.
May 28, 2009
I Am Some Bloggers
Thanks to the often hilarious blog King Cockfight for noticing:
Earlier this week, Doc’s Political Parlor — or, as The Birmingham News calls it, “blogs on the Internet,” which are different, you know, from Blount County Weblogs that are usually printed on the backsides of dead livestock — posted an e-mail shot out by a Moore supporter promising he will announce a bid for governor on June 1.
That’s right. According to a Birmingham News article yesterday, Doc’s Political Parlor is “blogs on the Internet” and I am “some bloggers.”
The News article said that “a copy of [Julie Sanders’ letter] began appearing on blogs on the Internet earlier this week,” though, in this instance, “blogs on the Internet” means “Doc’s Political Parlor” because according to a Google blog search the Parlor was the only blog to have the email posted before the News article ran.
Also, “Hobson said he never saw the letter until it was picked up by some bloggers.” I am some bloggers.
Here at “blogs on the Internet and Home of Lawn Mower Repair,” I’m just glad that anybody reads this stuff. More to come.
Related Articles:
May 22, 2009
Friday Bits
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.
What’s on your mind today?
May 19, 2009
Tuesday Plow
Let’s move through some items that I’ve wanted to note or blog about, some more noteworthy than others, and some probably more ripe than others.
- Joyce Vance has been nominated to replace U.S. Attorney Alice Martin.
- I wonder how a new U.S. Attorney will affect, if at all, the investigation of AG Troy King. And I still wonder what Alice Martin’s office had on the AG that Leura Canary’s office wouldn’t follow up on.
- A pretty good bill died that was meant to improve the way our overseas soldiers voted in Alabama elections. Roger Bedford introduced a late amendment, completely unrelated, that would keep campaign funds given for a federal race from being used in a state race. Regardless of what you think of the merits of Bedford’s amendment, it was the wrong vehicle for the argument, and it killed the bill. Additionally, the timing of Bedford’s amendment seemed quite self-serving since the only campaign the bill is known now to affect in 2010 is Congressman Artur Davis’s campaign for governor. Bedford was considering a run for Governor himself and would have faced Davis in the Democratic primary.
- We are hearing that Supreme Court Justice Patti Smith (R) is not running for re-election.
- And we hear that Stephen Black (D) is likely to pass on the state Treasurer’s race.
- Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos (R) passes on the Governor’s race.
- This commercial has been running on cable in Senate District 22 where Marc Keahy (D) and Greg Albritton (R) are facing each other in the special election for the seat formerly held by Pat Lindsey (D - Butler).
These things stack up… and I think I’m leaving some out.
Updated: I added to the post. I knew I was leaving something out.
May 18, 2009
Old Friend Returns
Dan has relapsed and is back blogging at Daily Dixie. Good for most of us. For me, it stokes my burning fears that there is no way out of blogging.
Update: If you blinked, you missed it. Now he will do occasional blogging at Flashpoint. Dan tells the tale here.
Related Articles:
May 5, 2009
Paying Attention is Frustrating
Email received today, and printed here with permission:
I have sent letters to the legislators and tried to promote a post-conviction DNA testing law. HB146 is exactly that and I have been listening to the Senate audio, hoping to hear when it passes. Even though it is on the Senate calendar, it looks like it is not going to come up for a vote because somebody is against bingo and high-alcohol content beer and wine. My question is whether anything at all is going to pass before the session is over. Your opinion? I’m inexperienced in the ways of the legislature, but life seemed much less frustrating when I wasn’t paying much attention. Thank you!
Mary John Davis
Amen.
Paying attention is frustrating. Hats off to those who do.
May 1, 2009
Friday Cornucopia
Many of these items merit more comment than they will get in this post. Perhaps readers’ remarks will compensate.
- Alabama has the last few days of this session and one more session to preserve “a law that has saved thousands of acres of wild lands in Alabama,” the Forever Wild constitutional amendment.
- High speed rail linking Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans? Alabama has been the Pokey Puppy on the project, but appears now to be getting on board with the idea.
- Time magazine this week has a profile on Democratic Congressman (and gubernatorial candidate) Artur Davis.
- SurveyUSA reports that Barack Obama has a 48% approval rating in Alabama in a poll concluding April 26. MoE 4.1%.
- A reader pointed me towards this online poll in the race for Governor at Birmingham Business Journal. (Those must be frustrating for candidates. You’d like to do well in case it influences anyone, but most folks know how easily they are hijacked. We have them on the site here from time to time. They are fun, but of course not particularly useful.)
- The New York Times spends 36 hours in Birmingham and writes a nice travel piece about it. The negative? “To get around the city, you’ll need a rental car; cabs are scarce beyond the airport, and bus service is threadbare.”
Young Skywalker to Play Former Riley Aide in Abramoff Movie
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| Michael Scanlon | Hayden Christensen |
Hayden Christensen has been cast to play Michael Scanlon in Casino Jack, a movie about Scanlon’s partner-in-crime, lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Scanlon served a stint as Bob Riley’s press secretary when Riley was a Congressman. Scanlon went on to serve as chief of staff for Congressman Tom Delay and became a close associate of Abramoff’s. The corruption investigation that led to guilty pleas from Abramoff and Scanlon also led to guilty pleas or convictions of Congressman Bob Ney (R - Ohio), White House officials Steven Griles and David Safavian, and others.
Scanlon, you may remember, worked to protect the gambling interests of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and it was his campaign contributions to organizations that later donated to Bob Riley’s gubernatorial campaign that led to accusations that Riley had accepted out-of-state gambling money to keep gambling out of Alabama.
Hayden Christensen played Anakin Skywalker in Episodes II & III of the Star Wars movies. I don’t know about you, but I look at the picture of Scanlon, and I see Dennis Quaid, especially a young Dennis Quaid.
Kevin Spacey has signed on to play Abramoff and has even visited Abramoff in prison.
There is also a documentary expected to be released later this year to be called Casino Jack: The United States of Money. And oddly enough, Abramoff himself has his own Hollywood ties; he produced the 1989 Dolph Lundgren action movie Red Scorpion and its sequel, Red Scorpion 2.
April 17, 2009
Tea Post-Party Post
If you are still looking for reading on the Alabama Tea Parties…
Stephen Gordon at the Liberty Papers has a report here.
Toxic Culture offers further reflection on the day here.
Update: Pictures and video from the Trussville event are here.
Related Articles:
April 16, 2009
Scenes from Montgomery’s Tea Party Yesterday
More than 1000 showed up at the Montgomery Tea Party yesterday. Pictures (courtesy of Derek Trotter and the blog ToxicCulture) show a mixture of mainstream Republicans, political theater, and the just plain jarring at the Montgomery event.
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| Courtesy of Derek Trotter |
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April 15, 2009
Alabama Steeped in Tea Parties Today
Alabama is hosting 16 tea parties (named in homage to the Boston Tea Party) today to “protest against out of control government spending,” according to the Tax Day Tea Party website. (Better late than never. For example, the Cato Institute noted even back in 2003 the Bush administration’s “exploding deficit” and said the Bush administration “has consistently sacrificed sound policy to the god of political expediency.”)
In attendance in Montgomery at the noon event today will be GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim James, state Sen. Harri Anne Smith, state Rep. Greg Canfield, state Rep. Barry Mask, state Sen. Scott Beason, state Rep. Robert Bentley, and state Rep. Cam Ward, among others. State Sen. Hank Erwin and others will be in Trussville this morning.
The Flashpointblog gang will be at the one in Huntsville this afternoon; Brian notes (ahem…) special accommodations for those who come bearing other agenda items.
Find here the times and places for the nearest one to you.
If you have pictures or reports from any of the events, I’d be glad to hear from you.
April 9, 2009
Your Very Own Alabama Senate Roll Call Ringtone
Let us pause for a moment of whimsy.
Here’s your opportunity to get your very own Alabama Senate Roll Call Ringtone.
Yep. It’s yours. It’s free for the downloading for the state political junkies among us.
It’s from a roll call vote at the end of the 2008 session, so you nostalgia fans get to hear “Mr. McClain!” if you listen long enough.
I offer no technical support, and note that your cell phone company may charge you some fee if you email the ringtone to your phone. (I think my company charges around 15 cents.) Maybe someone in comments can help you if you have questions about how to get it to your phone.
But me, I enjoy the fun when the cell phone starts barking, “Mr. Barron!… Mr. Beason!… Mr. Bedford!… Ms. Benefield!…”
Download it here (right click to ‘Save as…’). From the Political Parlor and no where else (at least until somebody else puts it up on their site).
It’s not just ridiculous. It’s ridonculous.
March 26, 2009
Cobb and Ledbetter at Samford University Tonight
Lilly Ledbetter and Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb will be telling their stories and taking questions from the audience tonight at 6:15 in Reid Chapel of Samford University. The event is free and open to the public, presented by the Over the Mountain Democrats.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama.
While it strikes me as extremely unlikely that Ledbetter would run for CD-03 against Mike Rogers in 2010, I do hear the occasional whisper in the wind about it. I can’t go to the event but if you do, let me know if the topic comes up.
Related Articles:
March 25, 2009
Jo Bonner Speaks to Lagniappe
Congressman Jo Bonner (R - Mobile) speaks about his vote on the TARP legislation, not running for Governor, the tanker contract, visiting the Obama White House and more in Lagniappe Magazine out today. An excerpt:
I don’t think there’s anything that could have occurred that could have done more to unite the Republican Party and conservatives in general than having a very liberal, big government president and Congress put in power.
You know again, we were dealing with – we meaning House Republicans – the lingering effects of the culture of corruption, the campaign of 2006 that was so successful run by Rahm Emanuel to remind people why they were disenfranchised, disenchanted. They were frustrated, they were mad, they were angry at Republicans and we had given them a lot of reasons.
Throw in an unpopular president, who the media was just hounding everyday. And then throw in the financial meltdown that occurred and in many respects, the bloodbath that we took on Nov. 4 could have been a lot worse.
Having said that, I had the opportunity to sit on the front row of the presidential inaugural stand by virtue of the fact that I’m the ranking member now of the Ethics Committee and when you look out and you see literally a sea of people stretched from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial as far as the eye could see and you felt the electricity and you felt the euphoria.
March 19, 2009
Eminent Domain in Alabama
A new to me organization, Alabamians to Stop Eminent Domain Abuse, has been formed and has a website.
The talk lately has been of moral obligations by the State, it might be time to consider what moral obligations exist when private property is taken for the greater good.
H/T to Reason’s blog
February 23, 2009
Streaming Webcast Previews Week in Legislature
Birmingham’s Fox 6 and Rick Journey launch “Strategy Session” today, a weekly webcast that will preview the upcoming week in the state legislature.
The show may be viewed live today from 1 to 1:30 at foxalabamalive.com.
Today Senate President pro tem Rodger Smitherman will be in the studio, and House Majority Leader Ken Guin will join in over the phone. Representatives Paul DeMarco (R - Homewood) and Oliver Robinson (D - Birmingham) will be on to discuss some Jefferson County matters.
Archived shows will be available at myfoxal.com; click on the ‘Politics’ tab near the top.
Related Articles:
February 18, 2009
Smitherman Withdraws Bill to Put Reed’s Name on ASU Acadome
Senate President pro tem Rodger Smitherman (D - Birmingham) appears to have recalculated the political cost of pushing the bill to get Joe Reed’s name back on the Acadome at Alabama State University, and decided it wasn’t worth it.
Senate President Pro Tem Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham says he is withdrawing his bill to put Joe Reed’s name back on the basketball arena at Alabama State University.
Smitherman said Tuesday he’s pulling the bill because it has the potential to divide the state Senate, and he doesn’t want to do that.
From this vantage point, this is a measure of how far Joe Reed’s star has fallen, just as Smitherman’s introduction of the bill was a testament to how much authority and respect Reed has commanded.
One Montgomery politico observed to the Parlor that Reed had accomplished so much in the state, for example, in increasing black representation, that he has become a victim of the fruits of his labor. As more African-Americans have gotten involved in state politics, some are pushing back against Reed’s “rule with an iron fist, no questions asked” leadership. He added that Reed should be a well-respected elder statesman for his contributions but that “if he’s not the captain of the ship, he’d rather take the ship down. He’d rather be the captain of a sinking ship than not be the captain.”
The ASU Trustees have certainly demonstrated that they don’t care for Reed’s heavy-handedness.
Related Articles:
February 12, 2009
State Senate Notes
A few notes to wrap up about the change in the Senate President pro tem…
Steve French (R - Birmingham) nominated Jabo Waggoner (R - Birmingham) for Senate President pro tem in opposition to Rodger Smitherman (D - Birmingham). French told the Political Parlor, “We got what we wanted; a recorded vote between two stark and contrasting choices: one a conservative with a record of reaching across the aisle in a bipartisan manner; the other a strong unabashed liberal who used his committee chair to both kill conservative legislation and to advance his liberal agenda (registering ammunition as a single example but with plenty others that could be cited).” He went on to add, “I am proud for Rodger and his family. He has achieved quite a lot. I believe him when he says he will make an effort to reach out to the Republicans from time to time.”
Also, note that in the game of musical chairs, when Hinton Mitchem stepped down from the pro tem spot, he did assume the Chairmanship of the Confirmations Committee. Myron Penn (D - Union Springs) gave that up and took the Judiciary Chairmanship that Smitherman gave up when he became the pro tem. Mitchem did not want to go on the Judiciary Committee, and working this out was important to the whole deal.
In the meantime, the Senate is “a boiling pressure pot” under intense pressure to start moving things after two years of inactivity. “There is a helluva lot of pressure from the financial base” to get things going, one Goat Hill veteran told me.
February 10, 2009
WSFA Site Goes Inside Alabama’s Legislature
WSFA-12 in Montgomery has created a video webcast, Inside Alabama’s Legislature, that appears to be an attempt to fill the political news hole created by the departure of APTV’s “For the Record.” You can see the first episode here.
Related Articles:
February 7, 2009
Smitherman Wants Joe Reed’s Name on ASU Acadome
I wonder if the good citizens of Birmingham who marked their ballot for Rodger Smitherman for state Senate were hoping that he would be the kind of statesman that would want to legislate what trustees and officials of a university must name a campus building.
Related Articles:
February 4, 2009
AP on Nabers
Here is the AP story from Phillip Rawls on yesterday’s story here about Drayton Nabers coming on board to coordinate the federal stimulus funds coming into the state.
Related Articles:
February 3, 2009
Drayton Nabers to be Economic Stimulus Czar
Tomorrow morning at an 8:30 news conference at the Capitol, Gov. Bob Riley will outline the budget that he will present to the legislature. The Parlor has learned that Drayton Nabers, Jr. will be named to manage the flow of federal economic stimulus money into the state. Nabers is with the law firm Maynard, Cooper and Gale and has previously served as Gov. Riley’s Finance Director. He also was appointed Chief Justice of the state’s Supreme Court when Roy Moore stepped down.
This “federal stimulus czar” will handle such tasks as assisting local governments and groups, making sure the money goes to appropriate recipients, and keeping the state in compliance with federal guidelines. Nabers will be assisted by David Perry also of Maynard, Cooper and Gale. Perry has served as Assistant Finance Director for Drayton Nabers and as Field Director for Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR).
January 29, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Ad Had ‘Stratospheric Effect’
Walt mentioned Alabamian Lilly Ledbetter already today, that she is in Washington where Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act… I was interested to hear this morning that her ad during the presidential campaign that criticized John McCain for his opposition to the bill had a “stratopheric effect” on viewers. NPR said this morning [at the 2:58 mark of the audio]:
Political consultant Frank Luntz tested every campaign ad on survey groups for Fox News, and this ad, he said, had a stratospheric effect. [Luntz said,] “It was one of the few effective negative ads in the campaign because it delivered a statement that women looked at and said, ‘You know what? This is right. John McCain, how dare you.’”
Here is the ad.
The ad and the issue did not sway Alabama Democratic Congressmen Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith who voted against it, along with Alabama House Republicans Jo Bonner, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt and GOP Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby. Republican Spencer Bachus did not vote. Democrat Artur Davis was the lone Alabamian in Congress to vote for the bill.
Related Articles:
January 23, 2009
Artur Davis on a Tightrope
I didn’t have opportunity to comment here yesterday on the Birmingham News article about Gwen Ifill’s book, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama. From the article:
Ifill writes that [U.S. Rep. Artur] Davis said he “had no choice” but to support a congressional inquiry into the criminal case against former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who claims he was targeted by politically motivated Republican prosecutors.
Davis told Ifill that he worried it would “smell of the old-fashioned partisan politics he claims to eschew,” but he was the only Alabamian on the committee leading the investigation.
“Barely know him, barely know him,” Davis told Ifill. Davis also said he expected most Alabamians to ignore the Siegelman controversy and that he was “counting on it to fade away well before 2010,” Ifill wrote.
Judging from my email box, the article goosed people on both the left and the right. Strong Siegelman supporters on the left take this as evidence that Davis was a reluctant advocate for Siegelman who was dragged unwillingly to the issue. There are those on the right indignant that Davis is, in their opinion, a Siegelman proponent who is counting on the issue to “fade away” before 2010.
This illustrates just what a tightrope of an issue this is for Davis especially given his statewide ambitions. When I had an opportunity to talk to Davis last summer, he said then that, given all the questions surrounding Siegelman’s case, the House Judiciary Committee (on which he then sat) would have been remiss not to look into the matter.
In the summer of 2007, Davis asked the House Judiciary to consider whether Siegelman’s prosecution involved selective prosecution on the part of the Department of Justice. Soon after, the Committee asked then Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for documents and information on Siegelman’s prosecution. Events since have hardly diminished the idea that increased scrutiny should be given to the allegation that Siegelman was selectively prosecuted, for example, Siegelman’s release on an appeal bond, the subsequent investigation into the matter by the DoJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and email messages provided last fall by a DoJ whistle-blower that “highlight alleged misconduct by the Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney and other prosecutors in the case.”
However, in the opinion of some on the left, Davis did not do enough, and for some on the right, he did too much. At least judging from my email box.
Either way, will this issue will get a lot of traction in the 2010 election?
Related Articles:
January 21, 2009
Federal judge UW Clemon makes it official
According to the Birmingham News, he has turned in his resignation to President Obama to enter private practice. This was not unexpected.
On the advisory committe website setup by Congressman Davis, there are sixteen applicants so far and a eleven name list held by the state Democratic party. Both lists overlap.
The negotiations over who gets the nod should be interesting.
January 16, 2009
Candidates and the 2010 Big List
The 2010 Big List of potential candidates for office in 2010 probably needs freshening up after the holidays and a little neglect. Are there names that should be included that are not on it? Do you see names that should come off? What do you see that’s amiss?
In that vein, did you see last week that Republican Paul Bussman has announced his candidacy for the state Senate District 4 seat currently held by Democrat Zeb Little? Bussman gets the prize for first out of the gate; I’ve not seen any other challengers announce for state legislative races in 2010.
