The World Around You

Why would anyone take the head coaching job at Alabama? You get no opportunity to succeed, just a bunch of people waiting for you to fail. The SEC is not the conference it used to be and the difference between the top and the bottom is a matter of inches. Shula will re-surface and likely succeed somewhere other than Alabama. Beware all ye who enter here…

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This kind of thing goes on all the time, and hardly ever gets reported. Not just Troy “The Boy”, but other elected officials see no problem with seeking favors from other members of government to get friends employment. Most officials say they don’t think anything of it at the time, but when it comes to light they backpedal. What was that old saying about character being what you do when nobody’s looking? There’s a real lack of character in Troy.

On a Thanksgiving flight this week I sat next to an attorney from Birmingham who was on his way home for the holiday. We got to talking about his past work with the Attorney General’s office, he was one of the minor flood of employees who left the office when Troy came on board. Most of the folks who now work there are FOT (Friends of Troy), forget their qualifications or whether they had any experience to do the job. So why would he think there was anything wrong with others finding jobs for relatives of those friends?

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Artur Davis (D-AL) is expressing an interest in a run for the US Senate seat held by Jeff Sessions. It isn’t surprising that Artur would be seeking higher office, he has a very similar background to Barack Obama and is one of the shining stars of the Alabama Democratic Party. However, challenging Sessions will not be easy, no matter how you slice it. He has money, powerful friends and a strong political base.

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Crazy…

The Mobile County school board is considering a new meetings policy that would expel a speaker who attacks “any citizen’s good name,” and possibly bar that person from addressing the board again for a year.
That would include anyone who criticized a school board member, said the policy’s sponsor, Hazel Fournier.
“When we have a public meeting, why should I allow (someone) to come up and say how worthless Hazel Fournier is?” she said last week.

Because this is America, Hazel. And we have a little thing called free speech, especially when it comes to elected officials. If you can’t take criticism, you shouldn’t have run for office.

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Idiot… This is the kind of thing that’s going to cause the Democrats to lose credibility before they’ve even started.

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The Purdue women’s basketball team trounced Hartford yesterday to advance in the preseason WNIT. They will play NC State on Wednesday.

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The Lady Boilermakers started their season with a bang, winning their opening round match-up in the WNIT preseason tournament. Next up, either Dartmouth or Hartford in Round 2.

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It’s about time that the school board officially let go of Roy Johnson. There’s still much to do to ensure that nepotism does not reign in the Alabama two-year college system.

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As the legislative branch in Washington shifts left, it appears the State House in Montgomery may shift power to a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats. An attempt was made to do something similar at the start of the last session, so we’ll see how this one pans out, but it would certainly be an additional win for Governor Riley and his agenda.

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The dust has settled in Alabama. There may still be some doubt about the national picture, but Alabama knows who will be serving them for the next four years.

**Bob Riley won a second term as Alabama’s governor…but there is already talk that he may not finish out the term, 2008 is just around the corner.

**Jim Folsom Jr. will be the next Lieutenant Governor

**Troy King won re-election…I am so disappointed, but that’s Alabama politics, constant disappointment

**Sue Bell Cobb will be the next Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Only Alabamians could swing from Roy Moore to Sue Bell Cobb in one election cycle…unbelievable, but I’m grateful.

A couple of surprises, but, in general, the predictions held. Bob Riley was polling about 15 points ahead of Lucy Baxley and he’s head by 17 points as of this moment. Who said the polls are always wrong?

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10:00pm CST - CNN is now projecting Connecticut-5 and that gives the Dems 10 so far…five to go

9:57pm CST - The AP is also projecting wins for Ron Sparks for Ag Commissioner and Kay Ivey for State Treasurer

9:56pm CST - Many of Governor Riley’s supporters have changed his signs with a sticker that covers the word “Governor” with “President”…who knows?

9:47pm CST - Lucy Baxley is speaking to her supporters and has conceded to Governor Riley…he has gotten his second term

9:43pm CST - With all precincts reporting in Montgomery County, Alabama - both sitting district judges have surprisingly both gone down to defeat

9:40pm CST - Curt Weldon goes down in Pennsylvania and the Dems pick up a seat in Ohio…nine to go

***Dr. Taylor is live blogging as well…

8:46pm CST - The Alabama Governor’s race will be called for Governor Riley very soon…but there are several other potential surprises. I’m particularly encouraged by John Tyson’s showing and the showing of Sue Bell Cobb, we’ll see how those races pan out, but they are shaping up to be very interesting.

8:32pm CST - Another pick-up in Indiana for the Dems…3 down…12 to go

8:27pm CST - Give Rhode Island to the Democrats as well…3 down…3 to go in the Senate

8:23pm CST - Kentucky’s 3rd is going to the Dems as well…2nd pick-up…13 to go

8:20pm CST - The Democrats will hold Maryland…nothing but good news so far for the Dems

8:11pm CST - Lieberman Wins! (According to CNN) And the liberal bloggers cry…

8:00pm CST - CNN is projecting Rick Santorum will lose in Pennsylvania…2 down, four to go in the Senate

7:50pm CST - CNN is projecting the US Senate Race in Ohio for the Democrats…1 down five to go in the Senate

7:35pm CST - CNN is calling the New Jersey Senate Race for Bob Menendez

7:29pm CST - “Troy the Boy” is on WSFA…need to change the channel before I lose my lunch…

7:26pm CST - We’re seeing the first results from the AP and Riley is not pulling significantly more votes than Luther Strange (GOP Lt. Gov. Candidate)

7:24pm CST - 1 down, 14 to go in the House…the Democrats have taken Indiana’s 8th Congressional District

7:10pm CST - Ken Hooks - Baxley spokesperson is already pulling out the “regardless of what happens tonight” line and there are only a handful of Baxley supporters in attendance at her party.

7:00pm CST - Polls are Closed in Alabama

**Jeff at Politics in Alabama will be live blogging from the Luther Strange party in Birmingham

6:50pm CST - Kentucky 3 is looking bad for Republicans with 74% of precincts reporting…Rep. Anne Northup may go down.

Watching CNN until the polls close here in Alabama:
6:35pm CST - The race has been called in the Ohio Governor’s race for the Democrat. The early exit poll results nationwide look pretty frightening for Republicans…only 54% of the people who thought terrorism was an important issue voted for Republicans.

***CHECK ALABAMA ELECTION RETURNS HERE***

***CHECK MONTGOMERY COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS HERE***

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The final hours are ticking off this election year and I know you have been eagerly awaiting my endorsements for the Alabama races, so here they are.

GOVERNOR: Bob Riley (R) - I know, you’re shocked, but I have seen nothing from Lucy Baxley to indicate she will change things in a positive way. Governor Riley, for all his faults, has run the cleanest and most business-like administration in decades. He deserves a second term.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Jim Folsom Jr. (D) - This is the lesser of two evils. I would have much preferred another option in this race.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1: Jo Bonner (R) - He would get my vote simply for being the only member of the Alabama delegation who is also a member of the Substance Abuse Caucus.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2: Unnamed Write-In Candidate - There is no good choice here, pick someone else.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 3: Greg A. Pierce (D)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 4: Barbara Bobo (D) - Come on…we must have Congresswoman Bobo.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 5: Bud Cramer (D) - Uncontested

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 6: Spencer Bachus (R) - Uncontested

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 7: Artur Davis (D) - Uncontested

ATTORNEY GENERAL: John Tyson Jr. (D) - Possibly the most important race on the statewide ballot this year. Troy King must go, he simply must and John Tyson is exceedingly qualified and competent for the post.

SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE: Sue Bell Cobb (D) - We need to start balancing out the State Supreme Court.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, PLACE 1: Champ Lyons, Jr. (R) - Uncontested

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, PLACE 2: Gwendolyn Thomas Kennedy (D) - Ms. Kennedy is qualified and would be an outstanding justice.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, PLACE 3: Lyn Stuart (R) - If I had to keep one Republican on the court, it would be her.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, PLACE 4: John H. England, Jr. (D) - Return this man to the court.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Write-In Candidate of your choice - This is the ugliest choice on the ballot. Beth Chapman is a religious divider and Nancy Worley is incompetent…so sad one of them will be serving in this capacity.

STATE TREASURER: Kay Ivey (R) - Another Republican I actually like.

STATE AUDITOR: Sam Shaw (R) - Janie Baker Clarke is just scary.

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES: Ron Sparks (D) - He’s too big for his britches most days, but I say keep him where he is.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER, PLACE 1: Jan Cook (D)

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER, PLACE 2: Susan Parker (D) - One of the smartest candidates on the Democratic ticket…would make a great governor someday.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 2: Charlotte Kirkland Williams (D) - Another place where we need some balance.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 4: Ethel Hall (D) - Uncontested

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 6: David Byers (R) - Uncontested

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 8: Mary Jane Caylor (D)
**State offices up for election

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Hypocrite…

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