The World Around You

Brett Blackledge is at it again this Sunday…and there will be more. Today’s target is Sen. Quinton Ross (D-Montgomery) who runs the adult education program at Trenholm College (for higher pay than anyone else who does the same job). Ross was once the principal of the arts magnet high school in Montgomery and is a highly respected state legislator.

Once again, I don’t think (as some of my liberal colleagues have asserted) this about bringing down Democrats. This is about exposing the shady things that have been going on for years, and in some cases decades, in the two year college system. IT IS improper for legislators to receive special preferences and dispensations because of their positions, and IT HAS HAPPENED. Whether or not this is one of those instances, it needs to be brought into the light of day. And there are other situations that also need to be revealed, and no doubt will be.

Ross’ rise in the two-year college system has been criticized by others at Trenholm, who filed discrimination claims after he received the director’s job and argued publicly his appointment was political.

“I don’t have anything against him personally,” said Robert Walker, who won a $25,000 settlement after losing his job at Trenholm and challenging Ross’ appointment. “But I really don’t think he would have gotten that position if he wasn’t a senator.”

Ross is the latest Alabama lawmaker working in the two-year college system whose hiring and work have been reviewed by The Birmingham News. State school board members last month approved new policies limiting the hiring of legislators following reports that 43 legislators, their close relatives and businesses received payments from colleges between 2002 and 2006.

Lawmaker cited in low program enrollment- al.com

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Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) received a little good natured pressure from Donna Brazile in a forum this morning to run for Governor of Alabama.

“You are living in a time when there is more promise politically for people of color than there has ever been. The only question is whether we are audacious enough and strong enough to embrace the opportunity. Finally, nobody is going to hand you anything in politics. I don’t care if you’re black, brown, green or purple. If you run, they going to lie. They going to attack you. They’re going to challenge your ideas. The question is whether you can do what candidates all over the country have to do which is to rise to the occasion and to win.”

“Davis for Governor” campaign gets a nudge from Donna Brazile - Sweet Home Potomac - al.com

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Or is that too much to ask?

Thompson Fails to Impress Religious Right — Political Wire

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It’s not like them to be this far behind the curve, but the “frenzy” has certainly begun.

Everett Announces Retirement — Political Wire

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Of course one could, and Danny proposes the scenario on his site. You need a Democrat who has already proven they can do, and he provides the list, and you need the chips to fall perfectly, which they rarely do. A lot depends on who decides to run, which is why we are all watching that develop so anxiously.

Doc’s Political Parlor: Can Dem Win AL-02?

UPDATE: mooncat has some additional thoughts on the money aspect at Left in Alabama.

So, Republicans have more open seats due to retirements, plus a lot less national committee money to spend helping their candidates hold those seats than Democrats do. In my mind, this adds up to a very different election climate than we have seen in, oh, 14 years or so.

The Democratic candidate in AL-02 will need to be able to connect to those voters and will have to be able to raise a lot of money on his or her own, that’s a basic requirement. But there’s potential to tap into some DCCC $$ to help out if it’s a competitive race while the Republican may have to make do with whatever he or she can raise locally. Times have changed.

I agree, and if Ron Sparks gets in the race, it will certainly make things very interesting.

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I’d be surprised by this, except I know what addiction can do. It’s powerful and makes people extremely inventive and creative. If there is a will, there is a way, and addiction is the most powerful motivator you will find.

A Bayou La Batre woman has admitted smuggling drugs to her husband, an inmate at the Escambia County jail, by stuffing pills into their baby’s diaper.

The admission was made in a plea agrement by Mandy Lynn Mareno, whose husband pleaded guilty in Mobile’s federal court Wednesday to possessing or trying to possess prison contraband, conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and retaliating against a witness.

Mandy Lynn Mareno pleaded guilty earlier this month to drug charges. In her plea agreement, she admitted she hid the drugs such as Xanax and methadone in her baby’s diaper because the guards didn’t search the child on previous visits.

Escambia County inmate admits to receiving drugs in diaper - NewsFlash - al.com

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When Terry Everett announced his intention to leave his seat open in elections next year, the free for all began. State representatives David Grimes and Jay Love immediately threw their hats in the ring, and others will soon follow. As the Advertiser indicates, State Senator Harri-Anne Smith will be a strong contender and both the mayor of Prattville and Montgomery will consider runs.

Brad Moody gets at the most interesting part of this race.

Auburn Montgomery political scientist Bradley Moody said name recognition could be an issue in the sprawling district, which stretches from Prattville south to the Florida state line.

“I don’t know anybody who is well-known throughout the district,” said Moody. “So fund-raising is going to be a critical factor.”

Absolutely, the district is so big that no one is well known throughout and raising money will be job one. It is nice to have some action in Alabama congressional politics…finally. And I agree with Rep. Artur Davis as well, this has the potential to be a very competitive race.

“Terry is a very well-liked and a very popular member of Congress and I’m certainly sorry to see him go,” said Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, who leads the recruiting effort for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “He made that a safe district for Terry Everett … and now that he’s retiring this has the potential to be one of the most competitive races in the South.”

montgomeryadvertiser.com�::� Several eye Everett’s office

Birmingham News: Everett to Retire from U.S. House

Daily Dixie: Congressional District 2 Wide Open

Doc’s Political Parlor: AL 2 Update

Birmingham Blues: Rep. Terry Everett to Retire

Left in Alabama: Everett Retires, AL-02 Will be an Open Seat in 08

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It appears that Hilary is assembling the faces of her administration through her endorsements. Gen. Wesley Clark’s endorsement signaled he will be part of a Clinton administration, and the endorsement of Sen. Evan Bayh yesterday seemed to signal he will be there as well, possibly as a Vice President.

I will be supporting whichever Democrat emerges from the primary process, but Bayh on the ticket will increase my enthusiasm substantially.

Is Hillary Eyeing Evan Bayh as Potential Veep? - Newser

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I agree with mooncat that this kind of partnership needs to happen more often, and we will celebrate when it does.

Left In Alabama:: Bob Riley and the Alabama Association for Justice - Strange Bedfellows

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Alabama officials were angered by comments made about Mobile’s ability to build tankers yesterday. They are demanding an apology…I don’t think they’ll get it.

The comments “showed a profound ignorance of the Alabama economy today, and it is totally unfounded for Boeing to make that assertion,” said U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile. “They ought to be embarrassed. I was offended when I read it, as anyone would be. They owe Alabama an apology.”

State officials angered by Boeing remarks- al.com

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You just have to love one governor writing to another governor, “Say it ain’t so.”

Riley and Perdue get snippy over water wars - Sweet Home Potomac - al.com

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If health officials are baffled about why teen pregnancy is going up…I’d worry about their credentials as healthcare professionals…

Officials are looking at factors that might be contributing to the rise, including whether more teens are choosing to have sex and whether fewer of them are using contraception.

Gee, you think?

Health officials want to know why teen births in Alabama on rise - NewsFlash - al.com

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President Bush (or whoever did it for him) made a good selection to head up his new International Education Initiative. Now, I just hope he is left alone to do this job.

Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, Corts will help coordinate the nearly $1 billion spent annually on global education programs, including basic skills, health and nutrition.

“We are discovering the link between health and education and literacy and quality of life, so I hope we can make a real difference,” Corts said in a phone interview as he was leaving New York. “It has a lot of consequences … for global peace and prosperity. Bringing more educational light in the world I think is a very justifiable role for us to play.”

Corts new coordinator of Bush education plan- al.com

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When legislators ignore constituencies, they can pay a price. And I would call what happened yesterday to veterans organizations ignoring them.

Six veterans organizations had representatives there. The state employees who oversee veterans affairs were there. The only ones missing at the legislative briefing Monday were the state legislators.

Three of the nine senators on the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee who were no-shows had other appointments.

Sen. Jim Holley, D-Elba, had a doctor’s appointment. Sen. Zeb Little, D-Cullman, is a lawyer and had a court docket. And Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, is working on an insurance reform bill and opted to attend a regional meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners instead.

“If there was any way I could be both places,” Brooks said, “I would be.”

The other six senators — Republicans Larry Dixon and Henry Erwin and Democrats W.H. Lindsey, Hinton Mitchem, Quinton Ross Jr. and Wendell Mitchell — did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

Senators Dixon, Ross and Mitchell are all local, so their explanations will be particularly interesting to me.

montgomeryadvertiser.com�::� Legislators are no-shows at veterans briefing

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Danny has a great interview with Dr. Susan Parker on the Political Parlor. She is one of the most respected (if little known) politicians in Alabama. I hope she does make a run for Lieutenant Governor in 2010. She would make a great one. She looked at the race last time, but wisely deferred.

Susan Parker in the Parlor » Doc’s Political Parlor

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montgomeryadvertiser.com�::� Beautiful buildings don’t make church

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The Montgomery Advertiser has a nice piece this morning discussing the real underpinnings of the dispute between Troy “the Boy” King and the District Attorneys of Alabama. It does a nice judge of parsing the legal argument from the political one. It’s true that this is all about politics, which is what King knows best.

montgomeryadvertiser.com�::� Prosecutor fight hints at politics

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Yes, the Purdue Boilermakers have cracked the Top 25 (in the coaches poll, 26th in the AP voting) for the first time in two years. I have good feelings about this season, but we still have to face a revitalized Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State, so it’s no easy road, but we do have one of the top QB-WR combos in the country and experienced players on both sides of the ball.

ESPN - NCAA College Football Polls, College Football Rankings, NCAA Football Poll

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I think this is exactly what was intended by the laws restricting where sex offenders can live,

About 75 percent of Mobile’s housing is off-limits to sex offenders because of residency restrictions, a Press-Register analysis shows. That leaves pockets inside the city, or less populated areas outside it, for local offenders to live, officials agree.

The restrictions were designed to protect children by keeping sex predators away from schools and day cares. But some researchers and studies report that such restrictions are pushing sex offenders into more rural areas, creating clusters of former convicts who live in isolation, have no ties to their communities, and lack work, education and treatment options.

I’m not sure about the connection between the lack of work, education and treatment options and the fact that they have limited places where they can live. I don’t think anyone will be looking to change the housing restrictions, but we should begin the conversation about what more can be done to reintegrate people who are part of our communities back into society, without increasing the danger they may pose to the innocent.

Offenders are widely restricted- al.com

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The Boilermakers got their Big Ten season off to a great start with a win on the road against Minnesota yesterday. GO BOILERS!

Purdue Opens Big Ten Slate With 45-31 Win At Minnesota :: Desmond Tardy runs back opening kickoff for touchdown and Boilermakers do not look back

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Our fair Sen. Sessions finally got off the fence on Iraq…we’re so proud. He’s also now concerned about “rubber stamps”, when he’s given this President a rubber stamp for 7 years!

Left In Alabama:: Jeff Sessions is finally off the fence on Iraq

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montgomeryadvertiser.com ::  Phone bill: $2,546. Lesson in overuse charges: Priceless

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Dan has a good analysis of the latest Survey USA numbers. Once again, there is no Democrat who stands much of a chance in a general election in Alabama. Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama would get trounced. The best Alabamians who don’t want to see a Republican president can do is to give money and support efforts in more competitive states.

Daily Dixie: Alabama’s Presidential thoughts

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I’ve avoided commenting on the MoveOn.org ad, much like my friend Dr. Taylor, but I also agree strongly with the echoing of Michael Kinsley’s column.

I will repeat: all of the outrage over the ad has made the ad more well known and has radically amplified the impact of the ad buy itself.

Beyond that, it just seems we have a lot more rather important issues to be dealing with than whether an interest group said something mean about David Petraeus.

PoliBlog ™: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Kinsely on “Betray Us” (or More Evidence of my Outrage Deficiency)

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And the winner for Best Named Reality Contestant in the History of Ever is…

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Finally, a point where Dan and I disagree. I think this is an extremely smart federal law. Weather radios save lives, and in the overall cost of a manufactured home it will make negligible difference, but in the lives saved, it could be priceless.

Daily Dixie: Another stupid federal law on the way

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When I first heard about the state putting together this panel and that it would be headed by folks from business and industry, specifically construction, I thought there might be trouble. And sure enough…

“The folks who got together to run this commission, to make sure their people were on it, are the same folks who changed my resolution in the Legislature,” he said. “I think its loaded pretty heavily for groups who apparently somewhere in their groups hire illegals.

“Their version of what’s best for Alabama is what’s best for them.”

The second meeting of the commission turned testy Wednesday when members disagreed over whether the 21-member group should have public hearings around the state.

“As soon as you saw the opposition to public meetings, which was clear, that told me everything I needed to know,” said Beason.

That IS a good sign that folks don’t REALLY want to discuss the issue. Although, this isn’t an issue I believe can be solved with legislation, I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad idea to have some more open discussions about the “problem” and “solutions”.

I’ve stated in this space before that immigrants of all stripes are the people who built this country and without our immigrants (legal and illegal), our economy would collapse. There are no quick solutions, but we must find ways to help more people be part of this country legally and reduce the flow of illegal workers intelligently.

Legislators say immigration panel hijacked- al.com

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Brett Blackledge continues to dig and dig, and despite some on the left complaining that he’s on some sort of witch hunt, I believe there is impropriety here (and in other areas he hasn’t found yet). This behavior is not right, nor is it ethical, despite the assertion that these kinds of activities are common.

At the same time I don’t think this is about Rep. Davis personally or even his ethics, I think it is about practices that need to stop and I hope they already have.

Davis’ political aide also paid by two-year college- al.com

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John Edwards will be back in Alabama for a barbecue fundraiser in Birmingham. For $250 your family can join him too!

Left In Alabama:: Birmingham Barbecue with John Edwards

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Brett Blackledge followed up his two-year college story about Gina Bailey McKell yesterday by covering the Governor’s speech in Prattville to the two-year college presidents.

Riley said he believes arrangements like McKell’s no longer exist in the system, and they shouldn’t. “I’m not aware of it, but that doesn’t mean it may not be true,” he said.

Riley urged college presidents during his speech Tuesday to look forward as they help rebuild the state’s two-year system in the wake of ongoing scrutiny and a federal criminal investigation. He said they will become bigger players in the state’s efforts to recruit businesses because of the work-training services their campuses provide.

“At some point, every one of us is going to have to put the past behind us,” he said. “I want you to begin to embrace change.”

No college pay for politicos, Riley says- al.com

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