When other people were burning our flag, you were waving it. And I don't know if a President has ever thanked you for that, but please accept my gratitude and admiration.
But I'm so happy to be here tonight. I don't get to the South often enough to suit me. Come to think of it, I don't get to California as much as I'd like either. [Laughter] But I always feel a special affinity for this part of the country and the people in it.
There's more...
And even now in these modern times when people who aren't from the South talk about it, they tend to dwell on the physical beauty of the Old South and wax poetic about moonlight on the magnolias. Well, of course the South is lovely, and that is true; but there are those—and I'm one-who feel a special affection for its people. I respect the values that took root here and the pride that's part of the southern character. I'm drawn to your good sense and decent traditions, your fidelity to God, and your faithfulness to your region. And I know that you love our country and are very protective toward it.
I mean no slight to the other parts of the country—to my heritage, which was up in the heartland there in the Middle West, or now my home in the West. But I have been struck when, now and then, on news for some reason or other—on the TV news-there will be an occasion where the commentator is talking to one of our men in uniform, and I've often been struck by how often the young man in uniform, when he replies, you hear the lilting cadence of Charleston or Memphis or Winston-Salem or Decatur. The South was the home of patriots in 1776, when a southerner drew up our Declaration of Independence. And it's the home of patriots today, 208 years later.
We're here tonight at a great celebration, a birthday party for the Nation. And we come together to honor those who invented this country and who saw to it that it would always be a place of high ideals. And we celebrate those who, in each generation, have protected those ideals and advanced the cause of democracy.
I'm trying to smile, but if I appear as if I'm frowning a little bit, it's those TV lights up there— [laughter] —so I'm not really frowning at all; I'm squinting.
But the cause of democracy, that's a subject of high seriousness when, on a night like this, it's hard to be somber and full of deep thoughts, it's hard not to be happy. We have so much to be thankful for.
There were vocal advocates for a single-payer system similar to ones in Europe and Canada. Maybe a larger contingent - judging by the applause - was anxious that the government was going to take over health care.
Griffith also makes some sense occassionaly...
He said it was also important to reform some insurance company practices, such as forcing insurers to accept people with pre-existing conditions. He supports plans to make insurance companies compete across state lines to bring about more competition and lower costs. Griffith also agreed there needs to be insurance company reimbursement for services provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Griffith plans to offer two bills in the coming weeks. One would require congressmen to use the public option for their own health care, if such a measure is made into law. The second would require any health care legislation be submitted to all members of Congress a week before it can be voted on, to avoid last-minute deals.
Griffith said there are no easy answers, and an easy vote is also unlikely.
"I may have to vote on something that will split my constituents," he said. "This is one of the hardest issues we can take on as Americans."
The AP is reporting that the HELP committee has brought the CBO score of their revised health-care bill down to $600 billion, and that the new bill will cover 97% of America's legal population. The first version of the bill was scored at $1 trillion, and was projected to only cover about 16 million people.
But as The New Republic's Jon Cohn notes, the new numbers are somewhat misleading. The expanded coverage numbers aren't possible unless you also factor in an expansion of Medicaid that isn't included in the $600 billion price tag — an expansion that will probably raise the total cost to between $1 and $1.3 trillion. So it's incorrect to say that the bill would cover most Americans for only $600 billion.
Ron Sparks (who?) is launching his campaign to get beat by Artur Davis for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
We will make a difference by creating the LifeStart Scholarship Lottery program.
Second, we will make a difference by regulating, and taxing casino-style gaming in Alabama.
Finally, we will make a difference by lowering the tax burden on every family in the state.
Lottery? That's proven to be a winner. Not.
Troy King is looking into the audio of Birmingham's Planned Parenthood breaking the law.
King said Wednesday he wants a copy to see if the clinic staffer broke any state law. He said the clinic is required to report allegations or knowledge of sexual abuse.
"If that tape is an accurate depiction of what's happening, that's very troubling," he said.
Felicia Brown-Williams, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Alabama Inc., said it will conduct a review "to ensure that all our high standards of care have been met. Planned Parenthood of Alabama is committed to following all laws, and regularly makes reports to law enforcement agencies."
Turns out some undercover actors with the organization "Live Action" went into the clinic posing as a 14 year old girl and told them she was having sex with a 31 year old man. The individuals at the clinic informed her that they would not report the older man as they are required under Alabama law.
Alabama Code 26-14-3 requires health professionals to disclose suspected cases of sexual abuse to state officials immediately.
...
They also were willing to "bend the rule" when it came to aborting a 14-year old girls fetus without parental consent.
In the video, Tanisha also seems to tell Rose that a signature from an "older sister that's over the age of 18" or someone "with the same last name" could function as a substitute for parental consent so Planned Parenthood could perform an abortion on a minor. Alabama Code 26-21-3 specifies that the written permission of either a parent or legal guardian is necessary before a minor may obtain an abortion.
Like I said, Brooks just jumped in and it appears the Alabama Democratic Party is worried about it.
Left in 1969's Alabama as usual is cutting and pasting Democratic talking points without looking into the claims.
Mo Brooks’ time on the [Madison] County Commission has been marked by cost increases and skyrocketing spending. The last thing Alabama needs is Mo Brooks in Congress.
“Instead of finding fiscally responsible solutions, Commissioner Brooks runs to the taxpayers to bail out problems,” said Jim Spearman, Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party.
Taxpayers can thank Brooks for the 35% increase in cost for trash pickup that was imposed earlier this year. [Source: Huntsville Times, 5/09/09, [link]
Brooks criticized Griffith's vote for Nancy Pelosi as House speaker. Brooks blamed her for implementation of a "socialist Democratic dangerous agenda."
"That's why we need someone from a different party to vote for a different speaker," Brooks said.
Jim Spearman, executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party, was quick to defend Griffith.
"Congressman Griffith is a fiscally responsible Blue Dog who has fought to rein in out-of-control spending in Washington," Spearman said in a statement.
He also took aim at Brooks, criticizing his more than $700,000 office budget in 2008, which Spearman said was up from $35,000 when Brooks was first elected to the commission in 1996.
Brooks took aim at the Parker Griffth after Spearman's comments.
"In the future, I suggest Parker Griffith call off his pit bulls and focus his time and energy on doing his job by publicly renouncing his support for socialist House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, by divorcing himself from his socialist allies, and by working to form bipartisan coalitions that will save NASA and national defense programs and jobs that are so vital to both our nation and our community," Brooks said in a statement Wednesday.
What the Times doesn't point out is how ridiculous Spearman's charges are... but this is what I expect from The Huntsville Times.
Here is how The Huntsville Times covers political stories.
Candidate A says X about Candidate B
The Huntsville Times asks Candidate B what he thinks about X.
The end.
Why don't they study the validity of the claims?
Brian at flashpointblog.com has broken down Parker Griffith's voting record.
I prefer to toss out votes in which both parties took the same position. That leaves 249 votes to work with. This is where the rubber hits the road, so to speak. Of this subset, Griffith took the Democrat position on 77% of the votes. For those of you waiting for Obama to pay your mortgage that means he voted with the Republicans 23% of the time.
That 77% number is interesting when compared to Cramer’s voting record. Using the same voting analysis methodology, Cramer also voted with his party in the 70-80% range until 1994 when Wayne Parker nearly beat him. After the 1994 election and the Republican takeover Cramer shifted noticeably, voting with the Democrats only about 60% of the time steadily until 2007, which is when the Democrats took control of the House. After that he reverted back to over 80% with the Democrats. Griffith seems to be charting the exact same course that Cramer did. That formula kept Cramer in office for nine terms. It remains to be seen if it will work as well for Griffith.
A local state lawmaker said Wednesday he will ask Gov. Bob Riley to advance Jefferson County $25 million to $30 million to help carry the financially strapped county through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
"I will write a letter on the County Commission's behalf requesting that amount to deal with the immediate problems we have," said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham. "The governor knows the urgency and importance of it."
Smitherman and Commissioner William Bell said the money could help the county save jobs and continue some services through the remaining three months of the fiscal year.
On Tuesday, the county voted to cut $31.7 million from the fiscal 2009 budget, a move that will result in hundreds of layoffs, county officials said.
How wil they pay this back?
This is a perfect example of bad governance. Can't make it on their own, so instead of changing how you do business, you beg for others to help you.
COLORADO SPRINGS | U.S. missile defenses are prepared to try to knock down the last stage of a Taepodong-2 missile that North Korea is expected soon to launch if sensors detect the weapon threatens U.S. territory, the commander of the U.S. Northern Command told The Washington Times.
"The nation has a very, very credible ballistic-missile defense capability. Our ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California, I'm very comfortable, give me a capability that if we really are threatened by a long-range ICBM that I've got high confidence that I could interdict that flight before it caused huge damage to any U.S. territory," said Air Force Gen. Victor E. "Gene" Renuart, Northcom commander.
North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
"One was fired at 5:20 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m. from Sinsang-ni," near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, South Korean defense ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said, according to Yonhap.
Is there any question that WE are better than THEM?
Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is buying children as young as 7 to serve as suicide bombers in the growing spate of attacks against Pakistani, Afghan and U.S. targets, U.S. Defense Department and Pakistani officials say.
A Pakistani official, who spoke on the condition that he not be named because of the sensitive nature of the topic, said the going price for child bombers was $7,000 to $14,000 - huge sums in Pakistan, where per-capita income is about $2,600 a year.
"[Mehsud] has turned suicide bombing into a production output, not unlike [the way] Toyota outputs cars," a U.S. Defense Department official told reporters recently. He spoke on the condition that he not be named because of ongoing intelligence efforts to catch Mehsud, a prime target for a U.S. and Pakistani anti-Taliban campaign.
Charles Jason Darnell, the snake's owner and the boyfriend of Shaiunna's mother, discovered the snake missing from its terrarium and went to the girl's room, where he found it on the girl and bite marks on her head, Caruthers said. Darnell, 32, stabbed the snake until he was able to pry the child away.
"The baby's dead!" a sobbing caller from the house screamed to a 911 dispatcher in a recording. "Our stupid snake got out in the middle of the night and strangled the baby."
Authorities did not identify the caller and removed the person's name from the recording.
"She got out of the cage last night and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death," the caller said.
Who the hell has a giant python anywhere near a two year old?
I'll be honest I am looking forward to AL-05 in 2010.
Parker Griffith will not have "Obama coattails" to ride and out of control Congressional Democrats are going to make his re-election complicated no matter how he votes.
I also like both candidates for the GOP nomination at this point, Les Phillip and, newly announced, Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks. What I don't want to see is 4 or 5 other Republicans jumping in.
Like I said, Brooks just jumped in and it appears the Alabama Democratic Party is worried about it.
Left in 1969's Alabama as usual is cutting and pasting Democratic talking points without looking into the claims.
Mo Brooks’ time on the [Madison] County Commission has been marked by cost increases and skyrocketing spending. The last thing Alabama needs is Mo Brooks in Congress.
“Instead of finding fiscally responsible solutions, Commissioner Brooks runs to the taxpayers to bail out problems,” said Jim Spearman, Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Party.
Taxpayers can thank Brooks for the 35% increase in cost for trash pickup that was imposed earlier this year. [Source: Huntsville Times, 5/09/09, link]
Nearly 22,000 county households that have been paying $10 a month for weekly garbage pickup will see their rates jump to $13.50 starting with the June billing period.
The Commissions Democrats wanted it to be more.
Commissioner Bob Harrison, who oversees the county Sanitation Department, proposed a larger increase to $14.50 a month. He said that's what is needed to pull the department out of the red, plus allow it to make its scheduled $400,000 yearly administrative payment to the county's General Fund and buy more automated trucks.
Brooks, Faye Dyer and Dale Strong voted for less than the Democrat wanted.
But other board members balked at pushing rates that high.
The three Republican commissioners - Faye Dyer, Mo Brooks and Dale Strong -- ultimately approved the $13.50 rate for weekly pickup. But other board members balked at pushing rates that high.
Seems to me that the argument could be made that Brooks acted as a check on more spending.
Isn't that what we need?
The real question is... is this the best the AL Democrats have?
A 3.50 a month garbage pickup fee increase? Pretty weak. Nice spin though, by calling it 35%, when the Democrats wanted 45%.
Nice try... NEXT!
The other fact they source is this...
Taxpayers also footed the bill for a 20-fold increase in Brooks’ budget since he took office. Brooks’ yearly spending ballooned from $35,000 in 1996 to $740,000 in 2008. Shockingly, Mo Brooks bragged that the increase in spending was evidence of his power and influence on the Commission [Source: Huntsville Times, 5/22/08]
It's part of article where the Huntsville Times compares and contrasts candidates for an office.
The press release states...
“Mo Brooks’ has no problem taxing and spending to try to boost his image, but when it comes to making important investments in the county’s schools and other needed projects, he says no,” said Spearman.
While the news article they clip states this...
Brooks has parlayed that boost in discretionary money into help for schools, recreational facilities and roads in his district.
"I try to focus District 5 resources on things as opposed to consumables so there are some long-lasting enhancements that improve our lifestyles, make living conditions more enjoyable and improve property values," Brooks said.
Talk about a dishonest release...
They say:
when it comes to making important investments in the county’s schools and other needed projects, he says no
And the news story says:
Brooks has parlayed that boost in discretionary money into help for schools, recreational facilities and roads in his district.
That seems pretty dishonest to me.
It really seems like someone IS worried.
As always I seek out the newsmakers to get their take, Mo Brooks is always willing to give his take on this issue...
Here is his statement:
Dale,
Additional thoughts:
Garbage issue:
Garbage rate increase is the first rate increase in 10 years. On average, then, the rate increase was roughly 3% per year, compounded. Less than inflation (with emphasis on fuel costs – which is a lot for garbage trucks).
The garbage rate increase receipts are kept in a trust fund for the garbage department. If more money is collected than is needed, the money is used to prevent further rate increases.
A cost efficiency measure was also included in the deal. Those residents who used to get twice a week pickup now get once a week pickup . . . with no increase in their rates (their old rate was $13.50; it stays $13.50 – but they get half the pickups).
In sum, this is not a tax increase. It is a fee to pay for a service. Over the long haul, those who receive the service pay for the cost for the service. Nothing more. Nothing less.
District 5 Funding Issue:
I hope the Democrats will continue to attack me for doing my best to obtain funds for government services and projects in my commission district.
Background: All Madison County citizens pay the exact same taxes to the Madison County Commission. Historically, however, municipal residents (Madison & Huntsville) got less than a dime back in “district” services for each dollar paid in taxes. For example, when I was elected in 1996, the three rural commissioners’ budgets were over $1 million each (now averaging $2-3 million each). In contrast, the three city commissioners’ budgets (plus the chairman’s budget) were roughly $90,000-100,000. My predecessor District 5 Commissioner had roughly $30,000-35,000 to spend each year for 45,000 people (that’s after staff salaries, car costs, etc.).
Note the disparity despite all residents paying the exact same taxes to the Commission.
In 1996 (when I unseated the 8-year incumbent Republican with 63% of the vote), I promised District 5 residents I’d do my best to seek fairness. They pay the exact same taxes. They should also be entitled to services.
I kept my promise. And all of the money is spent on capital improvements in District 5 (gymnasium, roads, schools [which get almost half of my budget each year], parks, greenways, hiking trails on Huntsville Mountain and/or Green Mountain, etc).
Now, if Democrats want to attack me for successfully representing my constituents and keeping my campaign promises(as a minority party member on the Commission, I might add), my request is simple, “Please don’t stop.”
No School Funding Issue: This argument cannot be based on my support for schools. Ask any principal or PTA president in District 5. I’d bet 90% say appreciative things about my support for education.
No . . . what the Alabama Democrat Party is talking about is my successful fight to stop yet another sales tax increase.
Mo Brooks will be on "The Dale Jackson Show" tomorrow morning from 7AM to 8AM to talk about this release and his candidacy.
Turns out some undercover actors with the organization "Live Action" went into the clinic posing as a 14 year old girl and told them she was having sex with a 31 year old man. The individuals at the clinic informed her that they would not report the older man as they are required under Alabama law.
Alabama Code 26-14-3 requires health professionals to disclose suspected cases of sexual abuse to state officials immediately.
They also were willing to "bend the rule" when it came to aborting a 14-year old girls fetus without parental consent.
In the video, Tanisha also seems to tell Rose that a signature from an "older sister that's over the age of 18" or someone "with the same last name" could function as a substitute for parental consent so Planned Parenthood could perform an abortion on a minor. Alabama Code 26-21-3 specifies that the written permission of either a parent or legal guardian is necessary before a minor may obtain an abortion.
Watch the video here.
Now in looking at the "Live Action" website I find some other ridiculous statements from Planned Parenthood's agents...
Transcripts from Ohio and Idaho calls to Planned Parenthood Development offices
Ohio representative: Lisa Hutton, administrative assistant
Ohio donor: There’s definitely way too many Black people in Ohio, so I am just trying to do my part.
PP Rep: OK, whatever.
Ohio donor: Well, Blacks especially need abortions, so that’s what I’m trying to do.
PP Rep: For whatever reason, we’ll accept the money.
Ohio donor: OK. Great, thank you.
Idaho representative: Autumn Kersey, director of development
Idaho donor: The abortion—I can give money specifically for a black baby, that would be the purpose?
PP Rep: Absolutely. If you wanted to designate that your gift be used to help an African-American woman in need, then we would certainly make sure that the gift was earmarked for that purpose.
Idaho donor: Great, because I really faced trouble with affirmative action, and I don’t want my kids to be disadvantaged against black kids. I just had a baby; I want to put it in his name.
PP Rep: Yes, absolutely.
Idaho donor: And we don’t, you know we just think, the less black kids out there the better.
PP Rep: Understandable, understandable.
Idaho donor: Right. I want to protect my son, so he can get into college
PP Rep: Alright. Excuse my hesitation, this is the first time I’ve had a donor call and make this kind of request, so I’m excited, and want to make sure I don’t leave anything out.
While the Alabama Democratic party says, no need to worry about ethics...
Jim Spearman, executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party, said the clamor over the issue has cooled because there are simply other priorities. "In my travels around the state speaking with people, that issue doesn’t even come up," he said. "People consider PAC-to-PAC more of an inside politics issues. It’s just not something that everybody really cares a lot about."
What ever happen to my "Free the Pibbs" movement to bring Mr. Pibb to Huntsville.
Huntsville Times does a write up on Tea Parties...
An Independence Day Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party is being organized for Saturday night at the Jaycee Fairgrounds on Airport Road.
Saturday's protest in Huntsville, beginning at 7 p.m., will focus on government bailouts like those protested during similar events April 15, but will take up new issues, too, organizer Christie Carden said.
"We will be addressing new bills, like the cap and trade (energy bill) and try to keep it from passing the Senate," she said. "It will cost energy companies so much money and cause them to throw it onto the consumer.
She also invited Alabama Democrats...
Carden said the Tea Party is nonpartisan, and Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, and U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, have been invited to speak. She said she had invited the local Democratic Party to set up a table at the event.
"We still remain nonpartisan," Carden said. "We are reaching out to anybody and everybody that stands for what we believe."
Not likely.
The state that gave us a feather wearing 9/11 truther as governor with Jesse The Body Ventura now gives us Al Franken as a US Senator.
This fast forwards an already overreaching Democrat agenda which will lead to a backlash in 2010. (But this makes stopping "cap and trade" a lot harder.)
There will be no Barack Obama coattails for his 2014 re-election and there should be a self-correction.
Should President Obama be backing the deposed Honduran President like Chavez and Castro are?
From the moment the coup in Honduras unfolded over the weekend, President Hugo Chávez had his playbook ready. He said Washington’s hands may have been all over the ouster, claiming that it financed President Manuel Zelaya’s opponents and insinuating that the C.I.A. may have led a campaign to bolster the putschists.
But President Obama firmly condemned the coup, defusing Mr. Chávez’s charges. Instead of engaging in tit-for-tat accusations, Mr. Obama calmly described the coup as “illegal” and called for Mr. Zelaya’s return to office. While Mr. Chávez continued to portray Washington as the coup’s possible orchestrator, others in Latin America failed to see it that way.
8:00 AM - Senator Jeff Sessions on live to talk about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and the chances for "cap & trade" in the Senate.
A great explanation of the vote against "cap and trade" by the Alabama's congressional delegation.
Politics:
University of Alabama political science professor David Lanoue said he wasn’t surprised by the vote. He said Alabama’s members of Congress believe the state has a different constituent mood than in other areas of the nation.
"Certainly Bright and Griffith represent conservative districts and they’ll want to distance themselves from Obama’s administration," Lanoue said. "With Artur Davis there’s the specter of the governor’s race and he also has been looking for opportunities to distance himself from the Obama administration."
Rep. Parker Griffith:
Griffith, also a freshman, said the bill wasn’t in the best interest of north Alabama that is almost exclusively supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority utility. "This legislation would cripple Alabama utilities with high and swift taxes, forcing them to choose between going out of business or passing the cost onto Tennessee Valley consumers," he said.
Rep. Robert Aderholt:
Aderholt, who represents the district between the Tennessee Valley and the Birmingham area, explained why he voted no. At first glance, this legislation sounds like a good idea, but the fact of the matter is the legislation is a hidden national energy tax that will harm our economy and set unrealistic government mandates," Aderholt said.
Rep. Spencer Bachus:
"One study has projected that the typical family in Alabama could eventually see electricity bills rise by more than $1,500 a year," Bachus said.
Rep. Artur Davis:
Davis, a gubernatorial candidate, said he supports investing in renewable and alternative energy, endorses reducing carbon emissions and securing energy independence. "While there have been serious and genuine efforts that have made this bill better, the fact remains that in Alabama, the bill will almost certainly cost us jobs and raise our utility rates," he said in a statement.
Rep. Joe Bonner:
Bonner said the plan would cause electricity rates and gas prices to "skyrocket," adding, "For the sake of our environment and our nations economy, we need a comprehensive energy plan, not a national energy tax."
Rep. Mike Rogers:
Rogers said Alabamians already are struggling with higher gasoline costs. "It has the chance to further harm our economy by increasing the cost of energy, hurting Americas competitiveness and sending good paying manufacturing jobs overseas," he said.
Rep. Bobby Bright:
Bright is a freshman in Congress. "This bill will raise energy costs for consumers, small businesses and farmers with no guarantee that it will achieve its goal of reducing the impact of global climate change," he said.
Hippy liberal tool:
Adam Snyder, executive director of Conservation Alabama, reacted to the delegation’s vote.
"When the Alabama delegation voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, they sent a clear message that Alabama is closed for business when it comes to clean energy jobs," Snyder said. "Conservation Alabama believes that this bill is a jobs bill that will put Alabamians back to work, improve our national security by decreasing our dependence on foreign energy and ultimately reduce environmentally damaging carbon emissions."
New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities.
Sotomayor?
The ruling could give Sotomayor's critics fresh ammunition two weeks before her Senate confirmation hearing. Conservatives say it shows she is a judicial activist who lets her own feelings color her decisions. On the other hand, liberal allies say her stance in the case demonstrates her restraint and unwillingness to go beyond established precedents.
The Supreme Court ruling Monday in the New Haven Firefighter case is a disappointing setback to civil rights in America, the president of the NAACP said following the decision.
“This decision is a step backward for equal opportunity in employment” said Benjamin Todd Jealous. “We are very disappointed in the courts’ decision to create a new flawed legal standard. It is especially disappointing both given the racially charged dynamic in many cities’ fire departments and given that the Supreme Court has refused to allow the New Haven department to meet this new legal standard before making their decision.” Jealous said.
Yes because judging on the scores on the test, instead of the color of the skin is a slap in the face of Martin Luther King.
Content of character... color of skin and all that jazz.
Gov. Bob Riley will be the drawing card tonight at a fundraising barbecue for Phil Williams, a Republican and high-tech entrepreneur running against Jenny Askins, a Democrat and member of the Madison County Board of Registrars.
Williams and Askins will be on the ballot July 14 in the special general election to fill the House District 6 seat formerly held by Sue Schmitz. Schmitz, D-Toney, was forced out of office in February when she was convicted of fraud. The district includes Monrovia, Toney and west Huntsville.
Along with state House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, Riley will join dozens of Williams' supporters for "Down Home Blues and BBQ" at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
In case you forgot there is an election in State House District 6 between Williams and Jenny Askins.
Shhhh don't tell anyone.
"The Iraq War" ends today? I guess so, oddly enough we still have 100,000+ troops there.
In deference to the security agreement that set the pullout deadlines, American troops in and near urban areas have begun avoiding nonessential outings during the daytime and will be on virtual lockdown during the first days of July.
But they expect to continue conducting patrols in urban areas alongside Iraqi security forces in the months ahead.
"On 1 July, we're not going to see this big puff of smoke, everyone leaving the cities," Brig. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, a spokesman for the U.S. military, said recently.
Nonetheless, some Iraqis see the date as an independence day of sorts.
Um no. We pull out to the suburbs so we can claim a victory. The battle and war rages on.
In a country where perception often matters more than reality, some Iraqis see the June 30 deadline as little more than symbolic. After all, more than 130,000 U.S. troops remain on Iraqi soil, and a mass drawdown is not expected until after the Iraqi general election in January.
This is why deadlines are stupid. The war goes on but we step back and claim victory when nothing really changes.
Madoff get's toughest sentence possible... 150 years.
Madoff, the 71-year-old former Nasdaq chairman, was sentenced Monday to 150 years in federal prison.
Of the many victims who flocked to the courthouse one, Judith Willing, dressed for her day in court in a gauzy white blouse and matching straw hat, told reporters that she and her husband had lost $2.5 million, "a huge amount to us."
She said they had used the money for charity, helping grandchildren through school and "the usual things."
After U.S. District Judge Denny Chin imposed the sentence, the courtroom erupted in applause.
The heavy 2010 lineup is sure to wear down voters with campaign rhetoric, not to mention boosting the total cost of campaign spending to potentially shameful levels. Some $27 million was spent in the 2006 gubernatorial race and $35 million in 2002, according to www.followthemoney.org, a national research tool for state and federal campaign spending.
Republican State Treasurer Kay Ivey and Riley cabinet member Bill Johnson announced their candidacies last week. Other GOP hopefuls include former state school board member and Postsecondary Chancellor Bradley Byrne, former Chief Justice Roy Moore, Greenville businessman Tim James (son of former Gov. Fob James), and state Rep. Robert Bentley of Tuscaloosa.
Democrats include U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, and state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks. Democratic Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb is also considering a run.
Let me help you out...
GOP:
Byrne
James
Moore
Bentley
Ivey
Johnson
DEM:
Davis
Sparks
Cobb
Everyone with out a line through your name may continue the rest of you need to go home.
The GOP folks could run against State Senator Hank Erwin.
The disgraced Governor of South Carolina embarrassed social conservatives, but what about fiscal conservatives? Did he hurt them too?
But now, unless Sanford can rehabilitate his public image with record speed, his days as a symbol of fiscal conservatism are over. Yet his disappearance comes as the otherwise flailing GOP actually has a case to make, after the recent spending binge under President Barack Obama.
According to the mid-June NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 60 percent of respondents said that Obama and Congress “should worry more about keeping the deficit down — even if that means it will take longer for the economy to recover,” according to an analysis by NBC’s Mark Murray. Other polling has found similar results. But to make hay of this issue, the GOP needs spokesmen who can sell fiscal conservatism and do it in a way that doesn’t allow it to be overshadowed by social conservatism.
Senator Sessions join WVNN's live and local morning show host Dale Jackson to talk about the important issues facing our nation.
Dale will talk to the ranking GOP member of the Judiciary Committee in the U.S. Senate about the controversial nomination of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. And after the U.S. House passed the historic "cap and trade" legislation by a narrow 219-212 margin on Friday, Sen. Session will be asked about it's chances in the Senate.
If you have a question for Senator Sessions, e-mail Dale at dale@wvnn.com and maybe he will ask your question on the air tomorrow morning.
Don't miss Sen. Jeff Sessions on "The Dale Jackson Show" tomorrow morning at 8AM on NewsTalk 770AM/92.5FM WVNN.
This makes me wish the HHA would target my complex.
This story is infuriating...
First they ended up taking rent payers and putting them on public assistance...
There are now eight low-income renters at Stone Manor, said authority spokeswoman Paige Rucker last week. There are also seven original renters among the 50 units who qualified for public housing and decided to stay.
Second, they are creating ridiculous jobs...
DeRisi's balcony overlooks the small pool, now staffed at all times by two lifeguards who earn $10 an hour. Given the new pool hours, she figures the authority spends $1,300 a week on lifeguards.
Payoffs...
The numbers are rough. According to figures recently provided to The Times, the authority has relocated 19 renters to new apartments at a cost of $30,000 in moving expenses.
The authority also spent $48,000 already to help three tenants buy homes. The authority projects another $209,000 in various expenses, including paying the difference in rent for relocated families for 42 months.
Seriously, this sucks these people go kicked out. But thse payouts are insane.
But some got no check...
But not everyone gets a check. Stone Manor residents who earn little enough to live in public housing, and therefore were not forced to move out, didn't qualify for any relocation assistance at all.
BECAUSE THEY STAYED PUT!
All in all the people who were living there or who stayed have no reason to complain. But the people who live near that new public housing complex sure do.
In a triumph for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that calls for the nation's first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy.
The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs.
At 2:49 A.M on the day the bill was voted on, Congressman Waxman added a 309 page amendment to the already 1,200 page bill giving House members virtually no time to read the additions. Only a couple hours was allowed for debate.
Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma said “It doesn’t matter,” he declared flatly, “because we’ll kill it in the Senate anyway.”
And just an FYI for everyone...
Calm down, it hasn't passed yet.
Here is a clue for those of you who think this is the law of the land...
We should never meddle in Iran even as people are being killed in the street, but we should meddle in Hondurous.
The Honduran military on Sunday ousted leftist President Manuel Zelaya and exiled him to Costa Rica - an action rejected by much of the world, including the United States and its sometimes foe, Venezuela.
The apparent catalyst for the coup came last week when Mr. Zelaya decided to go ahead with a nationwide referendum on whether he could purse a second term in office. Honduran electoral law limits leaders to one four-year term.
Though the referendum vote was neither sanctioned by Honduran congressional leaders nor deemed legal by the country's Supreme Court, Mr. Zelaya scheduled the vote for Sunday. He further antagonized the country's elite by trying to fire the head of the Honduran military, which promptly retaliated against him.
Makes sense to me?
Sounds like the former President was breaking the law, remember all the crying about Bush doing away with elections and appointing himself for a 3rd term. I do.
Mr. Zelaya, a leftist aligned with President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, angrily denounced the coup as illegal. “I am the president of Honduras,” he insisted at the airport in San José, Costa Rica, still wearing his pajamas.
Bernard Madoff's lawyer has told a judge scheduled to sentence the disgraced financier next week that 12 years in prison will be sufficient punishment for the man who swindled tens of billions of investors' dollars in one of history's biggest frauds.
But a Colorado woman who says her family was ruined financially by Madoff's thievery said a sentence that short might only work "if he was hung by his toes" the whole time.
"His career is not a concern of mine," Jenny Sanford told reporters camped at the end of her driveway as she left with her boys for a boat ride the other day. "He's going to have to worry about that. I'm worried about my family and the character of my children."
Her husband has been staying in the governor's mansion in Columbia since she kicked him out a few weeks ago. He spent several hours Thursday on Sullivan's Island, where he began trying to repair the damage.
This country's flag is being flown upside down in Alabama Shores, a small lake front community in Colbert County, and readers of this blog are asking if it's illegal. Illegal? No. Idiotic? Definitely.
According to neighbors, one Alabama Shores resident flew the U.S. flag in this manner during the entire Bill Clinton administration and has again taken up his old habit since the inauguration of Barak Obama. The flag of any nation flown upside down signals distress--that's distress of a physical nature and not simpering unhappiness with the current political administration.
Apparently, the Colbert Countian with the questionable taste has also added a Confederate battle flag since Obama's inauguration, an act that would seem self-explanatory.
You might want to think twice before leaving an animal after closing hours at the Greater Huntsville Humane Society or The Ark.
Both no-kill homeless animal shelters are improving the surveillance of their properties because of the large number of animals being abandoned at each in recent weeks.
"Undoubtedly, it's the worst year I've ever seen," said Beal, who had five dogs dumped at The Ark last week after hours. "We are going to beef up our surveillance and put signs up stating the law against abandoning animals (see above)."
Humane Society Director Melissa Hull said several animals have been left in crates, boxes or carriers after hours recently even though their owners had been told during business hours they were full and could not take them.
A DeKalb County man accused of sending more than 1,600 sexually explicit cell phone text messages to a 15-year-old girl has been released from jail on a $15,000 bond.
Sheriff Jimmy Harris said Friday that his department arrested Garry Don Galloway, 40, of Rainsville on Wednesday and charged him with 27 counts of harassing communications and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Galloway was reportedly a friend of the girl's family, Harris said.
Harris said this is why parents should always know who their children are talking with on their phones and their computers.
"As much as you hate to consider it," he said, "it could be someone you know."
If one of my adult freinds texted my kid, for any reason. Someone texted my kid, for any reason, I would kill them.
Sharpton also plans to eulogize his friend of 35 years during a memorial service Tuesday at the Apollo Theater.
During his weekly rally at the National Action Network yesterday, Sharpton railed against reports focusing on allegations that Jackson molested children and abused prescription drugs.
"If we can look past the shortcomings of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, then we can put into proper perspective any shortcomings Michael may have had," he said.
Personally I don't see drug use and diddling little boys as on the same level, but Al Sharpton is a piece of garbage so he may very well see it that way.
Anyway...
Finally someone has the guts to ask the hard question we all should think about...
This comes from my favorite website, which you can see here.
Back to the hard question.
Should you abort your baby in Michael Jackson-less world?
Normally, I would say "No". But since you are actually asking this question I will say the answer is "Yes", get your tubes tied as well and then kill yourself just to make sure..
The mission of Alabama Appleseed is to identify root causes of injustice and inequality and to develop and advocate for solutions that will improve the lives of all Alabamians. We work for constructive and lasting systemic change of policies and practices in Alabama that detrimentally and unfairly affect residents of the state.
Both groups love government and government solutions.
Griffith has stated to many people who have called his office that he is not sure how he feels about Nationalized Healthcare, which is BS.
As you know, Congress is aiming to overhaul our health care system before the year is out. As a physician for nearly 30 years, health care is an extremely important issue to me. I have seen firsthand the need for improvements to our health care system. Being able to access affordable care is not a Republican or Democratic issue; it is an issue that affects every person throughout our nation.
I believe that any reform we consider must focus on critical issues including: increasing access to primary care, investing in prevention and well-being, reducing costs, eliminating the disparity between care in our rural and urban areas, and ensuring that those that like their current health care plan get to keep it.
This should be an interesting evening, so check it out.
TOWN HALL MEETING HEALTHCARE REFORM with U.S. CONGRESSMAN PARKER GRIFFITH
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 5:30 – 6:30 PM Davidson Center 3D Digital Theater U.S. Space and Rocket Center 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805
– Free of Charge –
• We encourage everyone to attend, particularly if you have experienced difficulty with the current healthcare system such as: • Be ing uninsured • Health insurance too costly • Insurance claims denied • Inadequate coverage • Delaying costly medical care • Trouble finding doctors
• Learn about the healthcare reform taking place in Washington, D.C., and how these changes may affect Alabamians. • Share experiences you have had with the current healthcare system and present your questions about proposed health reform. • Hear Congressman Griffith discuss current healthcare reform efforts as well as challenges related to health services delivery and access. • Members of the public and the media are invited and encouraged to attend.
A Healthy Alabama is a Prosperous Alabama!
For further information: (800) 832-9060 Arise Citizens’ Policy Project • Anna Blair • blair@alarise.org Alabama Appleseed • Vaughan Branch • Vaughan.Branch@alabamaappleseed.org
Barack Obama - He is getting everything he wants so far.
Democrats - As with the stimulus, they were able to protect the vulnerable House members by getting a few GOP defectors.
Parker Griffith - "Parker Griffith Conservative" and "Independent" labels are easier to sell with this vote where he defied the Democratic leadership. Now he can say, "Yes, I vote for Pelosi but against her big tax increase"
Bobby Bright - See Griffith.
Senate Republicans - They will be given a chance to stop this. Can they?
Losers:
Republicans - 8 defectors allow bill to pass and Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner goes 0 for 2 (cap & trade and stimulus). Someone pointed out he would make a good candidate for 2012, if so he needs some big wins.Correction: Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner falls to 1 for 2, the GOP held the line on the stimulus, but it passed, and fell apart on "Cap and Tax". (hat tip to Brian at Flashpointblog.com)This is stil a blow to the GOP.
AL-05 Republicans: "But... but... but... NANCY PELOSI" just became a harder sell. (It was already gonna be a tough one)
America: Higher energy costs = higher costs for goods = slower economy = more job losses
DISCLAIMER: The loss of any life is a tragedy blah blah blah. Michael Jackson was never convicted of sleeping with kids blah blah blah. Great musician blah blah blah. Icon blah blah blah.
Can you imagine what the world will think of us in 200 years?
This has the makings a great movie...
A young black kid from Gary, Indiana starts a music group with his four brothers and they become ridiculously famous. The youngest of the 5 goes on an launches a solo career and has instant success. He makes more money than you could ever imagine and travels the globe. Men and women faint at his mere presence. He dates supermodels and befriends royalty around the globe.
He then begins to DRASTICALLY alter his appearance he goes from this...
to this...
and then to this...
As his appearance changes his behavior get's weirder and weirder...
He purchases a ranch and names it "Neverland" after the fantasy location of a boy that never grew up. He starts talking about a lost childhood, surrounds himself with carnival rides, animals and toys. He invites children to his house.
Multiple children and others accuse him of molesting kids...
After this it is learned that he slept in the same bed with kids who was accused of giving them "Jesus juice". He escapes by paying some off.. Has some kids of his own and lives in obscurity wearing masks and forcing his kids to do the same.
He starts planning a huge comeback and dies suddenly.
Alabama's seven congressmen, Republicans and Democrats alike, agree that the proposed new "cap and trade" federal energy bill is bad news.
It would be an anvil tied to the fragile economy, the seven say in a letter to House leaders. Worse, it doesn't count water power as renewable energy, they say.
The delegation wrote U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. Monday. Waxman's House Energy and Commerce Committee is finalizing the American Clean Energy and Security Act this week.
Reforming Public Schools & Protecting the PACT Program
Ethics Reform & Restoring Confidence in Government
Constitutional Reform
Here are some things that won't come up in the 2010 Governors race (especially if Davis hopes to have a snowballs chance in hell of over coming Obama's 450,000 vote loss to McCain)...
The first edition of President-elect Barack Obama's "Open for Questions" at change.gov has come to a close. His transition team will answer questions submitted by users that receive the most votes.
The question voted to #1 is:
"Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?"
Obama made fun of the fact that questions about legalising marijuana did surprisingly well in the online voting. “I don’t know what this says about the online audience”, he chuckled, ignoring the fact that somewhere between 40 and 50 per cent of American voters favour the reform.
Even with this mess, maybe Davis is on the right track, most of Obama supporters still can't tell you where he stands on most issues including his being against gay marriage.
I'll be honest I am looking forward to AL-05 in 2010. 
Senator Sessions join WVNN's live and local morning show host Dale Jackson to talk about the important issues facing our nation.
This country's flag is being flown upside down in Alabama Shores, a small lake front community in Colbert County, and readers of this blog are asking if it's illegal. Illegal? No. Idiotic? Definitely. 
I haven't heard anything about this 
5 of the top 10 on his own supporters list won't even be mentioned.
