Tin Shop Tartan - Randolph County Alabama's Own Snarky and Surly Scot Gets All Native

Captain Plaid - New Approaches for New Days

2006-08-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'll be cross posting the following across the five efforts. I'll keep Captain Plaid up and running via Blogger, although TypePad continues to call me. Until I announce otherwise, Captain Bama is leaving the building. For the near future at least, I'll abandon Tin Shop Tartan. I'm going to put Captain Jimi in the holster as well in that I can fight the culture war on the main blog. Marque Stuart has long been neglected and my inner Martha will need to be surpressed even further given these next few weeks ... and perhaps even months and years.

I've been slack in posting these last few days but family called. I was unexpectedly called in to help a relative with a business/building project and that has been the priority these last few days. Even though the fam might not always understand me, I am thrilled to help any of my brood. I understand Highlanders had "broken men" that had left their own Clans and joined with another in some respects, generally free to return to or assist their kin as circumstances required. Maybe that is what is going on with me? There have surely been plenty of shifts and changes for me over this summer! Here's the immediate deal ...

I'll be working for a Progressive Political Action Committee until mid-November. Reporting on Labor Day for duty, I'll be in Milwaukee for the first few days but they'll soon farm me out to at least one candidate. Although there may be some races for Governor or other state/local positions, I'm likely going to be working in one of the competitive U.S. House districts. I could be working pretty much anywhere but doubt it will be in Alabama or even the South (Florida doesn't count as the "South" does it?). Country come to town?

I'm hoping to find future work, ideally in politics/policy or some type of non-profit education, away from rural East Alabama. I'm looking in relatively urban areas along the East Coast or in the Mountain West. This PAC I'll work for next will assist in placement and yet I've got friends and contacts that are also looking and helping. The experience will hopefully teach me much plus it will admittedly help expand my resume. By the first of the year I hope to have a long term position nailed down. If anybody knows of something that might suit me please let me know. I'll work like two trojans. I can get along with most folks, event though some family and a few past "significant others" might disagree.

I'm leaving for several reasons. I've mentioned that several fundamentalist family members reacted rather harshly to a letter I sent First Baptist Church on their shilling of Amendment One, the Alabama Contitutional Amendment on banning same-sex marriages that every major paper or reasonable authority in Alabama agreed was not necessary and even foolish. Some have expressed displeasure with my Letters to the Editor to my local paper. I think I've done four since the first of the year and I've yet to have anybody say my facts were wrong. In every letter I challenged Bu$hCo (and often the GOP and conservatism and ...) so I think that was mostly the problem. Again, explain where I was wrong! Until then, and probably even after then, I feel very patriotic to have spoken out against the abuses of this worst administration ever. Additionally, my ex-wife has gone on the warpath so that my ability to have the type of relationship I'd like with my son has become more of a challenge.

I've left the classroom after five years back in the trenches frustrated with NCLB and other bureaucracy, with this last years's experience trying to teach the young adults of Heard County, Georgia being the final nail in that coffin. I was also feeling "cooped up" in that teachers are forced to work inside cement block rooms for most of their day and not always able to engage people and the community as might be ideal for any profession. I'd pondered returning to the practice of "country law", thinking a low overhead practice where I could perhaps avoid the drudgery of merely paying the bills might be rewarding. I'd thought I could do criminal defense and some worthy activism plus simply help folks but I've decided I can't remain here in rural East Alabama and keep my sanity. I'm somewhat afraid I'd wind up an angry, lonely old man. Living in this conservative backwater, even though I cherish some of the rural lifestyle, might do more harm than good. As a single man, the social scene around here is especially scary. I love the dirt and woods and critters and ..., and certainly a few dear friends, but I'm now certain I need another setting.

I've learned to live simple, and the older I get the less I seem to need, but I want "purpose" to my life. I seek intellectual and spiritual experiences. I want to work with people that generally possess a Progressive outlook. I want to find my place in a vibrant community that values learning and art and compassion and service and health and ... I've long though about building a "home" where I'll feel some measure of security and completeness. My experiences as a child, with my mother dying rather young plus several other unfortunate realities, have I think tempered me where I default to seek "place", although I'll argue this is a very Southern, perhaps even Scottish, trait.

My failed marriage and practice, one that I'll submit I've placed in the proper order, plus the resulting troubles, were certainly events I'd have just as soon avoided. Ten to seven/six years later, I'm twice the man I was and I'm just forty. I can still be a good father, even though the idea of moving away from my son is the toughest part of these changes. In fact, given the current attitudes and actions of my ex-wife, I'm perhaps making the best of a bad situation. I wanted to be near "the boy" through these early teen years but if I'm better centered by being elsewhere then more good might result.

I've really enjoyed posting on these five blogs and hope they've been valued for at least effort if not for insight. I've only done a few on Marque Stuart but I've dropped 126 posts on Captain Jimi. Tin Shop Tartan has seen 127. A total of 186 post appeared on Captain Bama. Captain Plaid has had 279. Over seven hundred posts! Many hours of mousing and keyboarding (with Blogger being bloggered often making it take longer!) but I've learned so much. I appreciate the comments and communcations. For those that have honored me with a blogroll link feel free to leave any or none. I'll continue over at Captain Plaid, with the caveat that if my new gig doesn't allow time then posts might be scarce. I anticipate a new email addy once I get settled in.

Thanks again for allowing me to share my thoughts and frustrations plus my hope for a better world. Peace ... or War!

Am I Leaving Dixie for Merely Flyover Land?

2006-08-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

I'll soon be leaving this area for ten weeks. From Labor Day to mid-November, I'll be helping a yet unknown campaign for a PAC based in Wisconsin. I'll initially be in Milwaukee but I'm not sure where I'll be working just yet. I've been pondering the differences between here and where I'll land yet wondering if there will be as much as I'm wanting. I know some time away will be positive and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity. Plus I've had about all the humidity I can stand this summer! Might need to let the blogging slide for a bit but I'm still thinking about the options of continued postings.

I'll send you to an old post I did on Dixie Outfitters that I recently mailed to The Young Turks in response to their discussions of Virginia's George Allen "macaca" insults to a Webb staffer. Cenk, Ben, and Jill seemed surprised that this redneck trait (Allen had a "rebel flag" - yes, I know it is a CSA "battle flag" - in his office for years) was still in the South. I explained that I'd worked in two West Georgia schools where the default uniforms were Dixie Outfitters shirts. I truly think there was an inverse relationship between the days of the week a DO shirt was worn and the intelligence of a child (and their parents as well in some ways for letting them express their 1st Amendment Rights - I know my Old Daddy didn't think the 1st applied to parents and I think he was correct - in such a manner). I recall many Unreconstructed Rebels that couldn't tell you a damn thing factually about the American Civil War yet they'd constructed pretty much their entire wardrobe around the Lost Cause.

I also ran across this Sara Robinson post on Ornicus where she'd commented about two years back to a Billmon Whiskey Bar post with a biting commentary on the South. I know plenty of folks were mad at the South after Dubyah came back in. John Egerton wrote of the Southernization of America and I think there's some truth to the idea. Redneckism is spreading like a cancer I fear. Fundamentalism up in Ohio, plus some nasty tricks with the election and Rovian hateful hardball, saved this disaster of an administration. Some "coastal elites" talk with distain about "flyover land" and I'd hate to land in a place where I still feel a bit geared wrong for the area. I'd guess our little village is perhaps as conservative as any so at least I'll not be backing up.

Perahps there's a shift in process yet I'm sure I'll have some 'splainin to do over what the South has wrought to this nation. Peace ... or War!

I Rest My Case on Standardized Test Focus!

2006-08-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

My "Letter to the Editor" made The Randolph Leader today, although I 'd have used another title. I noted Penny and Vanessa reporting on the County and City efforts. Good gracious was that lots of text and statistics and edu-speak and ...! We should celebrate of course and yet if most of our schools had not made AYP then we'd have thought the schools not up to snuff.

Handley not making AYP was due to drop outs. Do schools make those decisions? I thought we wanted "rigor"? Additionally, I'll promise you that I've seen schools keep straight hellions in school so as to fluff the attendance numbers. We socially promote and have serious limitations on discipline and then these kids get to high school where there's a train wreck. Once they aren't getting their credits many will bolt. Some aren't being served that well but some simply aren't suited for traditional settings. That's reality folks! I'm a bleeding heart for certain yet I know this to be true.

I've seen a registrar/counselor spend hundreds of hours designing bribes and stunts to get kids to come to school. Last I knew parents were the ones making the decisions on getting up the kids and then making them darken the doors! Yet schools get judged on this factor?

I was pleased to read that special education students tested high enough to make AYP yet noted that had not been so in the past. I've taught tons of kids with various learning disabilities and other limitations. Yes, any child can learn. Still, expecting all special education students to do all of the things NCLB does is just plain bent.

I'd thought that perhaps County and City numbers might get covered this week yet I'd never dreamed we'd get this detail. I hope folks will consider my concerns. Useful to have some testing but to live and die by it is simply flawed. Peace ... or War!

Red to Blue by Empathy, Engagement, & Effort?

2006-08-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

Senators Diane Feinstein of California and Chuck Schumer of NY will have to do yet Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, Bill and Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, ... would perhaps work just as well. Down here in this neck of the woods these two might work as well as any for poster children for out of touch, coastal elites. I'm not crazy about Senator Schumer's DLC/Republican Lite approach but Senator Feinstein gets more right than wrong.

I talked to a good local friend of mine today that I'd probably label as a paleo-conservative. Once a Perot/Buchanan supporter. Thinks "when the the truth comes out" Bu$hCo will go down as one of our greatest. Very nervous about the Democrats position on the Second Amendment, singling out our two Senators above for special scorn. I talked to him about Robert J. Vanderbei's maps and University of Michigan work that morphs images around in what some have called "purple haze" since he had a copy of the "Red America" 2004 county map on his desk. My friend seems to wants to know the facts and I'm optimistic he'll listen if approached respectfully.

After that talk, I dropped by a local family business, one where I'm crazy about these folks, where two of the fam snarled at the idea of voting for a Democrat. I think they mentioned Ted Kennedy but I'm not sure. I told some Bu$h jokes, chatted them up, shared my blog URL as they mention my Leader letters, and walked away thinking "Maybe?. I wasn't playing activist or manipulating them as I enjoy being around them. They are rather wealthy and I can understand their support of the GOP when it comes down to economics even though I think their customers would have more money to spend if we were better off and globalization didn't give Wal-Mart a leg up against many small businesses and ...

My paleo friend mentioned Diane Feinstein wanting to go door to door to get folks' guns. He thinks Chuck Schumer NYC gun views are dreadfully out of touch as well. I know several Democrats, including the two above, attempted to renew, as written or perhaps with some amendments, the "assault weapons ban" that expired just before the 2004 elections. Both support Brady background checks and would likely want them tightened up.

Just so I'll feel like I'm being open, I was surely conflicted on this "assault weapon" vote and think reasonable people could go either way. Here's a perfect place for bipartisan solutions yet I'd argue the NRA, and especially the Big Mule GOP Corporatists, wants to keep the division. I do think regulation or stricter controls on these weapons makes sense. I'll include demands on those that manufacture and distribute weapons as well. I also think background checks, without the "gun show" loophole that you can drive a busload of criminals or even terrorists through, are reasonable. Gun enhancements to violent and significant property crimes work generally.

Licenses and permits make sense in many cases. "Concealed carry" works for me in some ways. Loosening the "duty to retreat" doesn't make sense, something I've posted on before, even scolding Bob Riley for shilling NRA lies. These are local matters I'll argue for the most part so the federal government, beyond how the 2nd might apply, will generally not be involved.

As to my friend, "Mission Acccomplished NRA" is what I'm suspecting. They've essentially guaranteed a vote for the GOP or made it darned difficult for this fella to consider "voting under the rooster" (an old term for voting Democrat back in the days when I even fear the state party had "White Supremacy" in the logo) on what I'd argue is flawed information. I've Googled about and the closest thing I can find for "door to door" was the voluntary turn in or buy back or whatever it was program that some urban law enforcement communities attempted to get unregistered weapons off the streets. If anybody can help me here then I'd appreciate it.

Certainly the average Democrat is not going to fall in line with the NRA line. Good for them! I'm proud to have written a nasty gram to the NRA many years ago telling them to drop me from the list and to never communicate with me . They stir up mess for fundraising and political gain. See an earlier TST post on "Stop the UN Gun Ban" for an example of how they lie. They, like several pseudo-grassroots organizations are more tools of the corporatists than looking out for average Americans. I did note several versions of this "Second Amendment Hypocrites: Senators Schumer and Feinstein Pack Heat" by Jim Kouri on various "alternative" news sites. Where I sent you had a reference to the FDA's "ongoing Communist agenda" which I thought was rather revealing.

I'll admit that the "paranoid style" of American politics works. I slip into it myself at times. Yet, I'll also argue that the average Democrat is not wanting to take away any law abiding citizens guns! They support the Second Amendment! They are in touch with "real" Americans" and certainly most are much more concerned about the environment (RU listening hunters?) than those in the GOP. Plus they, like any smart GOP pol, know that banning guns is just like the Supremes setting aside Roe vs. Wade. It would be political suicide! There's some value as a wedge issue for each side but the differences in the mainstream aren't that extreme. Concerns that Diane and Chuck and ... are plotting to take away our weapons if ever given the chance isn't a good way to cast your vote.

Democrats want to make sure Bubba at least has some public land to take his kids fishing and hunting as we are seeing how the good land is being snapped up by the fat cats making big bucks in the economy set up by the GOP. Bubba keeps voting the BIG Mules into office and they keep screwing Bubba over where it really counts. Bubba's mad about boys marrying boys and his preacher is telling him about the Godless liberals eating fetuses and ... Arrggghhhh!

Closing off and finally returning to the title to the post, understanding where those voting GOP are coming from is a good start for our side. Communicating and bouncing ideas about, using humor when able, is another part fo the game. Finally, being willing to work at staying informed is required. Tracking down information takes time. Breaking through GOP and right wing talking points or even distortions, otherwise known as "lies", takes time. The GOP has taken away plenty of "our" votes down here and Progressives can perhaps think exponentially as I know it gets frustrating. Get say ten for our team and then those might get five others and so forth. Peace ... or War!

When If Ever Will Randolph County Go "Wet"?

2006-08-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing that some folks intend to get the "wet" issue on this November's ballot. I think they've got to do this quickly if they've not already waited too long. Melanie Warner of the New York Times reports "With Business Leading a Push, Liquor Comes to Dry Bible Belt" which provides some good insights for our locale. Peace .. or War!

Good teachers, not bureaucrats, are celebrated!

2006-08-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

"Good teachers have lifelong influence" appears in this week's Leader. I knew several of the names that were mentioned. Would that it were that the profession was actually seen as a "noble calling" as Pat Weathers does! I'll submit that this view of educators is becoming rather rare. And that's a damn shame! The fella to the left, Alfie Kohn, could surely help remedy this trend.

I've been reading his "What Does It Mean To Be Well-Educated" and I'm reminded of how much joy there would be working in education if his ideas on schools were implemented. Kids and parents would be sharing that joy as well. Our society would begin shifting toward a love of learning and the ability to ponder and questions and seek and ... Isn't that what being "well educated" is about?

NCLB and conservative education "reforms" of the last twenty plus years have certainly done more harm than good but I'll also suggest they've taken away much of the joy in teaching. Good teachers, and I'll include principals and administrators in that category, are due even more praise for remaining in the field increasingly dominated by bureaucratic business-based ideas of learning that simply aren't applicable to "learning".

The thing is that if you intend to get ahead in the field now you've essentially got to buy into the "accountability" model. Standards with learning mostly measured by high stakes testing is the foundation. So much of what occurs in our classrooms locally is dictated by our politicians and bureaucrats in DC and Montgomery to a lesser extent. Changes will occur at the ballot box only when Americans start understanding the failures in current policies. The other major influence in our schools are the corporations and consultants making huge profits off the "solutions".

I left education for several reasons yet remain motivated to remedy the many failures in our education policy as I care about our world. Sharing Alfie Kohn is a good way to begin. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - August 14, 2006 - Here's the text of a "Letter to the Editor" that I forwarded to my Randolph Leader. I felt compelled to take the opportunity to say something that I think needed saying. Given that my old computer plus my old noggin and fingers seem to be less than 100% I'll pray for no goofs or that The Leader will catch and remedy before publishing.

Pat Weathers’ "Good teachers have lifelong influence" from The Leader’s August 9th edition was a gem. “The chance to make a positive influence on a young child at a crucial time in their lives is such a blessed opportunity and if used wisely can have an influence that lasts throughout that small person's life.” was wonderfully written. Amen! As an advocate of “Progressivism”, I’d like to add my two cents to the “if used wisely” angle.

An educator presently in voluntary exile, I've been reading Alfie Kohn’s "What Does It Mean To Be Well-Educated" plus several other critics. Ted Sizer and Deborah Meier for instance write on “intellectual habits”. Questioning, seeking, analyzing, imagining, caring, communicating, curiosity, marshalling evidence, critically thinking, considering perpectives, connecting, supposing, and other traits that “lifelong learners” often possess are not easily “measured”. In fact, measureable outcomes may be the least significant result of education. Extrinsic motivations (rewards/punishments) may actually limit the intrinsic ideal. The value of some homework and rigid grading, even “authentic assessment”, is rather uncertain. Michael Apple, Albert Bandura, Paulo Freire, Jonathan Kozol, Peter McLaren, Susan Ohanian, and of course John Dewey provide solid alternatives to conservative ideas of what makes a good school.

Bu$hCo’s “Texas Miracle”, now known to have been partially fraudulent, yielded NCLB, more accurately labeled as “No Data-Obsessed Bureaucrat Left Behind”. This federal mandate was forced on schools in 2001. Some Democrats, attracted to funding and help for the disadvantaged that has often not been delivered, supported NCLB. Some critics claim this “accountability” movement began with a “manufactured crisis” in 1983 when the Reagan White House released their “Nation at Risk” report. The Bu$h the Elder and Clinton administrations, plus other pandering politicians, often accepted or parroted ideas of “raising the bar” and “measuring outcomes” and other “reforms”.

Good teachers, and I'll include administrators here, earn our praise for remaining in a profession increasingly hindered by top-down bureaucratic, business-based ideas that often aren't applicable to "learning". The "accountability" model has been placed on top of a hundred year old “industrial” model. Foundationally flawed “high stakes” testing dominates yet do these “one size fits all” instruments really measure what is important? Focusing on arbitrary goals like “Adequate Yearly Progress” is doing more harm than good. Examining recalled “facts” and demonstrable “skills” can be useful yet few measurement experts deny that developmental and individual factors are the primary indicators of “success” on most standardized tests.

Our local schools are increasingly controlled from DC and Montgomery. A second influence would be those corporations and consultants making money off "solutions” such as “canned curriculums” that are often “an inch deep and a mile wide”. Conservative “think tanks” and “policy shops” that serve up “research” to bolster the claims of the above two groups are a third major influence. Local educators have much less power than many lay people might believe. Our parents, students, media, educators, and the community as a whole should question and challenge the conservative takeover of our schools.

I'll burst some "marginalization fantasy" bubbles!

2006-08-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

I've posted on Thomas Frank before over on Captain Plaid and perhaps even here. With the exception of a few wealthy families, a poor community like ours ought to be consistently electing Democrats for state and especially national offices. Kansas had some farm populism that was far more economic that ours yet we had pockets here and to the north into the Piedmont.

Mr. Frank is locked behind the New York Times' Select feature today but I located the piece at another site that shall remain my secret. His "The Spoils of Victimhood" works here on my "local" effort. I'll drop the whole thing in below. Many conservatives left here are still trapped in the old model as well. Some certainly need their "marginalization fantasy" punctured.

If you've not seen my recent Captain Bama post on Gerald "Dino" Dial whining to the Democratic Party while at the same helping Bob Riley with a "Lucy's too liberal for Alabama" media spot then you might enjoy visiting. Lots of "victimhood" indeed. Peace ... or War!

Guest Columnist - "The Spoils of Victimhood" By THOMAS FRANK

“President Bush operates in Washington like the head of a small occupying army of insurgents,” the pundit Fred Barnes writes in his recent book, “Rebel-in-Chief.” “He’s an alien in the realm of the governing class, given a green card by voters.”

Let’s see: These insurgents today control all three branches of government; they are underwritten by the biggest of businesses; they are backed by a robust social movement with chapters across the radio dial. The insurgency spreads before its talented young recruits all the appurtenances of power — a view from the upper stories of the Heritage Foundation, a few years at a conquered government agency where expertise is not an issue, then a quick transition to K Street, to a chateau in Rehoboth and a suite at the Ritz. For the truly rebellious, princely tribute waits to be extracted from a long queue of defense contractors, sweatshop owners and Indian casinos eager to remain in the good graces of the party of values.

What a splendid little enterprise American conservatism has turned out to be. How does this work? How does the right keep its adherents in a lather against government bureaucrats and Washington know-it-alls when conservatives are the only bureaucrats and know-it-alls who matter anymore?

Part of the answer is that, after their crushing defeat in the 1930’s, conservatives rebuilt their movement by adopting a purely negative stance against liberalism. They were so completely excluded from power, they believed, that in 1955 William F. Buckley Jr. famously depicted them “Standing athwart history, yelling Stop.” Writing in the middle of the Reagan years, the journalist Sidney Blumenthal gaped at the persistence of this “adversarial” mind-set long after the liberals had been routed. “Even when conservatives are in power they refuse to adopt the psychology of an establishment,” he marveled.

Here we are, 20 years later, and to hear conservatives tell it, every election is still a referendum on the monster liberalism, which continues to loom like a colossus over the land. Even Tom DeLay — the erstwhile “hammer” — becomes a martyr when addressing the faithful. “The national media has taken my own re-election as their own personal jihad,” he moaned in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. “So we’re fighting the fight of ages.”

That conservatives continue, as Rick Perlstein writes, to “soak in [their] marginalization” four decades after the election of the last liberal president puts this victimology beyond implausible. It is more on the order of a foundational myth, like the divine right of kings, a fiction that everyone involved must accept as fact.

A century ago, it was conservative stalwarts, not liberal reformers, who were the natural party of government. And they were forthright about what they stood for as well as what they were against: They were for rule by a better class of people, for a Hamiltonian state in which business was unified with government. And conservatism is still for those things, tacitly at least. Just look at the résumés of the folks the president has appointed to the Departments of Labor, Agriculture and the Interior. Or scan one of the graphs that economists use to chart the distribution of wealth over the last hundred years. The more egalitarian society we grew up in is gone, snuffed out by the party of tradition in favor of an even rosier past that lies on the far side of the 1930’s.

These ought to be easy things to deplore. They ought to arouse precisely the kind of simmering fury that millions of Americans feel toward lewd halftime shows and checkout clerks who don’t say “Merry Christmas.” But we have difficulty holding conservatives accountable for them, so potent is their brand image as angry outsiders. What conservatives do, as everyone knows, is protest government, protest modernity; to hold them responsible for government or for modernity is to bring on cognitive dissonance.

Or, rather, it might bring on cognitive dissonance. We don’t know because puncturing conservatism’s marginalization fantasy hasn’t really been tried. If liberals are ever to recover, this will have to change. Against the tired myth of the “liberal elite” they must offer a competing and convincing theory of how Washington works, and for whom.

Thomas Frank is the author, most recently, of “What’s the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America.’’ He will be a guest columnist during August.

Copyright 2006 New York Times Company

The soft bigotry of low expectations?

2006-08-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Bloggered still on posting images, I'll point locals to the East for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's resident Libertarian/Republican shill Jim Wooten for today's "Right Thinking".

Jim's a frequent target of Captain Bama yet I've thought locals might enjoy reading some of his "thinking". Our post title comes from a Bu$hCo line defending "accountability" in education such as "No Child Left Behind". "Low expectations" certainly applies to Jim's vision of government when he writes the following:

... While some have called this a do-nothing Congress, House Republicans point to a long list of accomplishments, ranging from tough border security to a 37 percent reduction in earmarks, or $7.8 billion. They cite, too, House passage of a version of the line item veto, death tax repeal, health savings accounts, reauthorization of the Patriot Act, prescription drug, a 401(k) tax-deferred savings account for kids and various other initiatives, though all have not made it into law.
Lots of the disgruntled conservatives are upset about spending. But what’s the alternative? Bigger spenders? Not likely. It’s worth asking: Is this a do-nothing Congress and, if so, how do you intend to respond to it?
Frankly, I don’t want or expect that much. Secure borders, tax relief, a reduction in pork-barrel spending and support for the war on terrorism — that just about covers what I want out of Congress. Confirmation of judicial nominees is about all I want out of the Senate.

I'm often floored that Jim continues to get space. If I were a GOP guru, I'd dare not let Jim shill for me, even deep in the Red States. I can barely follow his writing and logic on some days. Perhaps they, like Wooten from government, expect little? While I'm thrilled that much of the House legislation has not become law, since they are simply such dreadful policies for average Americans, the idea that all Jim would want from the Senate is to have them simply confirm Justices like "Strip Search Sammy" Alito is revealing.

I can think of so much that government could do for our society, including here locally. To have Jim Wooten openly reveal his distain for government is appreciated. Roanoke/Randolph County, and Alabama/The South plus our nation and world, needs to understand Republican/Conservative "thinking". Jim is actually a great advocate of what this philosophy has created and how failures will continue absent a new direction. Conservatives have had essentially twenty five years where if they weren't in control then at least they were nearly so. They've certainly shown these last six years their ideas and beliefs are simply dangerous. It is time for a return to reason and high expectations. Peace ... or War!

City Certainly Gave Up But FBC Perhaps Not

2006-08-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

I think The Leader's Editorial on "Disappearing Downtown" is more right than wrong. The stupidity of using the vacant lot on back street for the Spaceport/Jail is perhaps as much as local leadership has ever shown. That's saying much for Roanoke and Randolph County. Taking the lot was bad enough but to put a modernistic representation of our prison-industrial complex there is beyond belief.

The way some City Council members have been demonstrating their simple and in fact backwards looking views of building permits reveals much about the quality of our local "leadership". Modern building codes and strong leadership in the past might have prevented some of this decay. I'm also thinking we are giving local tax breaks to Wal-Mart to further destroy our small businesses and the downtown community yet that's another issue.

First Baptist Church might be doing more good than harm however. These buildings were marginally historical in their current form. If FBC can provide an attractive alternative, and maybe a little parking to boot, then you'll have one more pocket of progress. I recall my mother parking behind FBC when I was a mere pup so maybe there's hope the churches would be kind enough to share space.

M.L. Awbrey and Sheppard's (including the improvements to their former location as well) have long been examples for the balance of downtown. Roanoke Telephone Company is due yet another tip of the tam for their building on Main. The Historical Museum could become a gem. There are a few others as well.

I'm not optimistic and yet there's still hope. I'm figuring that I'll be leaving the area sooner rather than later but I do hope downtown can catch a few breaks. There is too much potential for some of these old building to have them go to waste. Peace ... or War!

Handley High and Wadley High Don't Make AYP

2006-08-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

Of the 170 schools that the Alabama Department of Education said failed to made "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind Law, only Handley High and Wadley High made the list of schools here in Randolph County. Should we be concerned? Does this mean our other schools are doing a grand job? Perhaps so and perhaps not.

I assure you that NCLB is a bureaucratic train wreck. NCLB is a nearly a total disaster, as is much of the increasing conservatism in education that began at least two decades ago. The only good from the legislation might be how we (I'll continue to claim "professional educator" status) have been forced to really take a hard look at the data. Breaking all these figures down and seeing what appears to be working, or alternatively isn't working, serves a limited but useful purpose. "Accountability" via standardized tests is about taking useful tools and making these "snapshots" essentially the whole measure of an effective school. An initial flaw is that special education and other students which might not test well are lumped in in figuring AYP. Attendance, something that obviously is out of control of the educators, can doom a school.

There are simply many other facets of learning and measurement that even the finest educators have little control over. Some decent research suggests that perhaps 10% of the factors influencing learning are what the system provides as far as resources and just 7% allocated to the work of the teacher. 87% is determined by home and societal and cultural factors! Even if you break into thirds, as I used to do with "my team", that one third of "outside school factors" can be a tough thing to overcome. Endemic poverty I'd argue is the number one factor when we boil it all down.

I could go on and on but the bottom line is that NCLB is a flawed concept that requires substantial modifications, adequate funding that Bu$hCo has pulled back despite their initial promises in getting this package passed, and perhaps even outright repeal. Peace ... or War!

David Sirota - CAFTA's Impact on Millen Georgia

2006-08-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

David Sirota gives us "CAFTA Bait-and-Switch Destroys Georgia Community" at HuffPo. Millen, just south of Augusta, is losing their Jockey International plant and the 200 plus jobs that it provided this small community. This is of course after Jockey lobbied for the passage of CAFTA assuring locals that CAFTA's passage would preserve these local jobs!

Mr. Sirota writes the following:

... Washington politicians, operatives and lobyists want to pretend that trade is not a political issue - but it is increasingly taking center stage in many "red" districts and states.
Why is that the case? Because more and more Americans are realizing that the happy talk from the "free" traders of both parties is just that: talk. It's the "bait" we always hear everytime Big Money's newest sellout trade policy comes down the pike. And we are expected to forget the ensuing "switch" after the deal passes - the "switch" that leaves more and more of our communities for dead.

David's Hostile Takeover is one that I've been tackling slowly as it is full of gems. Seeing how CAFTA and Corporatist policies affect small communities like ours is critical in bringing some balance to our current government. There's nothing wrong with fair trade but NAFTA and CAFTA aren't making the grade. Peace ... or War!

Is Local Media Key to Politician Accountability?

2006-08-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

Norman Horowitz seems to think it is. Via HuffPo he asks "What Exactly Is Good For America?" and then delivers a great and quick read. Mr. Horowitz rightly blasts the leadership of our nation for their failed policies on globalism/trade, health care, etc. The comments are rather revealing to boot! With Norman Horowitz certainly qualified to judge the media, this portion of his writing is what really caught my attention.

And now on with my usual lament. Do you believe that the individual members of congress would allow any of this if it were covered by the local radio and television stations in their district? I think not.

I've been learning the average American still gets much of the news via local sources. I recall my students often citing things they'd learned via various regional based or main network TV stations plus their local papers.

I've long believed the average American is distracted, spoiled, poorly prepared to understand complexity, lazy, over entertained, shallow, ... yet to have this additional challenge toward changing these conditions troubles me even more. Much of the mainstream media is doing a dreadful job and local sources often do an even poorer job.

As I've been posting on a good bit here lately, a free and VIGOROUS press is critical for the flourishing (or even survival!) of democracy. Peace ... or War!

Local Consequences of the Deregulated Home Mortgage Market Could be Severe

2006-08-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

Not to terrify the local lenders and realtors and ... but this TPMcafe post by Elizabeth Warren might ring true for our area, especially given how Lake Wedowee is such a significant part of our economy. Her "Warren Reports" effort is a regular read but this post helped me think in some new ways. Ms. Warren wrote of several complicated concepts that now make sense to me, at least as much as I can handle in the "sense" area. We "state school" boys need a little help at times with the heavy lifting.

On my old rolltop I've got an old coffee mug with the following quote:

"Man's mind stretched by a new idea never goes back to its original dimension." - Olver Wendell Holmes

To avoid the squeeze that Reagan and Bu$hCo have wrought I think we'll need all the stretching we can get. Peace ... or War!

Anniston Star Video of Roanoke "Justice" Center

2006-08-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

The Anniston Star provides a video and gallery of what they label as Roanoke's "Justice Center". I'm going to continue to call it "The Spaceport" but "Revenue Court" works as well. Do we need a jail and a municipal court and a police force and ... ? Certainly! Remedying the dreadful conditions in the old jail was the absolute right thing to do, and not just becasue a civil rights case was long overdue. I just hope Roanoke will not "celebrate" this facilty too much. "Justice" cannot be assigned to a place but rather the attitudes of those that serve our community from this location. Peace ... or War!

Americans for Tax Reform - Earl's Glad to Buy!

2006-08-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

Mr. Earl Manning dropped a Letter to the Editor in The Randolph Leader that the staff presumably labeled “Area legislators broke tax pledge”. The opinion piece references a B’ham News piece from July 24th entitled “Legislators hedge on anti-tax pledge”. The reporting by Nancy Wilstach is seemingly focusing on the B’ham delegation, including Senator Hank Erwin, a legend for his learned leadership, but Mister Earl, resumably relying on Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) information, suggests five of the nineteen are “pledge breakers”.

I’ve counted the Leader letter three times and I see six asterisks but we don’t need to worry. Kim Benefield sent Gerald “Dino” Dial home so he’s off the list. Representative Richard Laird, often rather the “Dino” himself, can hardly be labeled as an opponent to the Big Mules that run this state. I expect tax issues are a vital concern to, shall we say, “blessed” men like Mr. Manning. Or Mr. Laird for that matter. The Leader letter offers nothing but information and a reference to ATR yet I’m guessing the hope is that readers will be offended by these politicians breaking their pledge. I’ll note the B’ham News piece has one politician defending their actions as a cigarette tax with the idea that sin taxes don’t count and another saying all they’d done was vote so as to allow the local people to make that choice or not. Hardly a deal breaker for me on either count but I’m not a real fan of ATR in the first place.

In fact the reason for this post is that I wanted to focus on the organization that managed to get coverage of this issue into at least two papers in Alabama. As I suggested above, based on my understanding of the wealth accumulated by Mister Manning, that “Earl's glad to buy” what ATR is selling should not surprise anyone. For the balance of our community, I’d like to offer another perspective.

ATR’s homepage is impressive if not unwieldy. The Pledge is simple enough, even if it seems rather limiting to expect a person bound for as long as a person remains in office. I’ll not check the accuracy of pledge breaking claims as the material seems to be either in PDF format or still “under construction”. I admire Ms. Wilstach for being able to ferret out her information from this site if that is in fact how she got her information. If she was “fed” the story then, as Alabama’s Jim Nabors might offer, “Shame!”.

While I’m examining Ms. Wilstach’s reporting, I’ll also ponder how in the world anybody could write of Grover Norquist, perhaps especially so here in Alabama, and not mention his recent scandals. Then again, if this were more stenography than reporting then I guess ATR would have not offered that information. Grover, the boss hoss at ATR that is the image for this post, hasn’t been catching a break lately in national papers or well-established blogs for over a year or on CNN for the same period or … Grover’s friendship and political alliance with Jack Abramoff goes back to around 1980! The National Journal tells of how Grover would get 10K to 25K per lobbyist for just coming to monthly dinners at his house! Why not add some of this to the piece?

Would ATR do such dastardly acts as feed a reporter a puff piece? Surely not an organization headed by Grover Norquist, a man described on ATR’s own website by P.J. O’Rourke as “… Tom Paine crossed with Lee Atwater plus just a soupcon of Madame Defarge.”. (If you don’t know who Tom Paine was then perhaps you might be from Randolph County.) Is Grover connected with Bu$hCo? Hell yes! Rove and Grover have been tight for years and in fact could be considered as central to the rise of this dreadful excuse for an administration. Nicholas Confessore’s Washington Monthly “Welcome to the Machine: How the GOP disciplined K Street and made Bush supreme” is a great place to begin in understanding how the modern GOP develops and maintains power.

A good place to start in examining some of these organizations like ATR is SourceWatch. Note the funding, especially that revealed by this Boston Globe report, and the connections, the same information being found on People for the American Way’s “Right Wing Watch”. That ATR is a “stealth PAC”, namely able to work in part as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, seems to be an accurate label.

I’m hoping that after some exposure to ATR/Grover Norquist the value of this source is minimized greatly. But more optimistically the philosophy of this organization is revealed as a front for the Big Mules. Again, I figure ATR is looking out for individuals like Earl Manning. But these shills aren’t looking out for average Americans, something I’ve posted on over and over and over and over and over and .... Grover Norquist infamously said, “My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.” The consequence of putting folks thinking like this in charge is also something I’ve posted on before. Conservatism where nearly every policy problem can be solved by a tax cut that benefits the super wealthy is simply a failing policy. We saw this when the GOP tried to tie an increase in the minimum wage to repeal of the estate tax.

Finally, the B’ham News piece referenced above revealed that U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus was even a “hero of taxpayers” as designated by ATR. He’s certainly a friend of the banking industry and an enemy of the poor creditors that have fallen on hard times. I don’t think he and Bill Maher exchange Christmas/Hanukkah cards either. I’ve sure the Big Mules are hoping their investment isn’t squandered by the GOP failing to hold on to the House this fall. If not Chairman Bachus he’ll at least be ranking Minority Member so perhaps the Bachus Backers will still get their millions worth.

I’ve been silenced somewhat by my loving family in sending in my own “Letter to the Editor” in reply to Mr. Manning. Their opinions of me were once again made clear after my “Letter to First Baptist Church on …” post was amazingly read, by seemingly the majority of those that actually bothered to read, to be something I wanted the Leader to print. I’m “showing out” or telling the world “I am somebody!” by daring to engage on an issue in a relatively respectful and reasoned way is what one sibling told me. I figure the rest believe something like that. One told me she had no idea what I was saying in any of my letters. A Republican bible thumping aunt expressed some concerns as well I understand but not directly to me.

While being concise enough for submission is a challenge for me, I’d like the chance to educate some locals about ATR and the modern GOP. The bottom line, once more I’ll promise, is that the GOP’s policies are only helping the Big Mules. They are not looking out for average Americans! They are willing to lie and make you think they are but they simply are hurting our interests. If folks like Earl Manning, either by being fooled or by design, want to support ATR that fine. He and his can afford it. The rest of us can’t. Peace … or War!

The decisions between now and December?

2006-07-31T16:57:00.000-07:00

Off across the pond with Bob Riley and the industry crowd I guess Steve Dean needed to report back in a manner that demonstrates at least some his conservative bona fides but I'm wondering if maybe I can convince him of some of what I'll offer in this post.

Vanessa Sorrell Burnside reports in this past week's Leader "Dean: Korean trip laid groundwork for industry recruitment" with good news and insight plentiful. I'm sure Korean culture is interesting yet their respect for tradition/history and value of education is noted. I'd long known about "cram schools" in South Korea for high school students on the university track, hardly a positive method of learning I'd add, but there is no dispute the entire nation values education. This portion of the reporting was revealing:

The group met grammar school children who spoke fluent English, a required class in South Korean elementary schools. By the time they graduate, the students know English, plus a third language

With Steve as the source and "the group" being the forty eight member Alabama delegation, Vanessa reports the following:

"Be as aggressive as you can and build relationships," said Riley to the group. "The decisions made between now and December will affect the next generation."

Now I'll admittedly take this quote beyond what Governor Riley meant but it makes for a good post title and also I think indicates much about what ails Alabama and our region. What will matter for this next generation is not about landing tier supplier plants! Should they build relationships? Certainly, although if they do so aggressively that could be an issue, they should invite people to consider our area. Why would they want to be locating around here? Could it because our folks are hard workers that are sharp and dependable and ... ?

Nope! It's because we'll buy them off with tax abatements. If they didn't know we'd do this then it's not because they weren't listening. Here's the quote:

The businessmen heard a seminar on what we have to offer in terms of transportation through Alabama. Tax abatements were also explained. The Sonata and Santa Fe will be built in Alabama in the future. Thirty suppliers were invited, but 15 to 20 more also showed up.

So we explain to the South Korean businessmen that our nation takes money from government functions like education to make sure our people have jobs. I'd posted off of Matt Singer's "Overpaying for Jobs" work previously so I'll not repeat his arguments. Corporate welfare good and poor people welfare bad? Tracking claims of benefits to the public from the corporate version seems easy enough and it shows there is much promised and little delivered.

Seriously, if we want to make a difference for Alabama's next generations, and the one or two before perhaps to boot, then we'll try the South Korean reverance for education. Learning is the key. Begging for and buying industrial jobs is secondary or even lower. Should we beg and buy? Maybe. But the focus should always be on building up our citizens. Three languages? Some of ours are lucky to get one! I recall being told that Alabama was spending many thousands on getting industrial workers that had been through our schoolsready for their bought jobs. It seems like we'd be better off building the future population in the first place. Then we'll perhaps not have to sacrifice our future for this generation of laborers?

A tip of the tam to Roanoke Telephone Company (Big Mule Power is in my doghouse right now so "No salute for you!") for helping pay his way. Peace ... or War!

Kos' SusanG on "The Impossibility of Unknowing"

2006-07-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Good things comes to those that wait. I've been wanting to do a Tin Shop Tartan post all day yet nothing suited me until I read SusanG's "The Impossibility of Unknowing". I think this ties in to the idea of seeking understanding that I've been struggling with while posting on bias and the media and sources and ... Learning for merely learning's sake has even been stolen or at least limited by this administration!

SusanG writes the following segments that truly resonate for me:

I've always considered gaining knowledge an indisputable good, but these pieces of the world I've come to know in the past six years have the feel of being forced into me under threat. They now carry with them a weight and a darkness.
The Ninth Ward. Haditha. Guantanamo Bay.
How much sweeter to have picked up these nuggets of geography and history as I always have, serendipitously led through a leisurely stepping stone process of one book or conversation suggesting another, and yet another, and now a couple of twists and turns ... you start out here, reading Faulkner and next you're drawn to learning about cotton production and before you know it, you're at civil rights.
Instead, in all cases above, I'd begun my acquaintance because of headlines and horrors and a screaming, driving voice in my head: There's something wrong! There's something very, very wrong! Learn about it! Fast!
The jumble of panicked facts I feel I've had to jam into my brain to qualify as a reasonably informed citizen makes my skull feel swollen, as though I've had to take a crash correspondence course - sometimes several at once - at the same time I'm in a sprint for my mental life.
There's a loss in that, a taint on the previously enjoyable process of innocent inquiry. ...
The tone is completely different for, say, my recent thirst for ...
Some nights I go to sleep under this administration and wonder: What new horror am I going to have cram into my head tomorrow morning? What new form of torture? What unfamiliar town or province?
My brain's been hijacked and my eagerness to read news killed. I know too much now compared with how much I knew in the innocent 1990's. And there seems no way to un-know it or bleach it clean of the flavor of its original acquisition. ...
Certainly of all the atrocities and diminishments since Bush took office, having personal fact-flavor problems seems unworthy of even a footnote. Arguably, I should have removed my head from my sorry American provincial ass a long time ago to learn more about Islam or the precise wording of the Geneva Conventions. Still, the knowledge of foreign cities, dodges of the law, how Abramoff's money came to be laundered ... all of these facts feel IV'ed into me on a timetable set by an administration I despise. That seems a final, intrusive indignity, small as it is.

It is like a foundational shift has happened in these last few years. I've personally been at some low, low points in my life and yet these last few years rank as low as any from merely what our nation has endured under the dismal leadership of George W. Bush and his GOP.

I've felt isolated from my family due to my deviating from the doctrines that some, I think stretching greatly to make these applications, claim are the legacies of our ancestors. That I've been so bold as to show my love and concern for my world by engaging in relatively limited, reasoned, and polite dissent has brought me pain and even more isolation.

To have this this largely brought about by my feeling an obligation, even so far as a duty, to confront this cabal in our White House is bad enough. SusanG is correct in also blaming him/them for removing some of the joy of learning and the inherent rewards gained in seeking understanding. SusanG is right I think also of the fatigue in working so hard to keep relatively well informed. The mainstream media could certainly do a better job in reducing our workloads.

Well done! I'll sleep better tonight simply from knowing there's another that feels the same frustrations and losses. Peace ... or War!

Does the media ignore "The Conehead Economy"?

2006-07-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

Ezra Klein crossposts his "The Conehead Economy" at The American Prospect's Tapped. Since I have gone after the idea of media bias recently, I'll share the following:

In the past, I've called this "The Conehead Economy" -- plenty of growth in the economic body, but all of it happening in the top percent. Were that to happen to a person, you'd see six inches of growth in their forehead and doctors everywhere would be puzzling over how to correct the deformity. As it is, the media trumpets the growth, the politicians backslap over the roaring economy, and everyone wonders why the average American seems so unhappy. Meanwhile, the media rarely mentions data showing that incomes for the bottom 60 percent have grown by merely 20 percent in the last 30 years (the top one percent saw that much growth last year) -- with nearly all those gains coming during the mid-‘90s. Indeed, this sort of economic concentration hasn't existed since 1929 -- hardly a golden period in American life.

Do the facts have an anti-conservative bias? If you suggest this trend is "supply side" or "trickle down" then I'll counter that the rising tide seems to only be lifting the yachts. We don't have too many yachts around here do we? Peace ... or War!

"the facts are biased…the facts in Iraq have an anti-Bush agenda"

2006-07-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

As a follow up to my post yesterday on The Leader's editorial on "media bias" I'll hand you Eric Alterman's Think Again column from the Center for American Progress entitled "Bush Bounces, Reporters Follow".

Professor Alterman's "When Presidents Lie" appears as our post image. (A new paperback will only run you a little over $10.00 even though I've linked to the hardcover.) In this work he examines FDR, FK, LBJ and The Gipper with the lens of history, although some of Reagan's revolting record in Latin America remains classified. Certainly his description of Bu$hCo as the first "post truth" President reveals his views of Dubyah yet it also holds as an indictment of how the press has handled this White House.

In his CAP piece he lays out some strong supporting evidence of recent kid glove treatment given Bu$hCo by Newsweek, Time, and CNN.

"The facts are biased" was and is borrowed from Rob Corddry of The Daily Show. And we know it is just not the facts in Iraq. All the facts, in essentially every single thing his administration touches, are seemingly conspiring against this President. Peace ... or War!

Informed citizens seek a free and vigorous press!

2006-07-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

I think The Randolph Leader editorial from this week's paper entitled "Media bias is in the eye of the beholder" was rather solid. The close is especially strong with,

That is not good for solving our problems. People who hear all sides of an issue with an open mind are better able to make informed decisions. Yet people are increasingly substituting obviously biased talk shows and other opinion sources for real news. Listening to someone who says what we already believe is more comfortable than being exposed to ideas from the other side. The proliferation of opinion blogs on web sites insures that we can continue increasing our dose of comfortable ideas while not having to be exposed to those with which we disagree.

I'll first suggest that the Leader's dismissal of blogs seems a touch broad. The point is taken if one doesn't seek out alternative views but I'll argue that many liberals are always seeking. We often in fact hold our views tenuously, this being one reason we often seem a touch wishy washy I fear, in that we are seeking out ways to better understand issues. Indeed blogs are a double-edged sword but I'll stack even an average blog from the lefty blogosphere up against even a selected one from the right.

Part of the charm of blogging for me is the ability to process reporting and ideas with a critical eye. A person with even a limited amount of experience and talent can quickly fact check and challenge positions that once might have taken serious work and effort to expose. That being said, or written I guess being more accurate, having an overwhelming amount of information to wade through begs for problems if we use few sources to filter our information.

Certainly humans, even rather learned persons, often avoid constructs that challenge their comfortable views. However, persons that are seeking the truth actually seek out alternative views. I long for resources that stand up to scrutiny presenting a conservative interpretation. That they seem to be few and far between, at least according to that I hope are my genuine efforts to give them a true opportunity to influence my thinking, reveals I hope more about Conservatism than myself.

Online sources on deeply examining media bias include eRiposte but for deep work I'd start with Professor Eric Alterman's "What Liberal Media?" . I've got a copy on my shelves if a local person wants to borrow. I've not yet read but Eric Boehlert's "Lapdogs : How the Press Rolled over for Bush" has gotten some good press. Former right wing attack artist David Brock's "The Republican Noise Machine: Right-Wing Media and How It Corrupts Democracy" is understood to be a worthy effort.

Online efforts like Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), MediaMatters, Crooks and Liars, News Hounds, HuffPo's Eat the Press, ConWebWatch, and ... help use keep an eye on the media. Let us not forget the astroturfing and the right wing think tanks and wingnut welfare and the Mighty Wurlitzer and Rush Limbaugh, King of the Dittoheads, plus Michael Savage and Ann Coutler and Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck and ...

I'll stack up leftist leaning reporting any day with right wing reporting. Peace ... or War!

Question - What Would Local Polling Reveal?

2006-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Harris Interactive has just released a new poll that is revealing and yet I first wondering how this locale might measure up in looking at the same questions. Portions to note include:

Sixty-four percent say it is true that Saddam Hussein had strong links to Al Qaeda (the same as 64% in February 2005).

Despite being widely reported in the media that the U.S. and other countries have not found any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, surprisingly; more U.S. adults (50%) think that Iraq had such weapons when the U.S. invaded Iraq. This is an increase from 36 percent in February 2005.

If folks are so often wrong, and I'll submit that many are, about many of the facts on/in Iraq, then there's no wonder "leaders" like Bu$hCo (or Jeff Sessions or ...) represent us. This piece from Cato, originally appearing in The Moonie Times, reveals some recent news of old artillery shells (that was spun minimally even from Bu$hCo!) that might explain a slight shift in numbers on the weapons yet can surely not have caused a fourteen point shift.

The mere opinions are revealing as well yet I figure most of those optimistic opinions are coming from the pople who are ignorant of the truth.

I am often amazed at how seemingly uninformed the people that I come into with appear to be when conversations turn toward the news or politics or pretty much anything of substance. Perhaps more dangerous are those that are actually misinformed. Even taking away the many fundamentalists and the rednecks in this neck of the woods, I fear we've still got a good dose of both ignorance and stupidity around here. I'm wondering about the factors that cause such limitations and how this could possibly be reversed.

I'm also going to reveal that I'm pondering a move from this area. I'm thinking this would be in my , and others, best interest for several reasons yet one major factor is the idea of being around a different set of folks. Although I've got dear friends from my childhood and have developed some new ones as well in our area, I'm thinking that work and life elsewhere might have me thrown in with a different lot. The teaching gets tougher and tougher, most especially so by the conservative paperwork and bureaucracy, and the idea of practicing law again, especially in the grind of small town or small firm practice, holds little attraction. Doing policy or campaign or non-profit or ... work is where I'm looking.

Here's hoping for some comments from the local crowd. Peace ... or War!

Wage Stagnation Despite Four Year Degree

2006-07-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

I've been posting over on Captain Bama regarding the scandals at Alabama's JuCo system yet this is even more disturbing. Molly Hennessy-Fiske of the LA Times reports "That Raise Might Take 4 Years to Earn as Well : Those with bachelor's degrees are finding their incomes stagnate despite a growing economy."

With the economy growing, unemployment low, and corporate profits surging, one has to wonder how our nation, much less our local community, can accept what appears to be undeniable facts? The report reveals:

Wage stagnation, long the bane of blue-collar workers, is now hitting people with bachelor's degrees for the first time in 30 years. Earnings for workers with four-year degrees fell 5.2% from 2000 to 2004 when adjusted for inflation, according to White House economists.
It is a remarkable setback for workers who thought they were well-positioned to win some of the benefits of the nation's economic growth, and it may help explain why surveys show that many Americans think President Bush has not managed the economy well.
Not since the 1970s have workers with bachelor's degrees seen a prolonged slump in earnings during a time of economic growth. These workers did well during the last period of economic growth, 1995 to 2000, with inflation-adjusted average wages rising 12%, according to an analysis by the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute.

The reporting is using figures supplied by Bu$hCo's 2006 Economic Report of the President.

In our locale many college graduates are employed as educators in the public schools yet opportunities are very limited. Much of our young talent must leave, not that they are missing much I'd offer, to earn their fortune. If nationally the trend is not looking good for regular Americans then admittedly in our area they might appear dreadful.

From so called "free trade" to outsourcing to unregulated hyper-capitalism to Bu$h tax policies favoring the Big Mules to ... our government is hardly serving the needs of regular Americans, even those advancing their education. I'm still wading through David Sirota's "Hostile Takeover" but I think he's certainly correct in his belief that the Big Mules have bought our government. Peace ... or War!

My Old Daddy would be Offended

2006-07-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

You could seemingly spot this one from a mile away. My Dad used to talk of his days as the High Sheriff and having to walk ground over and over and still have trouble finding the stills. That bright yellow begs to be found.

The reporting and photography of Vanessa Burnside of The Randolph Leader tells I think a very sad story. Felony charge for having (homemade from Foxfire books) the equipment to run off a little batch of shine seems draconian. A felony!

I could make an argument that any charges (for the still, shine, marijuana, etc.) ought not to result. The personal use of marijuana ought to be legal, and alcohol is certainly here in Randolph County with certain limitations, so at worst some slight consequences for Mr. Czik should result.

I fear that here in Randolph County they'll try to throw the book at Mr. Czik. What might make it worse is that it appears, from my reading of the coverage, that he was the victim of a crime or at least an accident. Although I can't exactly be certain, he might have even called the Sheriff's Office.

This homemade still and those three plants, natural and native, may very well wind up costing him him thousands of dollars in costs and fines and attorney fees. He's living in a trailer so perhaps he's not doing that well already when it comes to making a living. What this event will cost the taxpaying public is also an issue but I'll defer on trying to calculate. There's a cost to every function of government of course yet I'd rather see us spend our limited resources in more Progressive ways than this. Lord knows how many days of "Community Service" he'll have to give Randolph County if he gets in front of a certain local Judge. Rather ironic isn't it! Additionally, he might get some some jail time. He risks losing the right to vote, his driver's license, and the privilege of owning a gun. There are also "Court Referral" and/or "supervision" fees and hassles. There may be consequences to his current and/or future employment opportunities. Does this seem proportionate? Isn't there a more rational way to handle "crimes" like this?

No wonder we have even more coverage of the Roanoke Spaceport/Jail in this week's paper, something I hope to address as time allows. We also had news on the County's progress in building a new jail, something that is perhaps needed given how stacked and packed it stays. The incarceration industry is apparently thriving here in Randolph County. Of course, the same can be said for our nation as the U.S. has the highest incarceration level in the world. Peace ... or War!

Runoff Election Today - Don't Shirk Your Duty

2006-07-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

SEIU's Andy Stern Wants Labor and Business to Join Together to Solve Our Health Care Crisis

2006-07-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is led by Andrew Stern, pictured to the left. Mr. Stern's organization has created Americans for Health Care that is a solid resource for even local people concerned about our national health care crisis. While actually not available at The Wall Street Journal sans subscription, the SEIU Press Release of yesterday reveals the substance of what Mr. Stern recently shared with their Editorial Board, hardly considered as fair minded in their opining by Captain Plaid ... or even their very own news division. I agree that the days of horse and buggy health coverage may be past us. Portable, government-based options will work for individuals and for business. Unlike the current Bu$hCo medicare reform that was a gift to Big Pharma real reform will involve cooperation and avoid political posturing. The current system is simply broken and if our politicians can't do this then I think it is natural for labor and business to isolate them long enough to get the deal done. Peace ... or War!

Hyundai Chairman Meets with Governor Riley

2006-07-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Walter Woods of the AJC reports "Hyundai boss returns to job : Visiting Ala. delegation relays good news about Georgia Kia plant" but that great big "whew" you are hearing comes from Georgia's Governor Sonny Purdue.

In a related matter, Sonny, plus many other state and local officials, are hoping few consider Matt Singer's "Overpaying for Jobs" piece that recently appeared at Tom Paine. That Wal-Mart is given tax breaks to destroy local businesses while paying wages often at the poverty level is the most outrageous portion of the work yet the idea that businesses get these massive tax breaks with little if any accountability is also frustrating. This educator had about all the "accountability" he could stand. I'd submit measuring the outcome of tax policies is a hell of a lot easier than measuring how students, especially often ornery and lazy and poorly prepared and ... teenagers that I worked with, are being educated. You "business progressive" types and worshippers of the market might need to see how your ideas measure up before you start beating on the educators.

The article revealed the Alabama delegation has met with nearly thirty suppliers. I'm not sure if our Steve Dean is in this group or not but I'm optimistic our area can and will benefit from the Kia plant, assuming things go forward, being so close. Peace ... or War!

Bob, Hutch, Sam ... Are You Ready to Celebrate?

2006-07-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Randolph County Republican Party got some press in this past week's Leader with news of the group running the local party will consist of Bob Fincher, Hutch Hammond, and Sam Carpenter. I've locked horns with Bob only once in a political discussion when he attacked the legacy of FDR yet I'd enjoy a chance to talk with this groups about the "leadership" of Bu$hCo revealed today when Dubyah claims a deficit of merely $296 billion for fiscal year 2006 vindicates his policies of tax cuts for the Big Mules.

Judd at ThinkProgress gives us the numbers where this comes in as the 4th highest deficit in American history. Dubyah has the top four although Dad's 1992 was a close 5th! In the interest of fairness I'll cite the WaPo on rank in comparison to GDP.

But when measured against the size of the economy _ at 2.3 percent of gross domestic product _ the 2006 deficit would be lower than the deficits of 17 of the past 25 years.

In February the prediction was that we'd have a $423 billion deficit so maybe that is why the White House trotted out Dubyah to "celebrate". Revenues are running higher indeed yet the idea that the economy is humming along seems disengenous. And few if any people doubt that the Bu$hCo tax cuts have benefits mostly to the top of the food chain. In fact, Citizens for Tax Justice, admittedly part of the frayed union machine, claimed recently that 99% of Alabamians are worse off under the Bu$h tax cuts.

Additionally, cutting taxes while engaged in an expensive war seems to run contra to my understanding of economics.

That we celebrate the fact that the other factor causing this "good news" is from cuts in funding some important programs cannot be denied. "Irresponsible and Obscene" is still working for me. I'll also add that the economy is hardly grand for the average person around our locale. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - July 12th - The WaPo Editorial Board gives us "Deficit of Candor" that ties in to the above. Bu$hCo bragging reminds me of his "Commander Codpiece" moment some three years ago.

El Cabrero of Goat Rope writes on Social Capital

2006-07-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Tip of the tam to Susan G at Daily Kos for getting me to Goat Rope. Economic and social justice in West Virginia ought to be a fertile field, as is true for our Highlands here in Randolph County. I like the images of the critters as well. El Cabrero, who is likely Rick Wilson from my scratching about, has been doing the blogging since about February, as has yours truly.

His posts on being "lonely" spoke to me and I wanted to share.

LONELY AMERICA: THE HIGH COST OF LOW SOCIAL CAPITAL deals with the existence of "civic privatism".
LONELY AMERICA: THE BASICS OF SOCIAL CAPITAL is mainly built off the work of Robert Putnam, author of "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" that talks of bonding and bridging plus plenty more.
LONELY AMERICA: SOCIAL CAPITAL AND MONEY CAPITAL covers thinkers from Durkheim to Weber to Marx to Tocqueville to ... with the bottom line for me being that hyper -capitalism and globalization are both true barriers to associations that indeed do matter.
LONELY AMERICA: REBUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL is the wind up post.

I really liked the way El Cabrero examined these complex issues. I often think of how isolated I feel here in the boonies where the average person can quote NASCAR stats yet hardly engage in discourse on anything of substance. I'll want to ponder on his writing for a while yet I do appreciate his sharing and hope it might help the few folks that drop by here. Peace ... or War!

Progressivism In Op-Ed of The Randolph Leader

2006-07-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to see The Randolph Leader print the work of Holly Sklar, in this case "Sklar: Congress values own paychecks more than workers". While I think men and women serving in Congress ought to be very well compensated, her point contrasting their pay, especially the patterns of raises, with the wages of Americans at the low end of the wage spectrum is well taken.

Ms. Sklar has done tons of work in this area. She co-authored "Raise the Floor : Wages and Policies that Work" that the Ms. Foundation for Women does a good job of covering. Tom Paine carried her work back in March entitled "Wanted: A High-Road Economy" with this portion being the meat of the matter:

The share of national income going to wages and salaries is at the lowest level since 1929—the year that kicked off the Great Depression. The share going to after-tax corporate profits, which heavily benefit corporate executives and other wealthy Americans through increased dividends and capital gains, is at the highest level since 1929.

Ms. Sklar and Rev. Paul Sherry promote their new book via Tom Paine with the piece entitled "The Moral Minimum" with these portions speaking to me:

Contrary to myth, raising the minimum wage helps business and boosts the economy. As Dan Gardner, commissioner of Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries, puts it: "Overall most low-wage workers pump every dollar of their paychecks directly into the local economy by spending their money in their neighborhood stores, local pharmacies, and corner markets. When the minimum wage increases, local economies benefit from the increased purchasing power."
Studies by the Fiscal Policy Institute and others show that states with minimum wages above the federal level have had better employment trends, including faster small business and retail job growth. A new report by the Center for American Progress and Policy Matters Ohio shows that the number of small businesses grew more in states with higher minimum wages and jobs in small retail businesses grew three times faster in higher wage states.
State minimum wage raises are putting thousands of dollars more into the hands of those for whom every extra dollar counts in the struggle to pay rent, health care and other necessities.

The Christianists serving "God's Own Party" often talk of "family values" yet I see little if any focus on social and economic justice. Jesus approves of tax cuts for the wealthy I guess? For an alternative view consider "Let Justice Roll".

To close, I agree Ms. Sklar would make a great Secretary of Labor. Peace ... or War!

Randolph Natives Show "High Jefferson" Style

2006-07-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

I've known Leland Whaley was a GOP operative yet I was surprised to find out recently that he and Babs now had Alabama Home TV. Congrats to our Randolph County folks.

In B'ham, or perhaps Shelby, I suppose yet "High Jefferson" either way. I was pleased to hear they'd married and wish them well in their relationship and careers. (Well ... perhaps not his political pursuits. Resist the Dark Side Leland!) His Dad's radio career, plus my knowing his mother and brother and sister, and Bab's family for certain were surely part of our community back when I was growing up. I think both were a year behind my 1984 class at Handley. They make a lovely couple!

Leland, known as "Langford" (see update #2) when he roomed with some buddies of mine down on the Plains, has been involved with the Republican Party I think most of his adult life. His time as a "journalist" might or might not count. Apparently he did not anger the Big Mules too much given his career path, at least as best as I can tell.

His "consulting" earned the wrath of Pam Spaulding, rightly so I add, for his role in producing a homophobic flier to defeat a woman seeking the legislative seat of her late husband. That the late husband was a Methodist lay minister and his widow Gloria Dolbare a Sunday School teacher mattered not the state GOP. Leland had the decency, or perhaps audacity, to admit the action and offer a polite yet pitiful excuse.

His time with Bob Riley likely helped hone his "smoothness". Bob might need some smooth talkers given this lingering questions that have been most recently stirred by The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee report quoting Jack Abramoff as saying $13,000.000.00 of Choctaw gambling money flowed in to help him get elected back in 2002. Black Jack could have been scheming or simply fibbing yet this seems at least worthy of inquiry. I expect Leland might have some inside information on the exact score since he was up to his eyeballs in that campaign plus Riley's time in DC. A 375 page report and I'm simply not going to look to see if Leland's name is mentioned yet Bob Riley (please see update below!), Ralph Reed, Grover Norquist, etc. certainly are.

John Giles of the "Alabama Christian Association" naturally denied involvement, beyond confirming the widowed candidate did not respond to a questionairre. Sort of like the denial of the gambling money it seems. The fact that Giles refuses to open his organization's books to allow us to see how much the Big Mules chip in ought to make the ACC irrelevant yet this is Alabama. Playing a role in electing a fine wingnut like Nick Williams is a testament in and of itself on the ACC and our enlightened state. I've scolded Representaive Williams before yet I was unaware that Leland helped bring him to power. Using tactics Karl Rove would have been pleased to have employed, I expect Leland's cup indeed runneth over. Of course the fact that Leland is/was a ACC player is a mere coincidence I'm sure to his/their role in getting down and dirty with this widow. Leland's involvement with DINO Zell Miller reveals little as well.

I think the last time I saw Babs was at Roanoke's First Baptist and as best as I recall Leland and her had not yet married or perhaps he was just not attending that day. I've always liked Babs and her family, with fond memories of her father teaching my teen "Sunday School" class. He was a smart and tough fellow that impressed this kid. I find it a touch sad that Leland Whaley would fit right in up there at FBC, and likely most any congregation around here, and I'm considered the nut job. My family trashed me over my letter taking exception to FBC's encouragement to vote "Yes" on Amendment One. That remains a burr under my/our saddle. Perhaps they could adopt Leland?

I'm sure the fam would also be pleased about Leland tracking down brand new plaintiffs in a recent federal court case challenging the redistricting of legislative boundaries. Even if the Federal Courts didn't reward your hard work, since they'd ruled on basically the same case before, I'm sure my Christianist family would be proud of your service to God's Own Party.

Soldier on Lickford in your service to Alabama's family values (and homes!) and I'll likely just remain "lost". Peace ... or War

UPDATE - July 13, 2006 - I confess! Guilty as charged! I throw myself on the mercy of the Gods of the Blogs. Bob Riley's name, at least as best as I can tell from a quick look at a 357 page PDF document, is not present. Here's the actual reference, again from a brief bounce through the file, that sorta kinda references Governor Riley, or I guess more accurately Candidate Riley. The reference appears as footnote 59 on page 48 of the report and reads as folllows:

59 Id. Months later, Abramoff and Scanlon would cite their association with the Choctaw in furtherance of their scheme to defraud the Tribe: when Abramoff pitched Scanlon in connection with a plan to elect Louisiana officials calculated to be supportive of the Tribe’s gaming interests, called the "Louisiana Political Program," Abramoff told Worfel that Chief Phillip Martin had spent $13 million "to get the governor of Alabama elected to keep gaming out of Alabama so it wouldn’t hurt ... his market in Mississippi." Id.

The editorials and reporting cited above talked of "lingering questions" and admittedly the press, and an understanding of Black Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon and Ralph Reed and ..., seems to indicate the Abramoff/Scanlon team was engaged in a bit of puffery. Despite my error, I do stand by, "Black Jack could have been scheming or simply fibbing yet this seems at least worthy of inquiry." yet maybe that is starting. The Choctaws and Governor Riley's spokesperson have both denied the claim. Given the present polls it might not matter for this fall yet I figure the Riley team would be well served by putting this matter to rest with full disclosures. If some "funny money" was in play, and perhaps it was not based on what seems to be present, then now is the time to disclose. I agree that $13 million seems like too much to hide given what I understand was spent in The Don vs. The Bob yet the story does "linger". Given the involvement of Ralph Reed and John Giles I'll continue to look for "sins" yet maybe Governor Riley is in the clear.

Tip of the tam to Tim for pointing out my mistake in the comments. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - December 2, 2006 - I was just informed the handle given to Leland by a friend was "Langford" rather than Lickford". Many years to even recall the nickname yet I'll blame my buddy's drawl for the mistake. I recall back when Trivia Pursuit was big this same friend confusing our little group by reading "Jack London" as "Jack Lawn Down".

Captain Plaid - Why I'll Continue Blogging!

2006-06-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been busy lately but I’m getting a fair amount done around the property. Time is scarce even with the summer vacation from “teaching” the “scholars” I was working with this past year. I’ve also had some flack from my conservative/evangelical family on my blogging and the rare “Letter to the Editor” to my local rag, even those that were mistakenly viewed as such. My ex-wife has gone on the warpath to boot! I have several projects that are going to take some serious effort and time, plus I’ve got to figure out how to start making a living this Fall. I’ll admit I’ve pondered dropping the whole blogging enterprise. I’d continue to read as much as I could but might stop posting. But I’m not, at least not just yet. Here’s why:

Blogging gives me a chance to vent. “If you aren’t outraged then you aren’t paying attention!” seems to work for me. I am often amazed at the lack of understanding in our “leadership” from the national to local level. Journalist and pundits disappoint me as well at times yet the pseudo-commentators and Astroturf organizations and those playing The Mighty Wurlitzer deserve my/our scorn.
Blogging lets me communicate and connect. I do read several major and also a few minor blogs yet rarely comment. However, I can feel connections with others that are concerned enough to share. I’m stuck here in the boonies of East Alabama with less human contact than might be ideal. I like being alone at times yet admittedly enjoy intellectual discourse and basic banter about the things of life. Sharing ideas and thoughts seems so human. Blogging, both reading and writing posts, seems very suitable for that process.
Writing, and thinking for that matter, can be a creative release. I like to build and do. I am sure my mind is improved from the process. Seems harmless at least. I’d love to be able to profit financially from the work yet doubt that will happen. But I do profit in other ways.
I truly learn from reading and thinking. Blogs, plus the links and resources they’ve sent me to as well, have taught me so much. I am learning how to be a better writer, with a long ways to go admittedly, yet even this relatively well-educated man learns plenty every day from reading the posts of some super smart folks. I believe we should learn until we die. When we stop learning then we might as well check out. I’m just forty. I think often that a well seasoned man could contribute to this sort of effort even it he can’t work like a young man.
This blogging seems so democratic. Regular folks are able to challenge the authorities and powerful and those with an audience. The marketplace of ideas on steroids it seems.
Blogging is a bargain. A high speed line tied to an admittedly old computer and I’m there. Lots of bang for the buck it seems.
Blogging expands my world. I get to read ideas from people around the planet that I’d otherwise never know. I get views certainly from locations that I’m not likely to visit. I hear from the Left Coast to DC to Philly to NYC to The ATL to Colorado to …
I feel more patriotic by blogging. I’m connected to a group that cares about our nation. We often are critical of our governments yet I think that is the ultimate sign of patriotism. We seek the ideal that this country can be. I believe in the work of the ACLU and other groups that seek the protections of those freedoms and traditions that makes this nation still worth saving. I believe in social justice and these efforts allow me to work in those fields.
I like politics and public policy. Armchair wonk? My four main blogs had been thought out as “thinking globally and acting locally”, with Marque Stuart being an aside that I hope to return to as able. Captain Plaid (nation/world) to Captain Bama (region) to Tin Shop Tartan (local) work in that continuum. Captain Jimi lets me fight the culture war in one location yet I continue to believe there’s often overlap in all areas. I still think Progressivism may best be "sold” through local applications. Fighting back against conservatism’s powerful message machine almost requires insurgency on the local level given how the mainstream media and some Democrats continue to let them get away with distortions and talking points. Also, some centrist Democrats are nearly as bad at the GOP with their allegiances to The Big Mules very certain. Progressives have few leaders on the national stage, with Russ Feingold being one exception it seems. In Alabama and locally, Lefty Progressives are even more rare.
Finally, I blogged on Howard Zinn via Captain Plaid just yesterday. One segment he wrote was “…we still might accept as our civic duty the responsibility to buttress our fellow citizens against the mendacity of our high officials.” So I’m carrying out my “civic duty” perhaps? “Responsibility” is a good word. We do the painful at times due to duty. Nothing could be more important for citizens of our world than to engage and care. I do.

I’ll soldier on, as always. Peace … or War!

I like Big Books, I Cannot Lie ...

2006-06-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

Shannon, Zion, and Dan Smith are in the image to the left. Dan "Southpaw" Smith's White Boy DJ is likely not the type of "ministry" that we'd see in my neck of the woods yet his "Baby got Book" is incredibly clever. His Momentum Church in Cleveland likely gives interesting service. Will the Church vans really have spinners? Peace ... or War?

Is Bu$hCo's UN Ambassador Bolten a NRA Man?

2006-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

The above image if of a child soldier in the Rwandan conflicts. If I've got my timing right he's surely grown now, assuming he is still alive. So why is the child on Tin Shop Tartan? If you read the post title, if the darn things shows up at all since Blogger seems to be bloggered again, then you've got a clue.

Here's the WaPo/Reuters Irwin Arieff's "US sees no need for new UN measures on small arms" for the basics yet CBS gives us even more insight into the bizarre actions of the NRA. The"Stop the UN Gun Ban" lies and scare the hell out of the gun crowd (you know the base responds to fear) is worth a visit ... yet I do hate linking to the NRA. Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President, National Rifle Association of America, is a wanker yet to hear him shrill the shill makes me want to wash any vestiges of the NRA from my past. To have Wayne the Weasel spreading this trash is offensive! I long ago turned my back on this organization yet still value the 2nd Amendment. This is all too typical a tactic of the NRA to stir up their, dare I say, "less sophisticated", membership over nothing.

I know good well we've got lots of stupid people in this country. Still, I do see plenty of NRA symbols around our area. Wonder why? Peace ... or War!

Taking politics out by politicians select justices?

2006-06-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Randolph Leader Editorial from today's paper entitled "Fundraising by Supreme Court candidates affects performance, perceptions" rightly blasted the way our Appellate Court Justices are elected, focusing on the expenses of these races and fears that favoritism could be seen as a way of paying back the big contributors. Yet, the way this piece ended floors me. The Leader writes,

For the solution we need only to look to the U.S. Supreme Court, where justices are appointed by the president and approved by Congress. Here our elected governor could appoint and our elected Legislature could approve. If we don't like their choices we vote the elected representatives out at the next election.
Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court justices' lifetime appointments, our state Supreme Court justices could be appointed to fixed terms such as six years. At the end of that term whoever the governor may be then may choose to reappoint or replace the justice.
It's not a perfect system, but it beats the one we've got. Anything that helps take the politicking and campaign fund-raising out of the process is an improvement.

I know the Alabama State Bar has promoted a version of the "Missouri Plan". Here's how it basically works: An independent "Nominating Commission" of nine members - not just lawyers - offers up a slate of qualified nominees for the Governor to select from. You'd then have an eleven member "Evaluation Commission", again not all being lawyers, prepare a report on how the Justice handled the job at the end of their terms. You'd then hold retention elections on these jurists which would allow the general public the choice to return them to the bench or be shown the door. If bounced, the opening would be filled by the above process. As a quick aside, criminal defense lawyers need to have a larger defined role in the Alabama State Bar's plan!

The Leader's idea seems very flawed. For one thing, although perhaps the Governor and Goat Hill crowd knows more about the candidates judicial qualifications than the average voter, it is naive to suppose "politicking" isn't going to be part of the process.

Also, would a Governor not be sorely tempted to remove a capable jurist due to the mere fact that he or she is a member of the other party?

What about patronage? Deal making behind close doors? You don't think George Corley Wallace would have done some politicking in the process of filling these seats?

Can we imagine the judges appointed by Fumbling Fob or Guy Hunt of AmWay lore?

This editorial wants the Governor and Legislature to select the very judges that will be deciding cases often involving the other two branches? Conflict! If voters don't like the judges we are told to vote those selecting the judges out? Defeating an incumbent over anything is tough enough yet I can already imagine politics would play into this process. Votes could be gained most certainly by pandering to the base over social issues and those damn "liberal trial lawyers". I can also imagine "test" cases that various groups might bring to try to create wedge issues they could exploit yet that might be occuring any way we slice things.

The wisdom of the lifetime appointments in our Federal system is that once the judges get on the job they can act without fear of being bounced out when they yank up the other two branches.

I actually prefer the current method than one handing the Montgomery Big Mules even more power. You don't think Alfa or Alabama Power would press their guys and gals in the process? The Big Mules already control too much in this state via that dreadful 1901 Constitution. I expected better than this from The Randolph Leader.

I've blogged on this several times on Captain Bama, most recently with "Missouri Plan for Selecting Appeals Court Judges", on a better way. Read the plan. Tell me then what the better approach would be. I'm betting most folks will be converted.

I also posted "As long as we are electing Judges ..." examing how the radical right pressures courts in what seems like improper ways. The Mother Jones link alone is worth a visit to see how retention elections have their own perils, perhaps especially so here in the Bible Belt.

The bottom line is that The Leader's solution is very flawed, even more so that how we currently do things. Here in Alabama, that's saying much. Peace ... or War!

Bama JuCo's Roy Johnson getting lots of press!

2006-06-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

The Birmingham New gives us "A good year for the Johnsons : Records show the wife of Alabama Postsecondary Chancellor Roy Johnsons received a 22 percent pay raise last year, part of it approved by Johnson's office." The Montgomery Advertiser serves up "State's colleges lack oversight" Yesterday's Birmingham News opines on how the State school board lives in "Glass Houses". I've already told locals my thoughts on Southern Union's new leader. Peace ... or War!

Kia Update - Hopeful Georgia to begin site prep

2006-06-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Walter Woods of The AJC gives us the latest on the Kia West Point plant saga. Hope, $25,000,000.00 or thereabouts worth of hope, springs eternal. Peace ... or War!

No darkening the door of a SBC church today!

2006-06-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

This Sunday I'll not attend any local church, although I'll think and work and read and ... Sundays are good days usually and I do use them perhaps more than most days for my own form of spirituality. I'm likely lost per my enlightened sisters and probably a good portion of their broods I'm sure yet I stand by what I think and do. "Showing off" to dare think and certainly write/blog for myself is their reality. That I'll never accept the "Bible" as the literal and inerrant word of "God" is also a subject of discord. I'm still waiting on a rational discussion of what I base my undertandings upon yet I'm not however holding my breath.

I've also yet to get an explanation, much less an apology, of how this was understood by four or more college educated family members to be a "Letter to the Editor"! Literalism is seemingly a one way street? Plus, how I disturbed (I'm talking full court press with phone calls and a letter and an apparent early morning conclave!) the family member(s) mentioned by explaining that I was writing this on my own still remains a mystery. The further I dig the more misunderstandings of my kin are revealed it seems yet still no reply to my "Read it completely, get your facts straight, and then call me to either discuss further or more likely apologize." request. The language carefully chosen, or so I thought, was "XXXX and XXX, plus all my family, tolerates at best my politics and “thinking” so don’t blame them." Given that they were church members, rather involved ones in fact, it seemed appropriate then and now. Even if a better way existed, I'd still offer that a good faith effort cannot be denied.

Returning to the Southern Baptist Convention, here's an article from Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer covering Richard Land and the SBC loving Bu$hCo entitled "Conservative base shows no Greensboro cracks - Rice finds warm crowd, nary a sign of fading support for GOP, Bush". The White House has the full text and even a video of Bu$hCo pandering to the base. "Activist judges" and "culture of life" and "abstinence" and "faith based" groups/initiatives and ... were all covered. He didn't mention that he allegedly has proclaimed The Constitution was "just a goddamned piece of paper" yet if he'd cleaned up his potty mouth I bet lots of the Bible Thumpers would responded favorably. The paper this bunch likes to study on is "The Bible" and of course that supplied by the Dobsonites or former John Bircher Tim LaHaye or The Moonie Times or...

I admittedly missed "Marriage Protection Sunday" and the commentary of Barrett Duke (although the prior link mistakenly calls him Duke Barrett). Again, hell will freeze over before I'll give a dime or my time to the SBC if they continue their political activity for the ReThuglican Party. It's a scam folks where Karl Rove is just punking you, and therefore "us".

Among the more revealing actions in Greensboro were the Southern Baptist resolving, non-binding I think as to all, to not have hardly anybody using alcohol( I guess Jesus could not have been a Baptist with the wine thing), expecting Our Leader to nominate "strict constructionist" judges, wanting Southern Baptist to take their "godly influence" to local school systems (like the folks in Dover PA?), and finally to resist "extreme environmentalist groups whose positions contradict biblical principles" and especially property rights. Again, I thought stewardship was biblical yet maybe not according the GOP Translation? I've already posted on the school issue at Captain Bama.

The fundamentalist foolishness of recent years simply has gotten to the point to where I'm not going to be a part of this denomination any longer. "To each his own." and "Whatever gets you through the night." has always worked for me. Yet I'd like the same courtesy. At least I think I'm due some willingness to engage me rationally and politely on where I'm mistaken, with the bottom line that it is 100% my decision on what I choose to think, believe, and do. Peace ... or War!

Gerald Dial says "Right now there is no plan to ..."

2006-06-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

AP as served up by The Tuscaloosa News gives us "GOP chairman says no plan to switch Senate candidates" yet as Danny at Doc's points out the Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended, Section 17-7-1 (c) reads as follows:

... The probate judge is prohibited from causing to be printed on the ballot the name of any independent candidate who was a candidate in the primary election of that year and the name of any nominee of a political party who was a candidate for the nomination of a different political party in the primary election of that year.

Danny also offers up an unsourced understanding that the GOP had not recruited Jim Ingram. Why bother when they had Dino? Whatever else happens, Dino's 32 years up on Goat Hill are up. Peace ... or War!

"Law and Order" - Only for the powerless?

2006-06-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

The Randolph Leader editorial reminds us that Randolph County and Roanoke are simply not following the law on stray "pounds". Now I'll admit that the law is dreadfully written and yet those on Goat Hill have time to clarify when they aren't pandering or posturing. Our "law and order" approach here, especially demonstrated by the draconian sentences of our District and occasionally our Muncipal (Revenue) courts would have me thinking we expected following the law from our leadership! Peace ... or War!

"But this time he really means it!"?

2006-06-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

In a Red State
far, far away from the the beltway
hope for the Empire rests
with ...

Fluke Lietalker (AKA George W. Bu$h)

One of the main themes that I continue to read in the lefty Progressive stuff I admittedly devour is how the "Big Money" wing of the modern Republican Party literally uses the "base" to remain in power. Although the Democrats also at times work around issues to try to rally their bases (note the plural please) I'd argue there can be little doubt that the right has truly mastered the art of scaring the hell out of their often less sophisticated yet generally passionate supporters. Indeed there are some fellow travellers elected and serving today in rather high leadership positions that "think" like many social conservatives. However, I'm often wondering if some aren't playing that role just long enough to get and remain elected. Locally, while it has been some time since I looked at the numbers, I'd expect Randolph County voters follow the Red State trends in national elections. While I especially lament Jeff Sessions serving my interests in DC, the fact that we've two Senators and our one Congressman from the GOP says much about how "the base" is voting against their economic interests.

Using Bu$hCo as probably our most extreme administration yet, and I fear yet given the lack of voter awareness, once in power they let Big Pharma essentially draft Medicare legislation that is dreadfully expensive, complicated, ... but most of all protecting this cash cow. They let the credit card industry draft bankruptcy legislation. Big Oil, including Enron's Kenny Boy Lay, came in and met with Dead Eye Dick to get the energy policy that is working so very well these days, although Cheney has fought off efforts to release the facts of those meetings. They have relaxed the enforcement of some environmental and workplace safety and Civil Rights and ... laws to the point where they might as well not be on the books. Painful pensions? Let's let our business class buddies shed them as our base is focused, with a little help from our Dobsonites, on abortion and boys marrying boys. They've ran up a debts by giving tax cuts to the most wealthy, with special benefits for the investor class and even attempting to do away with the Progressive Estate Tax. (They have managed to label it the "death tax" yet some of the left have recently suggested it be called the "Paris Hilton Inheritance Tax".) They've let the Tom DeLay K Street Project create such scandals as Jack Abramoff and yet the revolving doors from government to and/or from big business would require much to explain. Cronyism is common as Bu$hCo has long favored loyalty over competency. Exhibit A might be how poor a job the Homeland Security/FEMA crowd did with Katrina. Science has been stifled, often to keep the base happy yet likely the main area where this has occured is with Big Oil making sure global warming facts remain disputed. Student loan rates are through the roof with tuition rising nearly as fast as health care costs. These working men and women often no longer have options in industry and agriculture due to the very policies put in place by the fat cats they helped elect. That real income for the working class has remained stagnant, or backed up, in the two plus decades of conservatism seems to be accepted. Income gaps and shrinking middle class are at least partially due to the supply side fantasy going back to Reagan's team yet embraced again by Bu$hCo. Government contracts for Halliburton and other profiteers! There is also... OK, that's plenty enough for now as I likely need to go back to bed. Woke up and figured I'd post yet thinking about these actions, and I really think I could label them as "facts", might have depressed me enough to want a little nap before dawn.

Constitutional issues, diplomacy/foreign policy and militarism are off the charts with this White House yet I'm trying to stick with economic concerns. But before I leave this however, I'll add "Radical appointments to various agencies and especially the federal bench!"

Thomas Frank's "What's the Matter with Kansas" and Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders' "Foxes in the Henhouse" really drove this point home for me. One of the reasons I'm willing to confront, or merely moan and groan via this blogging effort, the shameless tactics of the ReThuglicans is that until the base sees they are being played then they'll likely continue to vote against their economic interests. They'll hear tough talk and vote these Republicans in on social issues and then see Big Money call the shots on policy and law. With but a few exceptions do they ever really try to deliver what they say they want? I know the "faith based" programs help keep your leaders happy and there's a crumb every do often yet this seems like a facade at times. The thing is that the GOP controls essentially every branch of government. While I want the Left to stop the Right from many actions, using what few tools are available, I know Rove wins even when he loses since that gives him even more meat for the base. "Liberals kept us from ..." is the language used yet many folks figure the base is simply being punked.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, although I know fear about the direction of our society, and likely also the faith that many in the GOP base may very well have, is at least reasonable from their perspective, channeling those fears in such ways that are often hateful and misguided needs confronting at times. This is simply for the sake of seeking justice and preserving our traditions of equality. I'll not shy away from confronting "faith" when those beliefs bump up against the secular traditions that are the foundations of this nation plus other generally enlightened societies. Peace ... or War!

Grandma, Tell us about whipping the Dino!

2006-06-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

I missed Jerry Rutledge's "Back to 'grandma' for now : Benefield deals with real life after winning nasty primary election" in Thursday's Columbus Ledger-Enquirer so I'll post now. I'm still smiling about our Kim sending Gerald "Dino" Dial back home! To think about her playing grandma and tooling about her yard when Dino is likely licking his wounds is a good image to carry me through these hot and humid days.

In a related matter, The Randolph Leader is right in expressing hope for less negative campaigning yet as the editorial correctly offers, the reality is that it usually works. As I've told people that expressed concerns about the tone of the advertising for the primary race for the 13th, Kim got in this race a little late and was going up against a well-entrenched and incredibly well-funded two decade plus incumbent. The 13th is an especially spread out district. My conversations with some armchair consultants, and that's all I have access to, for better or worse, seemed to have some agreement that delivering a hard shot in the ribs to Dino first thing was the right call. As The Leader points out the Bu$hCo machine demonstrated the ability to define your opponent before they can really do the same is hardball politics that works rather well. Thinking that at times the end does justify the means I'm figuring this was worth it.

Additionally, while Joseph Goebbels' Nazis, as does most facist movements, did employ attack politics and the like, my understanding of American history is that negative techniques have long been used before this "Minister of Proganda" arrived on the stage. Goebbels' "big lie" approach is I'd argue more about mass message propaganda that an actual political operation such as a Alabama Senate District with garden variety old school American/Southern mudslinging. Some comparisons maybe yet I'd certainly want to scratch a little deeper than Wikepedia for our authority. It is not a terrible resource yet not great either.

Most of all, I'd also save the assignment of guilt or shame for something much more certain than what we witnessed in this campaign. Comparing Kim's conduct, or even The Dino's, to that of Goebbels struck me as rather extreme. While I'm pleased to see somebody local considering facism (My favorite blogger and author on the rise of facism is David Neiwert posting at Ornicus) one thing I think I've learned about challenging facism is to be very careful with words and certainly blame. While I often think Bu$hCo has refined the "big lie" to its modern incarnation, I'm even hesitant to use Goebbels or Nazi analogies (beyond an occasional snarky reference to the Reich Wing) against this cabal. If Godwin's Law (See, Wikipedia can be used for the basics.) suggests discourse generally ends when a Nazi analogy is served up then I'd surely hate to try to start a discussion with this especially strained and certainly serious comparison.

I'd also ask if in fact anything Kim offered up on Dino was actually or even partially incorrect? My understanding of her claims were that they were accurate or at worst based on genuinely defensible positions, the same not always coming back from the Clay Combover. Dial had a record and connections to attack and if Kim had not exploited those opportunities she'd have been silly. We can even accept that special interests and consultants were likely involved on both sides of this fracas yet still I'd think most folks would prefer having Kim, rather than Dino, down in Montgomery.

If Kim Benefield makes it to Goat Hill I'm certainly going to lobby her over issues that I think matter to the branch heads. I am confident that Kim will listen more readily to regular folks than most of the Montgomery crowd. If she takes this office I'm optimistic that she can be a part of the start of reforming the mess that allows Big Mules to control so much in Alabama. After a term she'll have a record to run on if she chooses another term and she'll not need to fight her way into the Good Old Boys Club.

I for one feel mighty damn good about the winner of this primary and hope to help her carry the general this fall. Grandma can then help all the grandkids of this state! Peace ... or War!

A Baptist that has read The Bible I've read!

2006-06-09T17:03:00.000-07:00

While I know the Religious Reich is fully full of fantasy about boys marrying boys being the main threat to our society, James L. Evans of Auburn First Baptist is continuing what seems like real work that makes me somwhat proud of my Southern Baptist roots. Today's Anniston Star gives him space and ink for "Many poor in need of a jubilee year" that really was amazing to read. Payday loans are simply a blight on this local landscape yet they are abundant here and in many of the poorer areas of Alabama. I recall Gerald "Dino" Dial helping them out yet figure that our Kim S. will use her religion and common sense to confront. I needed this today! I hope his family isn't offended or thinks he's just showing off. Peace ... or War!

Garrison Keillor and Woe Be Gone

2006-06-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

Since my kinfolk apparently have trouble reading or fathoming anything that doesn't come with a seal of approval of the Southern Baptist Convention or a suitable Dobsonite, I figured perhaps the few people that visit this blog might be suffering from the same malady. So I'll send you to Salon, which I think is going to ask you to watch a little ad or something such as that. Via Salon, Garrison Keillor of Prarie Home Companion fame (Does anybody listen to NPR around here?) gives us "San Franciscophobia - We're stuck with a terrible war and a worse president, and all the GOP can do is scream, "Pelosi and her Nancy boys are coming"? This is pathetic." I love this guy, in a purely heterosexual way of course. He's hardly a "moonbat of the angry left" I'd offer and mercy is he smart and clever. He even quotes scripture! Something about a speck in a neighbor's eye. Appropriate I'd confess for me yet perhaps for others as well. So read Keillor and maybe you can consider what he thinks. Surely his family will not scold him for thinking and sharing? Yet I expect Keillor's kin, even if they took exception with what he wrote, could engage him with reason and facts. I'm also thinking they'd slow down enough to at least have a few of the facts nailed down before they attack him. Woe is me. Woe be gone. Peace ... or War!

Kim S. Benefield, Vickie Cummings and Amendment One - Two Outta Three Ain't Bad!

2006-06-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

I posted over on Captain Bama some interesting, at least to this political junkie, on what Kim and Dino Dial spent on our votes. Certainly Dino and his Big Mule backers spent the most yet the idea that Senate 13 took that much cheese per voter is amazing! Kim's opponent, lawyer Jim Ingram, will likely be now courted by the Big Mules so this race is hardly over. Still, knocking off a well dug in incumbent with serious support by the powers that be in this state was a real coup. I wasn't surprised and yet I'm thrilled to see it on paper. Does the Clay Combover head back to Clay County or go to work lobbying for his Big Mule buddies? I'm thinking Dino can now come out of the closet and admit who he has been working for.

Vickie Cummings won the GOP primary againt Dean "The Alfa Male" Wysner, which also thrills me. I don't think Den campaigned very hard and this might be that Alfa was having him scrambling around to save Dino. I've known and valued Vickie for years but the more I'm around her and her family the more I'm impressed. Good people! She and her capable crew have worked as hard as I've seen a campaign done around here. She'll be facing off against George Diamond who nailed numbers that seemed very strong against Jimmy McKinney. I knew George would run strong yet I know Jimmy spent tons and worked hard. I told Jimmy he needed somebody in a wheelchair! Congrats to George (and Mack!) and the Diamond clan. And by the way, although election returns seemed mighty slow at the Courthouse, the preparation for the election seemed to have been done well. Good job Judge!

Vickie and George ought to be a really good race. I talked briefly with Bob Fincher last night (And we didn't fuss a lick yet I'm sure we'll lock horns soon Bob!) and we agreed that this was the best chance for the local Republican Party to crack the Courthouse they've likely ever had. I heard somebody comment last night at the courthouse that we now have a two party county. Maybe not fully so but it is close. I'll vote in the Democratic Primary but have been known to cross over in the fall. Rarely done yet willing to look and listen to the other team. So I think having a two party local scene works. Locally, we can get down to brass tacks where a candidates positions and personality and work ethic and ... ought to be openly debated. I am concerned that the primary election, as we seem to practice here and likely across the state, allows an opportunity for Republicans to dabble in the Democrat's election and vice versa. We ought to ensure actual party members are the ones choosing their candidates for the general election.

Finally, I of course voted "No" on Amendment One yet it passed by an 85% to 15% margin here. State numbers has it at about 81.5% to 18.5%. Although our county also voted for Gentle Ben Hand, who has local connections and somebody I still like to think of as a friend, the fact that our GOP voters overwhelming supported Tacky Whacky Tom Parker tells us much about our locale. As does the vote on Amendment One revealing much about our state and nation. We can't remove racist segregation language from our 1901 Constitution yet we can take the radical and not needed step to include discriminatory matters in the document. Full faith and credit and comity be damned I guess.

I also heard a FBC poll worker "explain" Amendment One to another FBC member in an odd and I think wrong way. He told her something like this, "Vote 'Yes' if you want gays to marry. Vote 'No' if you think marriage ought to be between a man and a woman." We were deciding if amending the Alabama Contitution was appropriate and not conducting an opinion poll! So I walked up and told my friend "I might could have explained that another way." to which he replied "Some folks need it simple." Now I'm not sure who needs it simple yet the only thing I wanted to say is that Alabama and Federal law already covers this and the questions is much broader as to comity and the like. I told him "I'd like to think deep understanding is better than simple." He replied, a little testily I thought, "That's your perogative." Darned if that didn't amaze me coming from an educated educator. I talked politics all day and found that I could talk with anybody willing to talk about issues and solutions in a deep way. I'll hold out for discourse and I'm sorry if what I said about being "deep" was taken the wrong way. Lots of that going around!

Also, I though Cris May might win that Circuit Clerk race without a run off. He came mighty close and the numbers fell out about the way I thought they would. Not much excitement in this run off so the candidates are going to have to get out their voters.

Finally, since I was poll watching (not poll worker watching as I think some took my role) I was in Roanoke from seven to seven. I really enjoyed seeing folks vote. I saw and heard some things that disturbed me somewhat and yet overall it made me happy to see the system in action. We've got plenty of problems in our locale and yet I'm optimistic some could be solved with the right people trying to engage those issues. Peace ... or War!

Kim Benefield and Vickie Cummings - Our Girls!

2006-06-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping Vickie can win her primary against ALFA's boy Dean Wysner. I'm still waiting on that response to my email Dean. Either you were misinformed by ALFA or told me a story or I'm wrong. Which on is it? Vickie has worked hard and she know the job plus she has the smarts and temperment for the position.

Kim Benefield is leading in the polls despite the nasty and false and well funded campaign of Gerald "Dino" Dial! I'm honored to watching the polls in Roanoke for Kim. To have anybody knock off Dino would thrill me yet to have a Randolph County treasure like Kim serve us in Montgomery will send me over the top.

Exciting day on 06-06-06! Peace ... or War!

My letter to Roanoke's First Baptist (Main) on Encouraging Church Members to Vote "Yes" on Amendment One

2006-06-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the text, with I think corrections to a couple of typos that I realized slipped through, of a letter I dropped off this morning.

Dear Mr. Spec, Dr. Cobble, Brother Bill, Uncle xxxxxx (as my xxxx calls him) and …

As Mr. Spec and xxxx know, I’m bad to write letters and get my Scots up about politics and other matters. In fact one of my New Year’s resolutions was to be more of an “activist” in speaking out and trying to create change. With my blogging, which I started as a way of practicing the above, I’ve used Tin Shop Tartan to speak in the frame of “localism”. Just recently I gave a “tip of the tam” to FBC in y’all doing something progressive with downtown. I even used the line “The Lord works in mysterious ways” in the post.

Now I’m hardly traditional in my spirituality. I’m rather a universalist and even on the more spiritual than religious side of that label. I often joke that I’m a “recovering Southern Baptist” yet appreciate my roots and our music while disagreeing with a good bit of the doctrine. So I’ve rocked along, attending at times, wishing often that I could place aside the frustrations I have at times with the Southern Baptist Convention’s positions on “moral” and especially “political” matters. Mr. Spec knows I’m a flaming lefty Progressive. Not a Yellow Dog Democrat as my Dad was … yet mighty close. I am often furious with the Democrats national “leadership”, and at times so with Alabama’s, yet I think America has had about all the “conservatism” and “family values” we can stand these last twenty five years. Social issues wrapped up as “family values”, actually only one issue I guess, is the reason for this correspondence.

I was motivated to call the church office on Friday and asked Miss Linda to take me off the mailing list for The Bulletin. If I’m considered a member, I guess take me off that as well. I did this because of the endorsement of Amendment One. I looked on the Alabama Missions site and could not find this “encouragement” but trust Dr. Richard Land or one or more of his acolytes is behind this position. Dr. Land’s “For Faith & Family” is a ministry of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, which is the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. The URL http://erlc.com displays the same page as faithandfamily.com with either providing a visitor with plenty of the often radical and clearly political Dr. Land. While I could, if time and space allowed, give you book, chapter, and verse on this tool of the GOP and especially Bu$hCo, I’ll pass. I might blog on Land as time allows yet I invite you to simple Google about on your own.

Every major newspaper in Alabama has suggested a “No” vote on Amendment One. Reasons include that it is absolutely not necessary under current federal and state laws, certainly not so in Alabama. Auburn FBC’s James L. Evans has likewise done an op-ed saying the same thing. As written, by that wing nut Hank Erwin, #1 could endanger enforcement of domestic violence laws plus rights of and protections for opposite sex couples in common law and other non-traditional relationships. Marriage decisions of various faith communities remain theirs yet when the government or other entities confer benefits on the status of being married then our laws and traditions require fairness/justice. We need a new Constitution not another Amendment yet I know I recall that dreadfully crooked John Giles of the Alabama Christian Coalition railing against that possibility. ALFA and the ACC strike again! The ACC of course in no small part helped defeat in the fall of 2004 Amendment Two, a measure that would have taken "colored children" and segregated schools out of Alabama's Constitution. Back then it was an economics and politics rather than “moral” and ethical” yet the radical right gets to have it both ways it seems depending on their “need”. I’d surely love an audience with and look at the books of Mr. Giles and the ACC. I guarantee you some Big Mules are funding that operation!

Yet the bottom line for me is that Amendment One and much gay bashing is nothing more than political pandering to the evangelical “base” of the modern Republican Party. An example is the false “War of Christmas” that Faux News and other components of “The Mighty Wurlitzer” (allegedly some old CIA jargon for psychological operations to influence the thinking of a population) shill every fall. Many observers of politics accept that the GOP uses various “moral outrages” to keep their base in a state of rage and fear so they’ll continue to vote against their economic interests. “Reverend” Rick Scarborough, a close ally of the disgraced Tom DeLay (all Texans as is Dr. Land), held a recent conference on “The War on Christians” that was rightly ridiculed by any neutral observer. Long of puffery and short on substance, Reverend Rick is just one of many picking up the torch from Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

If you are interested in more on these mercenaries of intolerance and radicalism I’d be happy to supply. Tony Perkins, leading perhaps the most influential propaganda machine of the religious right, namely the Family Research Council, has enraged me over many things yet his attack of the courts has especially frightened me. In the old days these theocrats spoke in code yet Perkins outright wants to do away with courts it appears and shills the Mighty Wurlitzer’s “liberal activist judge” as smoothly as any from this American Taliban. I recall an “activist” Congress when the wing nuts radically intervened in the Terry Shiavo matter, even getting Dubyah to fly back from Crawford early to sign off on the legislation. Bu$h couldn’t come back early for Katrina yet he could for Dr. Bill Frist (who diagnosed her via video as not being in a persistent vegetative state – we know how that autopsy turned out Senator!) and “Hot Tub” Tom DeLay.

From the Dobsonites to Tim LaHaye’s “End Times Theology” to Gary Bauer to Phyllis Shaffly to D. James Kennedy to Beverly LaHaye’s “Concerned Women for America” to Ralph Reed to Senator Rick Santorum (the finest man of the 16th Century who is tied to scandal and doesn’t even live in PA!) to … Oh you get the picture I hope. Radicals! Scary! Well funded! Networked! Legitimate to unfortunately many people and churches. In perhaps some limited ways they are doing some good, at least what they think is correct. Yet they present a terrible danger to our democracy. This “culture war” is one that has proven very rewarding for the Big Mules that benefit from Republican policies yet I was most displeased to see the FBC Bulletin fire a salvo in this conflict. Amendment One will pass I’m sure. I’ll vote “No” and encourage you and others to join me in rejecting this constitutional amendment. I’ve lived just across from a lesbian couple in Auburn and they were amazing parents and citizens. Real research and common sense shows a person’s sexuality is generally something from God/nature. Yet just this next week Bu$hCo is going to encourage Congress to move toward a federal version of the same. Our Senate will balk, as some reasonable people remain there to stop this pandering. Yet, likely that is what Karl Rove and his operatives want for the fall mid-terms. A dose of tribalism? Machine politics on steroids as the modern GOP has been honing their messages for decades.

I don’t expect a reply yet I’d be happy to discuss my position further or hear what you think. I hope the Deacons might decide if/when/how FBC will engage in this “Culture War” in the future. While I pondered appearing in a pink suit or maybe even a dress to pass out flyers to the congregation, perhaps in the parking lot, I knew it would send my lovely sister xxxxxxx, and perhaps even a few others, to the hospital. xxxx and xxx, plus all my family, tolerates at best my politics and “thinking” so don’t blame them. Further, I don’t mean to fuss simply to let you hear an alternative view. My man Gandhi said you can only speak truth with love so that’s where I am with this letter. Also, I’m having to print on some “pretty” paper simply due to the fact that I’ve ran out of cheap copy paper. It might be a little hard to read, especially for you more “seasoned” men. Brother Bill, catch a big fish or two for me! You’ve done your time! Enjoy!

Heterosexually yours, xxxx xxxx

Some good writing on the issue in today's Anniston Star by Howard Bayless of Equality Alabama entitled "Hope not lost for gay Alabamians: Struggle for equality will continue after Tuesday" that is worth a visit. As an aside, I recalled my Dad coming home from services one day in a lather when the preacher was bragging on Reagan about something. Dad said he almost got up and walked out. Ralph simply loathed the Reagan White House and I'm sure he stewed over that praise for several days. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - Evening of June 6, 2006 - Please notice the title of this post. This is not a "Letter to the Editor" and I also encourage the one or two folks that might actually drop by here to read the whole damned post before they take exceptions with certain segments. As I made clear, or seemingly so based on what is my apparently limited understanding of the King's English, politics and religion (You know I've taken several graduate level classes on these matter plus devoured tons of other work in these areas), blog protocol (Snark is encouraged - If you want literalism then read and use Leviticus like all the wing nuts do!), etc., I am of course writing as a free agent. I felt that I needed to say something and tried to craft a letter that was respectful but MOST OF ALL MAKING IT CLEAR (again I think crystal clear!) THAT I WAS DOING THIS OUTSIDE OF MY FAMILY! As unfortunately is a usual result, my best intentions seemed to have backfired. I do want them to be "happy" and certainly I'd never do anything to hurt them. That's why the last portion took me the longest. I know the facts yet finesse around the feelings seemed to have been for naught. I wind up offending when I bent over backwards to cover that contingency. I've done all the inner child work and the like that I have thought necessary yet I'll continue to work on me. I'm not trying to figure anybody out but myself yet on days like today I'm really wondering about much. I stand by what I wrote and did, again thinking that I threaded that needle rather well. I encourage anybody that wants to talk with me about anything I write to simply write a comment ... or better yet email or call me. And once again, reading the whole post seems like prerequisite to a discussion. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - June 27, 2006 - I did get a call from one sister, speaking on her behalf plus her husband. They actually read the whole post the night before. I got an apology, sort of, and a request to not use family names in any shape, form, or fashion. I've amended the post as that is certainly a reasonably thing to demand. I sent the letter TO THE CHURCH (as it addressed!) so there's not much I can do about that. Again, the reason for mentioning them at all was to make sure anybody that read the thing would know I was speaking for myself. This is a controversial position, at least here in the rural Bible Belt, so I wanted to be clear. Also, I wanted those family members in the church to know that I had sent the thing just in case somebody asked them about my position. Again, I was operating in good faith and regret that once again my efforts did not measure up to their standards. I still think it was not reasonable to jump all over me with insults and misunderstandings and misrepresentations and the full court press and .... It would have been reasonable, and polite for certain, to simply express concerns or ask to talk with me. 1 out of 3 is a good start but I'm still waiting for ...

Roanoke First Baptist & Amendment One

2006-06-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

The following was in The FBC's Bulletin this week. I immediately called the office and asked for my name to be removed from the mailing list.

"On June 6, 2006, the people of Alabama will vote on the Alabama Marriage Protections Amendment. When passed, it will become part of the Alabama Contitution. The Office of Christian Ethics of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions encourages church members to vote "Yes" on this amendment. This is a moral and ethical issue, not a political race."

I'll tear this garbage from Richard Land up tomorrow I expect. In the meantime here is how Amendment One essentially reads:

A one-paragraph description of the amendment will appear on the ballot. It states "no marriage license shall be issued in Alabama to parties of the same sex and that the state shall not recognize a marriage of parties of the same sex that occurred as a result of the law of any other jurisdiction."
In its complete text, the measure also states, "Marriage is inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman. As a matter of public policy, the state has a special interest in encouraging, supporting, and protecting this unique relationship in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society and its children."

Peace ... or War!

Gerald "Dino" Dial even spends like a Republican!

2006-06-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Tip of the tam to Doc's Political Parlor and Lawn Mower Repair for much good work and especially this Anniston Star gem locked behind their subscription wall. Here's the Star's Brian Lyman on Dino Dial's incredible spending:

"Dial spends $445,613 in a month" - 06-01-2006
MONTGOMERY – Sen. Gerald Dial spent $445,613 last month in a bitter fight with challenger Kim Benefield for the Democratic nomination for the state Senate District 13 seat.
The Democratic incumbent from Lineville started the month with $225,000 and raised about that much additional during the month, but has spent all but $9,000 of it.
The spending — which works out to about $3.55 for every person in the district — is unusual for a state legislative primary, and it underscores the rancor between the camps.
Dial spent only $76,000 on his entire 2002 re-election campaign, and no local senator spent more than $150,000 in that race. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lucy Baxley spent $245,000 on her campaign in the first three months of the year. “I never dreamed we’d spend this kind of money,” Dial said Wednesday. “This is absurd, but we’ve had to answer the lies and misleading things that have been put out.”
Benefield, a Randolph County circuit court clerk, did not return four messages seeking comment Wednesday.
The race in the district, which includes Cleburne County, has been furious from the get-go.
Mailings from the Benefield campaign have accused Dial of “partying” with lobbyists and digging the state into debt.
Dial has used mailings and television ads to accuse trial lawyers and Senate President Pro Tem Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, of trying to unseat him, saying Barron is out to get him and other Democratic senators who worked to reduce the President Pro Tem’s power in the last session. “He is soliciting money from trial lawyers,” Dial said.
Barron denied the accusation Wednesday, saying that Dial “is struggling because of his record.”
“I have a campaign of my own, I am involved 100 percent in my own campaign, and I’m not involved in Sen. Dial’s campaign,” Barron said. “I think (Benefield) is a very fine candidate, I am aware of newspaper articles and wire stories, and she is indeed an outstanding candidate.”
Dial’s latest finance reports, filed Monday, show that roughly $400,000 of his money has gone to Matrix, a Montgomery consulting company that purchases television and radio ads and mails out campaign announcements to voters.
Benefield’s last campaign report, filed on May 5, said she had $7,500 on hand, from two checks listed as received on July 14, 2006, about 44 days in the future. Her campaign has circulated several mailings through the district since then.
Dial joined with Democratic Senators Jim Preuitt, Larry Means and Jimmy Holley to form an anti-Barron coalition on the Rules Committee in the last legislative session. The Rules Committee decides what legislation goes out to the Senate for a vote, and controlling the committee can influence policy.
Dial also has been outspoken in supporting some of Gov. Bob Riley’s initiatives, particularly the governor’s proposal to spend $500 million on capital improvements to schools, which the incumbent senator said would help rural school districts. The proposal did not come to a vote.
The winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary will face Republican attorney Jim Ingram in the general election.
David Lanoue, chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama, said it’s not unusual to see an incumbent who is feeling threatened spend a large sum of money.
“To be an incumbent is to be paranoid,” he said. “Whenever you face a challenger who seems to have support, whether they have money, you never know. It’s an all or nothing proposition. If you lose, you lose everything.”
Lanoue said it’s not unheard of for outside groups to be spending money in primaries, though it’s usually directed at races for governor or federal offices.
“It’s not as common as legislative races, and it’s less common in the legislative primaries,” he said.
Dial said he never has spent $445,000 in such a short time period, but he accused his opponents of spending even more money in the race. He is still raising funds to keep up the advertising.
“I’m just overwhelmed by it,” he said. “We had to get up on TV, and that eats us alive.”

I noticed Dino had dropped a few dimes for all his many ads in The Randolph Leader yesterday. As for their content, the state is supposed to fund I think every service Dino claimed credit for. Now I know the Goat Hill crowd, with Dino and Richard Laird being as polished practioners of the pork process as perhaps as our area has ever had to pander to in order to get our piece of the pie, yet for The Dino to audaciously claim that as a positive thing simply chaps my hide. You and the other Goat Hill goombas hold our folks in line with how the state flushes money through our "representatives". If the locals that elect you are too ignorant to learn the facts then maybe you/they deserve each other.

I also think it odd that Dino is railing about "trial lawyers" when I understand he sought the endorsement of The Alabama Trial Lawyers Association and has cashed the check they gave him. Although I'd long ago let my membership lapse in that I did little plaintiff's practice, I believe in this organization, especially in Alabama with our dreadfully weak protections for consumers. The AlaTLA Mission Statement reads:

To preserve the adversary trial system as it now exists and to fight for the preservation of the rights of individuals; to resist any efforts to curtail the rights of persons who have been injured to seek redress in a court of law; to continue the education of the plaintiff's bar in all phases of trial practice; and to safeguard and defend the advocacy system so that the rights and remedies of all individuals are protected. In other words - TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

Are some "trial lawyers" just interested in their pocketbooks? Certainly so! I know that from long experience and yet even when they are they still "do good" often. The idea that rogue lawyers are filing all these junk lawsuits has been a good tool of the insurance companies and others that are trying to roll things even further right for the benefit of big business yet is far more fantasy than reality. But what about the Big Mules? They will admit that profits is their game so at worst the plaintiff's bar balances things out. Hush Dino! Especially when you cashed their check!

Furthermore, what is up with the military people in your ads. Is that even appropriate under military rules, although from what I understand Dino has run afoul of those before, at least at the federal level. Something about upgrading his uniform. And exactly where have YOU defended us Dino? My understanding is that you've been part of the politics in the Alabama National Guard yet are hardly holding rank in the federal component of the Guard. Maybe it was a testing misunderstanding that I've heard has dogged the Dino with the feds? Maybe they their "Army of One" campaign confused you Dino yet "pimp my rank" is surely not what they intended!

The Clay Combover has gotten his feeling hurt he claims yet I expect it is more about the Big Mules worried they are about to lose their boy. The SOS has reports on Dino available here. Patrick Casey pulled lots of votes with no real money or organization last time so I'm optimistic Kim Benefield is about to send you home Dino. Maybe The Emerald Triangle can find a capacity for you to serve your, I mean our, interests. After you helped fund that commission conduit it is the least they can do. Peace ... or War!

Tip of the Tam to Roanoke's First Baptist Church (Main Street) for Doing Job of The City!

2006-05-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Only here in Roanoke could an old evangelical church be where modernity, or what passes for the same in this locale, is carried out. With no building codes and lacking the political will and courage to enforce the mild nuisance ordinances that seem to take forever to work, the community finally gets in gear via First Baptist Church, the story being reported by Penny Pool of The Randolph Leader. While I surely don't want to see historical quality buildings torn down and do even like the idea of rehabilitating even the less that historical when possible, I think the story being reported is a good start. With a few exceptions, downtown is a disaster and an eyesore that reflects exactly where our community is seemingly headed. Why our "leadership" hasn't rose to the challenges is beyond me yet I do feel positive toward FBC, the church I grew up in. I'm still a recovering Southern Baptist and think Richard Land is an idiot so doubt I'll be darkening the doors. However, even to this eclectically wired spirit, "The Lord moves in mysterious ways!" might hold some truth. Peace ... or War!

It is Easy to Love Lucy Baxley

2006-05-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

Lucy Baxley visited The HUB and Roanoke City Hall today. Nothing substantive yet she is really easy to love, and I admittedly like that in a woman. There's something about her that I do find attractive as far as voting for her. Who knows? Visit her site and find as much substance as she can give you. Peace ... or War!

The Anniston Star looks at our Senate 13th

2006-05-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today's Anniston Star gives us Primary sources: Candidate Q&As with our Kim Benefield and Dino Dial duking it out in the 13th featured first. Kim S. covers the bases, although she sounded a little too conservative for my lefty tastes, and says the right thing with the 1901 Constitution. I think Dino is a bit chapped that his "good name" is being run down. "Facts are stubborn things!" is what that darned Reagan claimed so I'm sure Dino has heard that one before from his Gooper cronies. Here's their language:

State Senate, District 13 Democratic primary
Gerald Dial (incumbent)
Age: 68
Experience: five terms (20 years) in state Senate
Kim Benefield
Age: 49
Experience: Randolph County circuit clerk since 1988
Do you favor letting citizens vote on whether to hold a convention to draft a new Constitution for the state of Alabama?
Dial: While I would support a referendum to allow citizens to vote on having a convention to draft a new Constitution for Alabama, I won’t do so if that means opportunities to raise taxes on working families. Any rewrite of our Constitution needs to be strictly for updating it for the 21st century, not a backdoor attempt to raise revenue on the backs of working families.
Benefield: I believe strongly in allowing the people of Alabama the right to vote on important issues that would include writing a new Constitution. The 1901 Constitution is racist and puts almost total political power in Montgomery, which blocks the people’s ability to make needed changes on the local level. As senator, I will be a strong advocate for improving the Constitution and giving local people the right to make local decisions.
Would you support a bill requiring groups that lobby the Legislature to reveal the sources of their funding?
Dial: People should know the influence that special interests exert on members of the Legislature. Groups should have to reveal where they get their funding, the same way members of the Senate should come clean when they spend $5,000 of the public’s money on shoe shines. I’ve always been honest and up-front as a legislator, and it’s time others were just as accountable.
Benefield: Special-interest funding of campaigns is one of the great problems we face in Alabama because after the election is over too many of the politicians are loyal to the special interests. As the old saying goes, "They dance with those who brung them." I am going to represent the people’s interests, not the special interests. That is one of the great differences between my opponent and me. After 32 years, Gerald Dial has become a part of the Montgomery system and is beholden to the special interests.
Would you support legislation outlawing PAC-to-PAC transfers?
Dial: Regulating PAC-to-PAC transfers would be a solid first step toward making Montgomery open and transparent. My opponent, for example, reported taking 100 percent of her funding from trial lawyers. But we might never know who is pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into my district to run down my name.
Benefield: PAC-to-PAC transfers should be banned because it is a process that blocks the voters from knowing where contributions come from. I would also support limiting the amount a person can receive from PACs. Again, we need to return the system to where it represents the people and not the PACs and special interests.
If the economy takes a downturn and revenues fall substantially, what budget cuts would you make first?
Dial: There is only one thing I am focused on cutting in the Legislature, and that is taxes on working families. I think we are seeing the effects of what happens when Montgomery does the right thing and returns excess revenue to the people. If the economy takes a downturn, I’ll work to do what’s necessary. Right now, though, I’m going to fight to lower taxes for the people of my district.
Benefield: Government has gotten too big and taxes have gotten too high. There are few agencies that I believe could not afford some restructuring to save tax dollars. However, I want to be clear that I would never support diverting tax dollars earmarked for education to be used for other purposes. The money set aside for our schools should go to our schools and nowhere else.
What can be done to promote economic development in rural Alabama?
Dial: Infrastructure and job training are crucial to economic development in our rural communities. That’s why I’ve helped bring home $77 million for worker training in the past four years. We also need to continue to build new roads and improve existing roads. Under my watch, my district has received more than $40 million for new roads and bridges. Job training and better transportation are the most important things we can do to build the future of east Alabama.
Benefield: The first bill I will sponsor will be to create the Center for Rural Alabama, which Sen. Dial killed this year. This bill was approved in the House unanimously and would have passed the Senate if Sen. Dial had not killed it to pay back some of his political associates. Sen. Dial’s action was wrong, and it really hurt efforts to support rural economic development.

Well done Kim Possible, dare I write "Probable" given the people I talk with all figuring this one ought to be a cake walk. Admittedly all the folks I'm talking with a Kim fans in that they know her and worked with her yet I think this thing can and will work out for her/us once people learn of this ReThuglican Lite's record and position. Dino's been down there since I was a mere stripling and I think we've had about all we can stand of his efforts.

Finally, Kim looks thirty when she's nearly reached a half century yet The Clay Combover is only 68? It matters not since we figure to put him out to pasture soon. Peace ... or War

The Mobile Press-Register Covers Our Kim S.

2006-05-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

I know this Snarkasaurus is far too cute and classic for Gerald Dial yet I'm thinking he really needs a mascot. Might compensate for that dreadful combover! Voters in the 13th need to give old Gerald the Sabertooth treatment like the cat gave Fred every night.

Sallie Owen of The Mobile Press-Register gives us "Barron targeting party dissidents?" that gives us a look into Kim Benefield's race against Dino Dial for the 13th. Good read on how politics at this level works. It is soft of like seeing sausage made in that some folks might just not want to know the process. I'm certainly not a huge fan of Lowell Barron yet if he's helping get rid of this bunch then he's doing good. Big Mules are likely involved on both sides yet we know our gal and the fact that she will work for the Branchheads.

Kim S. Benefield is simply one of the finest and most competent people I've known and worked with over my years. I expect nearly everybody in this county to vote for her. We need to contact people we know in the 13th and ask them to help her out as well. There are lots of votes down in that edge of Lee County and I want them all. I'll plan on devoting time for her over these next few days and please join me is so inclined. If you want more details on why Kim Possible is the right call then please ask me or probably anybody that knows her. I can perhaps tell you more policy and voting records or connections of the Dino than some yet I still think plenty of locals know that he's done little for our county/district.

As for Dino Dial, I met one of his "friends" the other day as I entered First Bank in Roanoke. Cute little brunette that I ought to have handled with a little less grumpy Scot. She tried to hand me literature but when I found out it was from Dino Dial I refused. Ought to have taken it and asked for a bunch for my friends/volunteer fire department/church and then asked her if she wanted to go rest in the cool inside Hardees to discuss how I could help. (I'll never get a date this way! Too young for me besides. Plus I was covered with dirt and hay from The Ponderosa.)

I engaged her on the issues and she really wasn't aware of them enough to even respond beyond "He's done a lot for our schools!" and that sort of thing. I asked where she lived in the 13th but she fessed up that she lived in Auburn. How she knew Dino was "as a friend" yet got no further than that. Likely a mercenary and I'm fine with that, especially if they are easy on the eyes. And Dino likes that I hear. I've always understood that trait was why Dino was asked to help educate our young people outside of "direct contact in the classroom". Or maybe it was in the coatroom that was a staple of schoolrooms "back in the day". Wonder if that concern might have been handled a little differently today? Also, can you imagine what Dino looked like sans combover? I'd have also enjoyed seeing Faye's reaction, if in fact she ever heard the allegations.

Again, Dino has been feeding up on Goat Hill for years. Time to send Dino back to Clay County and put a real Alabama Democrat down there to represent rural Alabama. Peace ... or War!

Not that anybody would miss the Captain but ...

2006-05-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

I regret going silent these last few days. Grumpy gut and closing down the classroom and summoned to the hayfields and … I’ll be back in the saddle surely this evening. Hope to even get something up on Marque Stuart given my labors about the property. Give me some comments, suggestions, challenges, … on any of my five blogs listed below. Peace … or War!
Captain Plaid - Progressive Scot
Captain Bama - Southern Scot
Tin Shop Tartan - Localism
Captain Jimi - Culture Warrior
Marque Stuart - Home & Garden

Scots Up on Local Bu$hCo True Believer

2006-05-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

I started this fracas with my "Letter to the Editor" in The Randolph Leader that I'm linking to here. I got a response here that I'm copying in that I expect The Leader will drop off their site.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 10:02 AM CDT
Dear Senators Shelby and Sessions,
I have never contacted your offices asking you to support, or at least consider, bowing down to the partisan politics of those who would sell their soul for a few votes. I am not now. What I would ask is that you consider sponsoring a bill that would praise our president for his actions in carrying out his presidential duty of protecting our nation and its citizens. He has done so in a prayerful and dignified manner. Not wavering despite the harsh criticism of these who've flip-flopped so many times that they are more confused than a bumble bee in a yo-yo.Those who mistakenly believe the steps our president has taken to protect us are a radical departure from our laws and traditions, do not know their history.
Another of our great presidents, Abraham Lincoln, radically departed from our laws and traditions in doing what he thought necessary to preserve the Union. He spied upon and illegally detained thousands of Northerners against the war and fought an illegal war against constitutionally guaranteed states rights. That war would have been avoided, millions of dollars saved, tens of thousands of lives spared, the South left somewhat prosperous instead of ravaged for decades, and the slaves could still have been freed.I'm not berating President Lincoln and I'm certainly not trying to fight the Civil War again. It has been said that "the one thing that history has taught us is that history has never taught us anything." President Lincoln, like our President Bush, had to put up with bickering politicians and a public that supported or did not support the war in accordance with the days' news. I'm thankful that I'm not the man having to make difficult decisions in these trying times.
President Lincoln took the drastic steps that he thought necessary during an era of much slower communication and transportation systems. President Bush has taken necessary steps during this high-tech age of fast moving communication and transportation systems, where our lives can be affected quickly from far away and our world changed in an instant.
Senators, I am now and have been from the beginning on board with the war against terrorism and I will remain so until it is won. As a part of this bill honoring our president, I would ask that you also sponsor bills declaring "George W. Bush" a national holiday and also begin construction of his monument on Mount Rushmore.
Thank you, senators, for realizing that we face an enemy that seeks to destroy our nation and our way of life. I pray that you would continue to stand strong in your support of our commander-in-chief. God bless you and God bless the United States of America.
Steve Williams, P.O. Box 654, Roanoke Alabama 36274

Here's an initial response, albeit far shorter than I've had preferred. Some links and I'll drop more and expand as able.

In reply to Steve Williams urging our Senators to “Sponsor a bill praising the president”, I’ll first suggest his "The one thing that history has taught us is that history has never taught us anything." might have “been said” yet seemingly not placed on “the internets”, as Dubyah might mangle pronouncing. Steve’s neo-confederate views are revealing, although wanting Bu$h on Mount Rushmore offers more. Declaring the man himself (not perhaps when Florida was told to stop counting votes or his “Mission Accomplished” moment some three years ago) as a holiday likewise shows his devotion.

Article 1 § 9 of our Constitution reads “… Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” Indeed Lincoln did temporarily suspend habeas corpus yet I understand that in every case he fully informed Congress. Apparently Congress authorized the actions of the Executive although the Judicial Branch, led by Maryland’s Chief Justice Taney, hardly blessed.

My Wisconsin Progressive has never “flip flopped”. Don’t recycle GOP/Faux News “talking points”! Russ Feingold, along with 22 other Senators and 133 House members voted against the AUMF in the fall of 2002. Senate Joint Resolution #9 in the 108th Session lays out his concerns. Only “true believers” can dismiss his foresight. Feingold, and now clearly many that were ignored or silenced, feared the folly that likely awaited this misadventure. Censure for the Iraq mess, however justifiable, is not sought.

President Bu$h authorized at least one illegal wiretapping program and repeatedly mislead the country about its existence and legality. We now know of a massive NSA database of our private phone records, likely obtained for “data mining”. This administration has resisted oversight despite the “Rubber Stamp Congress” covering or ignoring abuses. FISA was passed in 1978 and has been amended six times, even under Bu$h. Dubyah never complained about FISA when touting the radical “Patriot Act”. The laws are clear and Bu$hCo is caught. None of their justifications withstand scrutiny. Feingold seeks his censure. Simply examining his Resolution is a mere start toward rolling back this radical expansion of Executive power.

Steve wrote of “days’ news”. Is this the 1700+ days since 9-11 with Osama still loose? Afghanistan is now a narco-state and it is clear we pulled resources too soon. Iraq is a disaster. The good will of the world toward our nation accumulated after 9-11 has been squandered daily by your “prayerful and dignified” President. “Fuzzy math” deficits now made all the worse with Iraq costs. Many days’ taxes loom. The worst numbers are the 2454 KIA and 17,869 wounded among just US forces. Thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed and wounded. Run the math to get your own “days’ news”!

Perhaps Bu$h should have done less praying and a lot more pondering and then planning? As for threats to “our way of life” from “an enemy”, I worry more about pseudo-fascist belief in a man’s “goodness” and “faith” rather than devotion to our laws and traditions.

Peace ... or War!

Is "Civilization" Coming to Randolph County?

2006-05-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning had both the Randolph County Animal Shelter book sale at Chris Mitchum's warehouse and also the Randolph County Historical Museum opening. I attended both and dropped $50.00 for each, all the time wishing I could do more. Not a great crowd at the museum yet a promising start. I had great memories of that old building from the old man's labors for Uncle Sam being where I started and ended many days. Seemed like good turnout for the book sale. Went to Annie L. Awbrey library for a bit and then had a blazing afternoon watching the boy's Little League team being crushed at the recreational facilities. At times I do wonder if Roanoke could move forward and become a neat little village. Hope spring eternal. Peace ... or War!

Roy Johnson Tribe Books Half Million per Year!

2006-05-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Brett J. Blackledge of The Birmingham News continues his fine reporting on Alabama community college system Chancellor Roy Johnson with today's "College chief's family makes $560,000 in 2-year system". Where's there's smoke there's fire? At a minimum this reeks of the appearance of impropriety. Peace ... or War!

Chris, Vickie, Wyner, ... Good Folks Doing Good!

2006-05-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

Penny Pool of The Randolph Leader reports "Animal shelter book sale, museum open this Saturday", which makes for a great morning for Roanoke and Randolph County. So many of the folks involved in this effort are dear to me so that makes it even more special. Peace ... or War!

Chancellor Roy Johnson and "Family Values"

2006-05-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

I've previously posted on Roy Johnson hiring Susan Salatto as the new President of Southern Union as perhaps showing his political nature rather than a desire to have the best person in place. I wonder if this most recent reporting indicates Mr. Johnson's desire to have "his kind of people" in place in these JuCos? Brett Blackledge of The B'ham News has been a bulldog on this issue with today's reporting indicating " In-law of official paid by 3 colleges". The article is very damning I think yet I'll just give you portions.

Three of the state's community colleges each gave $2,000-a-month contracts to the son-in-law of system Chancellor Roy Johnson, state records show.
Gregory Morgan, an Opelika lawyer married to Johnson's daughter, received a total of $6,000 a month under contracts for legal services with the colleges - Snead State Community College in Boaz, Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City and Southern Union Community College in Opelika, system finance records show.
State records show Morgan has received more than $144,000 from the colleges since 2003. Most of those fees were not reported by system officials when a 2005 report was produced showing legal fees paid by the state's community colleges, records show. ...
Morgan is married to Johnson's daughter, Malinda, who works in Morgan's Opelika law office. A woman who answered the phone at the law office Tuesday said Malinda Morgan was working but she was not able to come to the phone.
Malinda Morgan is paid more than $21,000 a year as a curriculum specialist by the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa under a contract that also provides her state health insurance and retirement benefits. ...
Central Alabama Community College listed Morgan's Opelika law practice, Morgan Associates, as one of its contract lawyers in fiscal 2004 and 2005. The college reported paying Morgan $24,000 from October 2003 to September 2004 and another $24,000 from October 2004 to September 2005.
Central Alabama reported the payments in a systemwide survey of legal fees produced last year by the postsecondary department. But Snead State did not report its payments to Morgan in the survey that was submitted to State Board of Education members.
Southern Union reported paying Morgan only $87.94 in the systemwide survey. Finance records show the college, which Johnson led as president before becoming chancellor in 2002, began paying Morgan $2,000 a month in January 2004 and continued until at least September.
Efforts failed Tuesday to reach Southern Union officials.
Johnson said Tuesday he does not require his college presidents to report their legal contracts to him. He said he also doesn't discuss his son-in-law's law practice with him.
"And I do not arrange contracts for him, if that's what you're asking," Johnson said. "The fact that he's related to me shouldn't prevent him from earning a living."

"Earning a living" indeed! "Where's there's smoke there's fire." is often true and this one is boiling smoke. While I know playing lawyer is hardly all profit this arrangement hardly seems like much more than a way to feather the nest. With benefits and the like this couple has made way more than the average teacher has made in the same period. Peace ... or War!

Local Candidates on Constitutional Reform

2006-05-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform has dropped a questionairre on various candidates yet I'm disappointed in the lack of response from our local candidates. Even my Senate Candidate Kim S. Benefield failed to respond. I know DINO Dial has indicated he'll want the Big Mules protected based on his twenty years of "service". Here are the responses for the 13th Senate District:

Ms. Kim S. Benefield
Did not respond
1. Alabama’s 1901 Constitution should be rewritten.
Did not respond
2. A state constitution should provide a basic framework of government, not a detailed code of law.
Did not respond
3. As a general rule, issues that effect only one county or one city should be decided by the people in those communities, not by the legislature.
Did not respond
4. The best way to replace the 1901 Constitution is by a constitutional convention of elected delegates.
Did not respond
5. Since creating a constitution is such a momentous task, strong campaign finance restrictions and lobbying rules should be included in the enabling legislation for anyone who runs for or serves as a constitutional convention delegate.
Did not respond
6. The legislature should approve legislation to allow the people to vote on the question of holding a constitutional convention.

Additional Comments:

Honorable Gerald Dial
Did not respond
1. Alabama’s 1901 Constitution should be rewritten.
Did not respond
2. A state constitution should provide a basic framework of government, not a detailed code of law.
Did not respond
3. As a general rule, issues that effect only one county or one city should be decided by the people in those communities, not by the legislature.
Did not respond
4. The best way to replace the 1901 Constitution is by a constitutional convention of elected delegates.
Did not respond
5. Since creating a constitution is such a momentous task, strong campaign finance restrictions and lobbying rules should be included in the enabling legislation for anyone who runs for or serves as a constitutional convention delegate.
Did not respond
6. The legislature should approve legislation to allow the people to vote on the question of holding a constitutional convention.

Additional Comments:

Mr. Jim C Ingram
Agree
1. Alabama’s 1901 Constitution should be rewritten.
Agree
2. A state constitution should provide a basic framework of government, not a detailed code of law.
Agree
3. As a general rule, issues that effect only one county or one city should be decided by the people in those communities, not by the legislature.
Did not respond
4. The best way to replace the 1901 Constitution is by a constitutional convention of elected delegates.
Agree
5. Since creating a constitution is such a momentous task, strong campaign finance restrictions and lobbying rules should be included in the enabling legislation for anyone who runs for or serves as a constitutional convention delegate.
Agree
6. The legislature should approve legislation to allow the people to vote on the question of holding a constitutional convention.

Here is our "Representative" response as to the 37th District in the House:

Honorable Richard Laird
Agree
1. Alabama’s 1901 Constitution should be rewritten.
Agree
2. A state constitution should provide a basic framework of government, not a detailed code of law.
Agree
3. As a general rule, issues that effect only one county or one city should be decided by the people in those communities, not by the legislature.
Disagree
4. The best way to replace the 1901 Constitution is by a constitutional convention of elected delegates.
Agree
5. Since creating a constitution is such a momentous task, strong campaign finance restrictions and lobbying rules should be included in the enabling legislation for anyone who runs for or serves as a constitutional convention delegate.
Agree
6. The legislature should approve legislation to allow the people to vote on the question of holding a constitutional convention.

Additional Comments: Constitution should be rewritten one (1) or two (2) article at time.

Mr. Pete Ward
Agree
1. Alabama’s 1901 Constitution should be rewritten.
Agree
2. A state constitution should provide a basic framework of government, not a detailed code of law.
Did not respond
3. As a general rule, issues that effect only one county or one city should be decided by the people in those communities, not by the legislature.
Agree
4. The best way to replace the 1901 Constitution is by a constitutional convention of elected delegates.
Agree
5. Since creating a constitution is such a momentous task, strong campaign finance restrictions and lobbying rules should be included in the enabling legislation for anyone who runs for or serves as a constitutional convention delegate.
Agree
6. The legislature should approve legislation to allow the people to vote on the question of holding a constitutional convention.

Additional Comments:

I appreciate Representative Laird answering the questions yet I do not accept the idea that one or two articles at a time is wise policy. It should be a basic document. Simple and short like nearly every other state. Put the Big Mules out to pasture. Constitutional Reform is a foundational approach! Peace ... or War!

SIFAT's Kathy Bryson Stands Up for Mothers!

2006-05-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Kathy C. Bryson, International Health and Training director for Servants in Faith and Technology. SIFAT is of course just around the corner from Captain Plaid's maternal manse in Ophelia. Todya, in The Anniston Star, she gives us, "Stand up for the world’s mothers" that gives us plenty to think about from an international perspective. Peace ... or War!

For Randolph County, Two out of Three Ain't Bad!

2006-05-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

In this week's The Randolph Leader we get a Progressive Lefty take on an issue and I did not even write the thing. Amen!

U of A Law Professor Susan Pace Hamill reminds us "Alabama is a long way from being truly pro-life" in tackling the efforts of certain wingnuts and/or pandering politicians to ban essentailly every form of abortion in our fair state. "Birth 'em and then abandon 'em! could be on their campaign literature! A sharp lady over in T-Town that is talking and writing the walk! Here's a portion of Professor Hamill's work:

The latest statistics show that in 2004 there were just over 11,000 abortions in Alabama. Credible studies also indicate that poverty substantially contributes to the number of abortions. All Alabamians of faith should find this a disturbing tragedy.But is it enough to merely support legislation banning abortion? Does this satisfy our moral obligation to fully embrace the dignity of life?
In writing of a “seamless garment of love”, the late Cardinal Bernardin defined pro-life as meaning much more than restricting abortion. To him, genuinely pro-life communities support pre- and post-natal care of mother and child through healthcare and subsistence safety nets, as well as access to decent housing, education and job training.
Even a cursory snapshot of our state reveals we are a long way from truly embracing the dignity of life. Alabama has among the highest rates of poverty, especially children living in poverty. Over a quarter of our people do not get primary healthcare with too many Alabama mothers, especially in the rural areas, receiving inadequate pre-natal care. Our education funding is grossly inadequate and child advocates complain that our foster care support is less than what it costs to board a dog in a kennel.
Especially since poor women resort to abortion in far greater numbers, why are we not aggressively fighting poverty? Why do we not guarantee all pregnant women access to adequate pre-natal care, nutrition, drug and alcohol treatment, and job training? Why is our public support of most other life-affirming areas so pitifully low?
The reason is those of us at higher levels of income and wealth are unwilling to bear the cost of a truly pro-life community. We are unwilling to accept the high-sacrifice of state and local taxes which raise sufficient revenues needed to support such an endeavor. Instead we fool ourselves into thinking that merely supporting anti-abortion legislation is all that it takes to be pro-life.
The truth is being genuinely pro-life requires embracing Judeo-Christian guided tax policy.

Yet we also get Christian pre-school "K-3 teacher" Brenda Overton responding to Paul Huey's latest missive, not as dreadfully bizarre as his global warming denial, with "Three-year-old schooling is better than alternative". Some of what neighbor Paul wrote made some sense in the idea that the adult(s) at home are what counts. I see Paul playing with his kids and expect he's a good Dad yet leave education policy alone please. Europe and much of Asia is killing us at the middle and high school levels yet our efforts at "educating" even the less academically inclined child gets much of the blame. And Paul, the SAT is likely rarely taken by students in other countries. Returning to Ms. Overton, it is obvious her faith means much and yet I'd expect that kids that have been with her, if in fact this is an alternative to public schools, would be performing better if they'd been in the average public setting. Not a knock on Ms. Overton really, even though her writing seems a bit scattered, but rather the statistics seems to show this when we adjust for poverty.

Finally Steve Williams (might have not made the print edition yet but he did make it online this week) responds to my scolding of Shelby and Sessions for not handling Dubyah with "Sponsor a bill praising the president". I'll be responding to his "logic" and "historical insights" soon I expect. "A position not founded on reason cannot be swayed by argument."yet tackling the errors in his work might flip a few folks back from the Dark Side of the Force. Even in Randolph County maybe?

The point is that we've gotten a little lefty thought going into the paper and darned if I'm not pleased. I expect Johnny and a few folks up at The Leader would write a little more left if the traffic would allow yet I know they've got to sell ads and keep customers. Small town papers are really in an awkward place at times yet The Leader has often stepped up and written what needs telling. Peace ... or War!

In '04 Gerald "DINO" Dial Pondered Jump to GOP

2006-05-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Cleburne News gives us the dirt. What I noted in the reporting was,

Dial, who often votes with Republicans in the Senate, said he also is meeting with constituents to see if they feel he should switch parties.“If the people I represent feel like I can better represent them as a Republican, then that’s a step I’ll consider,” Dial said.
But Dial, who once won election to the Senate as an independent, said performance is what counts most in his district.“You know my district is pretty independent, and I think the people appreciate what I do,” Dial said. He said he does not agree with the policies of national Democrats.
“I’ve handled the Ten Commandments bill. I’m a better conservative than some of the Republicans up there,” Dial said. ...
Rep. Richard Laird, D-Roanoke, represents a rural district on the Alabama-Georgia line and often votes with Republicans in the Legislature, particularly on social issues. He said he expects to remain a Democrat. He described voters in his district as “conservative, old-line Democrats.”
“They know I’m conservative and that I vote conservative,” Laird said.

I expect if DINO had not been surprised by Kim Benefield he would have bolted. And you are next Richard. Time for you DINOs to take it to the house. Peace ... or War!

Gerald "DINO" Dial Push Polls Tin Shop Tartan

2006-05-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

The call came from 571-522-6585 in Braddock Virginia that was once registered to Verizon. Just outside of Alexandria so a hired gun I'm sure. Something like "Kim Benefield is funded by liberal trial lawyers and wants to raise your taxes" was the gist of the push poll. For those unaware of what a "push poll" is I'll send you to Wikipedia. I wonder who is funding the DINO? Peace ... or War!

Forty Applicants but "Roy" hires "Local Gal"

2006-05-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

George Wallace created the Alabama Junior College system so close where you can still essentially throw a rock anywhere in Alabama and hit a JuCo. Great political network all across the state that could be rolled into action rather easily. And who knows politics better than Roy Johnson and Susan Whaley Salatto.

Brett Pritchard of The Randolph Leader reports "Salatto named president of Southern Union". The report includes,

Susan Salatto has been named president of Southern Union State Community College.
The Alabama Board of Education unanimously approved Salatto as president of SUSCC in a meeting on Thursday, April 27, after an intensive search process that drew 40 applicants from across the country. Roy Johnson, chancellor of Alabama's two-year college system, recommended Salatto for the position."
Susan Salatto has the experience, she has the skills and she has the vision to grow Southern Union," Johnson said. He said Central Alabama Community College had prospered under Salatto's leadership and he expected the same at Southern Union.
"Susan has had a long history with the two-year college system," said Rep. Betty Carol Graham, D-Alexander City, vice-president for CACC. "She's been in the college system for 30 years and has worked in every area. It's been a natural progression to the presidency for her."

Chancellor Johnson has been in the news recently with two of his children being given rather sweet jobs with the State Fire College. Another B'ham News report by Brett Blackledge indicates,

"Langston gave Johnson's two adult children jobs at the fire college. He hired Johnson's daughter on a $21,424-a-year contract to work from her Opelika home, more than 175 miles from the Tuscaloosa campus. The job, which she still holds, also provides her benefits from the teachers retirement system and the state's health insurance program, records show."

Plus Johnson had a close friend given a consulting contract to boot. Interesting "mistake" with that $300,000.00 made by Johnson's "staff". Roy Johnson certainly knows Alabama politics with his rapid rise to the top of the two year food chain.

That Mr. Johnson, holding I think a Master's Degree, selects Ms. Salatto, likewise papered, over forty candidates with likely much higher levels of education might be a question I'd like answered. That Dr. Joanne Jordan will hold another position seems likewise interesting. While I know degrees don't always indicate capacity and leadership I do think they are highly relevant and would require substantial reasons before being dismissed as indicative of potential performance.

I've spent time around both Mr. Johnson and Ms. Salatto so I am hardly thrilled with either being in such high leadership positions. I imagine the pay 'aint bad and the benefits will be even better. George would be proud that his political machine lives on yet I'm more interested in our two year colleges being education machines. Peace ... or War!

Gerald Dial Doesn't Care about Rural Alabama!

2006-05-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

I'd previously posted at Captain Bama on "Gerald Dial Single-handedly Talks Alabama Center for Rural Development to Death" yet The Mobile Register now gives us an insiders perspective on the legislation that DINO Dial killed. Larry Lee gives us " Requiem for rural Alabama center" where he contrasts the efforts of numerous citizens to get this legislation passed with the bizarre "logic" of DINO Dial. The opinion writing includes,

... support from such groups as the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Economic Development Association of Alabama, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Alabama Association of Regional Councils, the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, VOICES for Alabama Children and so many, many more.
About how the Senate version of the bill was co-sponsored by 16 senators from across the state, both Democrats and Republicans.
Finally, HB 358 was called. Under the rules of the Senate that day, it had 10 minutes in which to pass.
But Sen. Gerald Dial of rural Clay County had a different idea: He held the floor for 10 minutes, and HB 358 was history.
All the miles, all the meetings, all the work, all the support -- everything went down the drain in 10 minutes, killed by a senator from one of the state's most rural counties, where median family income ranks 47 out of 67 counties.
Sen. Dial later put out a news release trying to defend his action. He implied that HB 358 would've hampered how local communities interact with the Alabama Development Office.
You have to wonder if he ever read the bill. The ADO wasn't even mentioned in it.
Maybe if he had done what other legislators did and attended one of the meetings, Sen. Dial would have understood what HB 358 was all about.
Now we're again back to talking about rural Alabama -- rather than doing something meaningful.

About "doing something meaningful" a good start would be to send Gerald Dial home. Kim Benefield will listen, work hard, and look out for rural Alabamians. Peace ... or War!

HMS School Uniforms - Window Dressing at Best

2006-05-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Penny Pool of The Randolph Leader reports "School uniforms being discussed for Handley Middle School" with research and anecdotal claims presented to support the decision. While I could care less, the research is hardly conclusive. This applies to safety, academics, "self esteem", and certainly being "tardy". Studies are limited, flawed, over variabled, etc. Might not hurt yet I'd be much more interested in real reforms and focus. That we are seeing so much concern over this minor factor is disconcerting. I'll not bother dropping in links to studies or even offering what might really create change yet if somebody requests the same I'll surely share. I've spent four years in a Middle School and would like to think I'm qualified to offer a reasoned opinion. Since the boy attends HMS I'm interested. However, I know plenty of other factors are in play. We will adapt to whatever they want to have him wear but ultimately his learning is not going to be related to "fabric". Peace ... or War!

The Anniston Star Recalls Basic Civics Lessons

2006-05-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Anniston Star made in to NPR as posted at Captain Bama. Today I've noted The Randolph Leader gave me ink in scolding Senators Shelby and Sessions yet The Anniston Star also wrote on "He’s the decider, not the law abider". The Star opined,

... American schoolchildren are all taught civics. They study about the three branches of government and about checks and balances. Congress writes a law. The chief executive can either sign it or veto it. The courts ensure the law lines up with the Constitution and legal precedent.
As those students — well, at least the ones who paid attention — can tell you, nowhere does it say that the president retains the right to selectively obey laws he signs. To do so is a massive overreach — one that ought to inspire citizens to rise up and demand accountability. And our members of Congress ought to use the check granted to them by the Constitution to put a stop to the president’s usurping of power.
In the parlance of grade school, the president can’t sign a law and later claim it doesn’t count because he had his fingers crossed.

I rest my case! Senator Shelby and Sessions, are you listening? Glenn Greenwald also weighs in today with a reminder that the Bu$h White House will not even reveal what Congresspersons have been briefed on the illegal warrantless wiretapping program operated by The NSA. The President does this because the other kewl kids in the GOP know their house of cards would come tumbling down where they'd be run out of town on a rail if the truth were told. Worst administration ever! Peace ... or War

It's the model plus the funding and trash/ash!

2006-05-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

Jim Wooten of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a favorite target of Captain Bama. He's really easy to ridicule and I find it shocking that he gets ink. I refer to him as a conservative tool and a shill rather often. His rants are often about school vouchers saving public education. While I don't outright reject some market forces as having merit, Jim's approach is often flawed in that he twists with "research" supplied by various right wing "think tanks". Getting to the point, today "The Tool" gives us some blunt language that I thought I'd share. The conclusion is wrong of course but here is today's writing, scattered and sorted, that the AJC provides,

With public school funding, no amount is ever enough.
The problem is twofold. One is funding formulas. The other is that the ash and trash of society's failings — to marry, to parent, to discipline, to socialize, to learn to speak English — are pushed to the classroom, where they are mixed and sorted, mainstreamed, in agglomerations that try the skills and patience of even the best teachers. ...
Across the state, school systems should be reconfiguring to serve children based on the needs.
It could mean, for example, that in some schools children wear uniforms, or attend year round, or are in classes six days a week, or are heavily tutored, or go afternoons and evenings, or have classes with all-male faculty or are highly structured.
Some may have certified instructors; some not. Some may be technology-heavy; some not. Some may have structured after-school activities; some not.
The key is to inform parents of what's happening in their child's school and then give them options based on their child's particular needs.
The carping by local school officials over funding formulas, and the temptation to sue for more money by those who are failing in their education responsibilities, are symptoms of a system so badly broken that it can never be fixed.
It can't be fixed because, as with global warming, projected outcomes are based on models that include thousands of assumptions and inputs. Class size, teacher quality, structure, curriculum, textbooks, instruction, home life, values, parental involvement and support, external distractions, attention span. Thousands.
So 72 percent of new money goes to adjust inputs. The reaction? It's not enough. And it comes with too many strings. ...
The goal is to inform policy-makers what it should cost per child to produce the outcome parents want and how the tab should be split.
The current system is broken beyond repair: No money will ever be enough. Failure is somebody else's fault.
That's the model we have to change.

Where to begin? First of all, Jim is correct that educators have many variables that they have no way to adjust. "Ash and trash" seems harsh yet I hear you. I'd still enjoy having you come into a classroom for a few days and then play bureaucrat to boot in seeking solutions. Jim's beloved conservatism (admittedly libertarian slanted when it works for The Tool) has taken a standards based, testing heavy emphasis and ran wild with this model. No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which I like to refer to as "No Data Obsessed Bureaucrat Left Behind", is just the latest of this trend. Flexibility has become even more limited under the Bu$h approach yet Dubyah and his "Texas Miracle", more accurately the "Texas Smoke and Mirrors", has made that less possible. Plus, all the money leftists thought would flow has been pulled now. Heck of a job Bushie!

Roanoke and Randolph County systems would have to demonstrate remarkable courage to go their own way yet smaller systems have an advantage as to change. Still, old school teachers and certainly administrators and board members that have risen during these conservative times aren't likely to want to change horses. For many it is far easier to ride this one out to retirement. Change is hard, hard work. Plus, explaining this to our local "thinkers" could be a hard sale.

And Jim, global warming denial is really out of fashion. Are you fully on the payroll where even Big Oil has a hold on your leash? You really could win the sychronized shilling gold!

I'll offer that my solutions are radical to many. One thing is that we can't do this on the cheap. We also can't create real change with canned curriculums. We attempt to educate using a hundred year old model with the idea of getting a diverse society ready for an industrial economy. Few kids of today respond to being thrown in a cement block room and "taught" via transmission approaches to learning. Constructivist models are hard to carry out in that the average kid is not prepared for "thinking" in that they've been "stimulated" to the point to where they can't do this for themselves. "Content" reading? Forget about it!

Elitist perhaps to a point but the European and Asian models know you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Or continuing with the hog theme I can close with "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Peace ... or War!

Down with Downtown But Don't Thank "Leaders"

2006-05-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Spies report that a decent section of downtown Roanoke on the side of Church Street will be torn down for First Baptist Church to build a "Family Life Center". A new road will allegedly be built through the old Snax Deli. I've been told a few well heeled and connected concerned citizens are prepared to use the courts to insist that Roanoke enforce their own ordinances. We'll see? Peace ... or War!

Ideas from Russell Lands on Lake Martin?

2006-04-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

David Irvin of The Montgomery Advertiser gives Randolph County something to think about with his "Lake Martin land deals helping save town in tough times" where he, in part, writes,

Much of Russell's land is still undeveloped. That's key to nearby Alexander City, which is seeing its largest employer continue to struggle.
Russell Corp. began scaling back its work force eight years ago and so far has cut more than 4,000 jobs, the equivalent of one-third of the town's population. It has found a savior in billionaire investor Warren Buffett, but no one knows what the $600 million acquisition means for the 3,000 in Alexander City still employed by the clothing maker.
Despite the cutbacks and uncertainty, something peculiar is happening.
The number of people living in Alexander City has not fallen since the layoffs began, and sales tax revenue has increased -- from $5.8 million annually in 1998 to $6.8 million in 2005.
Part of the reason: Lake Martin.
"It's extremely important," said Mayor Barbara Young. "Anything that Russell Lands does will affect us."

While Lake Martin in some ways started a little rough, they've seen upscale progress that can serve as a model in part for Randolph County. Russell Lands is different indeed yet Alabama Power could very serve as a local comparison. Alcohol sales would be a good start for development on our Lake Wedowee. Plus it makes sense for the whole county to move past fundamentalist acting as our local Taliban. Slow development that respects the environment, quality of life, investment locally, building codes, ... would be other things to consider. Peace ... or War!

Hyundai Chairman Collared by The Man in Korea

2006-04-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

An AP report on MSNBC is reporting the arrest of Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Mong-koo. The report reads in part,

Prosecutors on Friday arrested Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Mong-koo in an embezzlement and slush fund scandal engulfing South Korea’s largest automaker, an official said.
Chung’s arrest, announced by prosecution spokesman Kang Chan-woo, came late Friday, after the Seoul District Court issued a warrant.
Prosecutors suspect the 68-year-old Chung of embezzling company funds to create a slush fund and of causing damage to the company. ...
Prosecutors have raided Hyundai and three of its affiliates — Kia, logistics unit Glovis Co. and auto-parts maker Hyundai Autonet — and questioned key officials.
Prosecutors say officials embezzled money from affiliates to create the slush fund and used it, via at least two lobbyists, to seek favors from the government.
The lobbyists have been arrested on charges of receiving money from Hyundai in exchange for promises to help it win construction approvals and permits, and other business favors.
It is unclear if the lobbyists bribed government officials. It is illegal in South Korea to accept money in return for exercising influence.
Chung spent about 15 hours at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul for questioning earlier this week. His son, Kia President Chung Eui-sun, spent about 18 hours there last week.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that this will not derail the KIA plans for West Point. Peace ... or War!

Arrest Warrant Sought for Hyundai/Kia Leadership

2006-04-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Cheon Jong-woo and Lee Jin-joo report via Reuters that Hyundai/Kia leadership might be looking at trouble with The Man. They write, in part, that,

South Korean prosecutors sought an arrest warrant on Thursday for the chairman of Hyundai Motor on charges of misusing company funds, striking a blow to the country's family-run chaebol conglomerates. ...
Besides seeking an arrest warrant for Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo, prosecutors also sought to indict but not detain Chung Eui-sun, the chairman's son and president of Kia, senior prosecutor Chae Dong-wook told reporters.

Not great news yet one can likely bet that capitalism in the global economy marches on. West Point and our area as a whole is counting on Kia and it would be a shame to see these plans crumble. Peace ... or War!

Governor Riley - What about Michael Scanlon?

2006-04-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Burnside reports in today's The Randolph Leader "Governor promises widening of 431" yet I'm a touch confused on how Alabama's Governor can claim credit for this activity on a U.S. highway. Also, the article says the county was forced to hire a lobbyist to get the work done. I suggest Mike Rogers, Richard Shelby, and Jeff Sessions might have accomplished this sans lobbying. Also, the reporting stated, "The governor pointed out that no story of scandal has appeared in the news regarding anyone in his administration." Though not currently in Montgomery, a former press secretary tied in with Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay and now convicted of bribery named Michael Scanlon has given $100,000 to four PACs that contributed heavily to the Governor in 2002. While Alabama law unfortunately allows deniability Bob Riley might not be perfectly clean. Peace ... or War!

Our Local "Foodsheds" include ATL & B'ham & ...

2006-04-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

Mother Jones gives us "No Bar Code" reporting on Joel Salatin's Polyface Farm in rural Virginia. 550 hilly acres provides this “Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-lunatic farmer” a “ministry” where he attempts to "convince even a fast-food junkie that buying a pastured broiler from Polyface Farm qualifies as an act of social, environmental, nutritional, and political redemption." In part, the article reads as follows:

... the same stew of food fears and food pleasures (and food memories) that has driven the growth of the organic food industry over the past 20 years—that, and the satisfaction many Polyface customers clearly take in spending a little time on a farm, porch-chatting with the Salatins, and taking a beautiful drive in the country to get here. For some people, reconnecting with the source of their food is a powerful idea. For the farmer, these on-farm sales allow him to recapture the 92 cents of a consumer’s food dollar that now typically winds up in the pockets of processors, middlemen, and retailers.
I asked Joel how he answers the charge that because food like his is more expensive, it is inherently elitist. “I don’t accept the premise,” he replied. “First off, those weren’t any ‘elitists’ you met on the farm this morning. We sell to all kinds of people. Second, whenever I hear people say clean food is expensive, I tell them it’s actually the cheapest food you can buy. That always gets their attention. Then I explain that, with our food, all of the costs are figured into the price. Society is not bearing the cost of water pollution, of antibiotic resistance, of food-borne illnesses, of crop subsidies, of subsidized oil and water—of all the hidden costs to the environment and the taxpayer that make cheap food seem cheap. No thinking person will tell you they don’t care about all that. I tell them the choice is simple: You can buy honestly priced food or you can buy irresponsibly priced food.” ...
So much about life in a global economy feels as though it has passed beyond the individual’s control—what happens to our jobs, to the prices at the gas station, to the votes in the legislature. But somehow food still feels a little different. We can still decide, every day, what we’re going to put into our bodies, what sort of food chain we want to participate in. We can, in other words, reject the industrial omelet on offer and decide to eat another. This might not sound like a big deal, but it could be the beginnings of one. Already the desire on the part of consumers to put something different in their bodies has created a $14 billion market in organic food in the United States. That marketplace was built by consumers and farmers working informally together outside the system, with exactly no help from the government.

Mr. Salatin has written "Holy Cows and Hog Heaven: The Food Buyer’s Guide to Farm Friendly Food". Randolph County could very well support this type of approach as close as we are to major markets in Atlanta and Birmingham. I'll ponder some more yet feel free to give me your ideas should you stumble across this post. Peace ... or War!

The Anniston Star - Local Progressivism

2006-04-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

While I expect many locals are avoiding any newspapers or media that doesn't suit their world view with another good section not very motivated beyond keeping up with NASCAR and American Idol, I grew up reading The Anniston Star. Solid resource that continually ranks as one of my favorite sources. The 24th brings us an Editorial entitled "A postmodern presidency". If you don't understand "postmodernism", borrowing from Foxworthy, then you might be from Randolph County. Try this resource. Print media takes work to follow and I continue to think that hyperlinked blogging in many ways can be superior. Understanding complex issues beyond the talking points and spin is critical to be an informed and competent citizen. Peace ... or War!

Values - "God, Guns, & Gays" Guarantees "Greed"

2006-04-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

I dropped a post on Captain Jimi about two Anniston Star editorials that I labeled The Anniston Star Confronts God's Ordained Party. Truly the GOP is rolling out the old reliables in their false "culture war" that will seimply put the Big Mules back into power. Getting regular folks in the rural heartland and middle class families in the burbs to vote against their own economic interests has perhaps been the most amazing political stunt in history yet it seems to work for the Right.

Working from a Mobile Register opinion, I also posted Gerald Dial Single-handedly Talks Alabama Center for Rural Development to Death on Captain Bama. Dial is the Big Mules boy up on Goat Hill. And what was the Governor doing letting his neighbor pull this stunt. If the Riley administration had cared about rural Alabama he'd have gotten this through the Legislature. It is time we had a Senator that cared more for the branchheads than the Big Mules.

Thundering outside yet hopefully no hail in this storm. I heard several people say their property was seriously beat up from Wednesday's storm. Peace ... or War!

Korean Media Reports Delays in Georgia Kia Plant

2006-04-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Walter Woods of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting "Scandal forces another delay for Kia plant" with references to several sources in Korea. Mr. Woods writes,

A widening bribery scandal in South Korea has scrapped another groundbreaking party for Kia Motors' new factory in West Point, starting the first ominous rumors that the $1.2 billion plant may be in jeopardy.
Accusations of graft and financial misconduct at Kia and its parent, Hyundai, could disrupt the Georgia factory's construction "for a long time," an unidentified senior Kia official told the Korea Times on Thursday.
At the same time, Chosun Ilbo, another Korean newspaper, reported that Hyundai has virtually suspended new overseas business plans while it's engulfed in the corruption investigation.
Korean prosecutors suspect Kia and Hyundai raised multimillion-dollar slush funds to bribe public officials and illegally transfer ownership of the company from Chung Mong-Koo, Hyundai's chairman, to his only son, Kia President Chung Eui-sun. Investigators on Thursday questioned the Kia president as part of their probe. His father could face similar questioning next week.

Governments, businesses, and individuals have already made many claims and plans in anticipation of this plant coming to West Point. Scandals slam across the world could very well influence us right here.

Hyper-competetive capitalism merges with corruption? Welcome to yet another dark side of globalism. An often ignored reality of unregulated free market capitalism is that you don't always have to be a player to lose in the game. Peace ... or War!

Update - Evening of April 21, 2006 - A young man wearing a white Hyundai golf shirt and black trousers was asking for directions at a store that I stopped by this afternoon in Franklin. He appeared to be of Korean ethnicity. Perhaps no need to panic and yet I do think the above is a good illustration of globalism.

Just twenty one more days of "Let me get a big 'hell yeah' from the redneck girls like me"

2006-04-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

I came over to school pumped up. Teaching Europe with my theme for today as "Sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll" as we tackled the differences between the United States and Europe. Building off 420 Day and how Europe deals with recreational drug use. We had riot photos from last fall and even more recently as to labor conflicts. I had many cartoons, including one of Condi as Europe sees her. She was in a domatrix get up over an Islamic prisoner. I was loaded with goodies and hooks and tricks and "fun stuff" so I figured most things we'd do would be enjoyed. Yet ... the rednecks struck again.

In my first class, two girls are free drawing the Confederate Battle Flag with serious effort instead of watching a clip of Roman ruins and Pompei and ... I tried to redirect but the wanted to show their Lost Cause bona fides more than learn what we were covering. I erupted with the idea that they'd likely see a few more battle flags in Heard County in their life. I finished with the suggestion that if they could draw one so detailed from memory it was clear they had the image imprinted in their minds. So perhaps seeing something of culture and interest beyond their small world would be a wise idea. It got worse after this "college prep" class.

So many know little beyond drugs/drinking, dirt track racing, coon hunting, rooster fighting, speakers, ... This one or that one has a relative in jail it seems every few days. They seem to like and trust me so I am told things often that perhaps other teachers don't hear. There are some amazing kids over here and I "like" nearly every one I teach. But they surely make me sad!

However, some simply can't be taught in a traditional setting. "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." often comes to mind. I think long and hard how to teach the best I can with twenty or more kids seated inside a concrete block room. I know a few learn and yet I often feel so ineffective. Without making excuses, if I had a few less Unreconstructed Rebels I'd likely get a little more done as far as helping these kids learn. So many have really never been exposed to anything of substance beyond their small worlds. The anti-intellectualism over here in Heard County plus my own neck of the woods runs I think to many levels.

Soldier on I will. But then I'm going to try to address at least some of the above concerns. As a society we must do better. These kids and their kids deserve solutions not excuses. As a nation we've got to find a way to break this cyclical poverty and deprivation. Peace ... or War.

Early Presidential Primary Only Cost Us $1/Person and it will be money "Well Spent!"

2006-04-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

The Randolph Leader is surely correct in scolding the Goat Hill crowd for failing to pass certain legislative needs. The editorial from today's Leader singles out the following:

One the lawmakers consider to be a success gives them a way around the prohibition against "pork" funds to be dished out at their discretion, though this may not be one they want to talk about. Meanwhile, one bill that died would have banned senators and representatives from serving more than 12 years. Another that died would have banned political action committees from transferring money among themselves, an action that is regularly used to hide the source of campaign contributions. Other bills that died would have returned power to the people, including one that would have let voters decide whether to call a convention of elected delegates who could have proposed a new state constitution.

Amen! Especially the part about the Constitution! Dean Wysner, I'm still waiting to hear from you on the facts I sent you to contradict what those slick Alfa boys are telling you. While I also agree that $3,300,000.00 would go a long ways to meet the many needs we have in Alabama, the cost, if we work from a population of 4.5 million, is maybe a dollar from each citizen. And I think it might be worth it. Here's why:

Campaigns will spend significant amounts on media buys, lodging, supplies, staffing, food and drink, ... This may be especially so in 2008 in that neither of the major parties have an incumbent or front runner. Some of that money will cycle through our economy.
Some of the wing nuts, like those in from the 2000 primary in South Carolina such as Bob Jones, would possibly expose the intolerance often present in today's GOP to the balance of the nation. We've certainly plenty of fundamentalist pharisees such as John Giles, Roy Moore, Tom Parker, ... Bu$h zigged right to take SC from McCain in 2000 and then tried to play "compassionate conservative until he got in office. If the candidates had a few more Southern states to work in it might be more "revealing" to the balance of the nation.
Alabama leaders would get some exposure to the national candidates. Just having a serious Democrat, not a DINO like some of our state candidates, campaign down here might move the state and local party to the left toward more Progressive ideas.
National Democrats must learn to work better in The South. Foxes in the Henhouse argued that Lefty ideas can and will sell if presented the right way. We don't want to take your guns. We don't tax working folks to the benefit of the GOP Big Mules. We like the idea of tolerance and civil rights. We look out for our troops and veterans. We take care of the land, water, and air. We want your kids to have a chance to learn and reach their highes potential. We want you to have good and affordable health care. We will not outsource our government functions to our big business cronies. We ... Yet at times the candidates and the national party can't seem to get that message across effectively.
Third party or darkhorse candidates could perhaps tackle a small state like ours. It might be that Alabama could discover somebody that was overlooked elsewhere.
Alabama citizens, including our kids, could take part in a national campaign where some serious political players would perhaps share their experiences and ideas. Right now we are simply left out, this being especially so with our state's tendency to vote for the ReThuglicans. Doors might open up for some young talent to go to DC.
Our voters might get to hear Progressivism for perhaps the first time. So many local people cringe when they hear "liberals" yet once they listen to a reasoned explanation of what that means the shift can and will occur. The Mighty Wurlitzer has been belting out the music down here for far too long.

I'll amend later when I have a little more time to stew and link and organize. Might not work out the way I hope it could yet perhaps. Hope springs eternal. Peace ... or War!

Some Solutions for Randolph County Children?

2006-04-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

I attended a meeting at the courthouse examining treatment options for juveniles and adults that are or might be facing criminal charges. Good presentations from several folks that I'll return to when I have more time. Partial solutions maybe from an initial think yet it was good to see some concern. Again, I'll return to these complex issues.

I also was able walk around Wedowee and was thrilled with some of the antiques and art and florists and ... I know lake traffic drives lots of their economy yet the rest of the county could perhaps tap this market as well. Their wide street makes their arrangement less ideal compared to what could be a more intimate setting in Roanoke and Wadley. Yet at least their buildings aren't falling down.

Rode up to my not so humble abode up on Lake Wedowee. If a little more humble, I might still own it and not have had such an adventure these last few years. Was a little disappointed in some of the development as it was somewhat tacky. Looking at the lakefront makes me think that area is really congested and tight compared to other portions of the reservoir. Still, this lake is amazing. I hope we can manage to create some more appropriate locations for the public to be able to enjoy this lake. So far Alabama Power has hardly done all they could do to serve the lower hald of the county on this one.

Which leads me to my last issue. I talked with a few folks on the wet-dry issue. I'm all for it and what it could lead to for our county. I think some leadership from just a few forward thinking people could make a difference here. More posts to follow on this issue for certain yet the thing comes down to what it always does ... preachers and bootleggers, including the legal efforts across the lines. If young folks will get out and vote with some older folks willing to speak against the fundamentalists then it will pass.

So what does the above have to do with children. Education and helping and opportunity and recreation and money and modernity and ... working together. Peace ... or War!

Red State Rap - FU NY Prince

2006-04-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Huntsville Times Karen Mango of Huntsville, an actual "community columnist", shares "Southerners' bad raps can be countered with the facts" and we'll do that Ms. Mango. You claimed to be well educated and traveled. Peace ... or War!

Clay County Native Son Slurred by Activist Judge!

2006-04-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

Team Tartan's "Crazy as a Run Over Dog" Club adds a new member in Tacky Whacky Tom Parker. "Judge" Parker hits close to our Highlands with his disrespect for Justice Hugo Black. This solid jurist and statesman got his start across the river in Clay County. Who is the "activist" judge now? Peace ... or War!

Localism from the "Moonbat" Mothership

2006-04-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Democratic National Committee has announced a Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fifty State Canvass on April 29, 2006. Here's the e-mail from Governor Dean and I'll send you to the 50 State Strategy. If anyone is interested I'd be pleased to participate or help organize. As for the title to the post, better a "moonbat" than a ReThuglican. Peace ... or War!

Bu$hCo and the GOP/Big Mules in East Alabama

2006-04-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

I was of course thrilled to read Kim S. Benefield's candidate profile in The Randolph Leader today. No link is available so you'll just have to buy a paper. Kim is of course running for Alabama State District 13 against Gerald Dial. Kim is running on "Better jobs and better education with no more taxes on working families!" and will not head down to Goat Hill to do the bidding of special interests. Note how Gerald Dial has been endorsed by the Business Council of Alabama. Business thy name is Bu$hCo so Senator Dial likely would fit in up in DC.

Glenn Greenwald is a regular read for Captain Plaid. Today he points out how many Republicans are abandoning Bu$hCo yet Jeffy B. Sessions appears to still be a loyal water carrier for W. Right now I think only Utah, Wyoming, Alabama, Idaho, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Nebraska have favorable approval ratings for Bu$hCo. Peace ... or War!

MSNBC Reports on LaFayette & Joe Louis Barrow

2006-04-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

I was aware that Joe Louis lived north of LaFayette yet it is nice to see local coverage on the national stage. MSNBC even quotes District Judge Calvin Milford who of course married a Roanoke girl, namely Sharon Rice. Peace ... or War!

Women just 11.4 % of Alabama Legislature!

2006-04-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

"Number of women legislators still low" according to Bob Johnson of The Associated Press as reported by The Montgomery Advertiser. Of course our own Kim S. Benefield is going to improve these state numbers when she takes down Gerald Dial in the race for Alabama Senate District #13. Peace ... or War!

Kim S. Benefield to Challenge Gerald Dial

2006-04-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

My spies report that retiring Randolph County Circuit Clerk Kim Benefield is perhaps not finished with politics. She is allegedly going to take on Gerald Dial in the primary for Alabama Senate 13. Jim Ingram is running as a Republican per the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. I will work like a dog for Kim S. Good sensible woman. Gerald Dial is an idiot. Peace ... or War!

Political Compass - Where Do You Fall?

2006-04-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

Some Brits have created a nice tool for figuring out where you fall on two continuums of Economic Left (Collectivism) vs. Right (Neo-Liberalism) and Authoritarian vs. Libertarian. Take the test and let me/us know. Using the 2004 Presidential election, I'm David Cobb mostly yet close to Ralph Nader in the left/libertarian quadrant. (Ghandi is a little to the left of me from a historical perspective.) Returning to 2004, Bu$h is slam across the compass! Peace ... or War!

Does Demon Drink Drive Development?

2006-04-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

The Randolph Leader, in reporting that legislation limiting houseboat and "cigarette" boats on Lake Wedowee is likely about to be blessed by Goat Hill, gave us some information relating to the "Wet-Dry" issue here in the County. Vanessa Sorrell Burnside writes,

Would these same developers want Randolph County to go 'wet'?
"They're not going to come over here to a dry county. The hospitality industry and recreational destinations depend on alcohol sales for their business," said Hooton.
Although Hooton said a petition to put the wet-dry vote on the ballot would need to occur, he said he is not aware of one circulating now. He said, "The lake did not have the immediate benefits to the area that everyone expected but it's now starting to hit its stride. If we can bring about planned development, it can be something for everyone to be proud of and receive benefits from. Something's going to happen."

I agree with Matt Hooton and hope we'll see a petition soon. I'd certainly be pleased to help with any such effort and I think others would as well. Perhaps with some leadership willing to stand against the fundamentalist and bootleggers and Chambers County line merchants and ... the progress can begin. I've previously posted some thoughts on "demon alcohol" so I'll not repeat the arguments again. Peace ... or War!

Kia President Banned from Leaving South Korea

2006-04-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

This might not be good for our locale! The Montgomery Advertiser, via AP reports, is reporting that "Kia president Chung Eui-sun -- son of Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-koo -- is prohibited from leaving South Korea." Earlier in the piece it is reported, "Prosecutors in South Korea say they have banned the president of Kia Motors Corporated from leaving the country amid a widening probe into suspicions the automaker allegedly created slush funds to bribe government officials."

Silly Koreans, kick backs are for kids. American businesses and politicians can show you how it is done! Campaign donations are of course a basic yet "unconnected 527s" allow unlimited "soft money" creativity. You can even do the third way "deep lobbying". In fact I know somebody that is about to have some on his hands. I'm sure he'd be happy to educate you if you'll pay the greens fee and perhaps also .... Peace ... or War!

Update - 4/5/06 - Steve Dean of the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce tells me that all is well and the travel ban has been lifted.

Randolph County Relay for Life Tops $170,000.00

2006-04-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce reports the above GREAT news. One of the top twenty in the whole state! I'd anticipate per capita that we'd be right at the top. Peace ... or War!

Highway 431 Improvements to the South

2006-04-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that "The project is the 16-mile, two-lane stretch roughly from Russell to Barbour County will complete the widening project and make travel in those parts much safer." Best case has the work completed by the Alabama DOT in 2008. I've driven that stretch and it is dreadful. While much of the road around here is safer than when I was a stripling there is still a need to improve 431. Locating the Big Box Mart and some of the new buildings in Roanoke such as the movie rental stores and the like along 431 has hardly made it "safer" due to congestion and folks pulling out suddenly and ... Great planning hardly I'd offer. Likewise, 22 can be a killer as well. The proper development does require good infrastructure such as solid roads. Peace ... or War!

Funeral, Families, Fundamentalism, & Future

2006-04-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

I attended a graveside service for Lee Handley today. I always enjoyed Lee and found him a smart and compassionate man. Lee of course had serious health problems, perhaps caused by his service in The Vietnam War. I recall several discussions about Agent Orange being at least part of the cause for his Parkinson's. I know he experienced less than ideal care via the VA and that he had trouble with the expenses of his medicine. Either is not acceptable in this country, certainly not for a veteran. When I ran across this first HuffPo post by Dr. Peter Rost, formerly with Pfizer, and then his second post as well, I had to think of Lee's experience with Big Pharma. Damned disgrace!

I also walked along the front of Cedarwood and saw the graves of several important families in Roanoke's history. I was of course there at the Handley plot. I was standing with many of the Phillips family. I looked around and saw many still with us from the McMurray line. Old Roanoke indeed! I wondered what families, if any, could step up in today's global economy and carry a good portion of the community with them? These old patriarchs built many of the buildings that still stand, even if perhaps not in ideal conditions, in downtown. I know they were likely thinking ahead to have accomplished so much in our locale. And yet I also know they'd have not recognized the modern economy and culture. I also pondered how they'd react to our spaceport/jail?

I posted on Captain Jimi a piece on how the GOP has claimed God as their own. I was building off Kevin Phillips WaPo piece where he draws from his "American Theocracy" work recently published. Also, this Phillips commentary increasingly frightens me with his seemingly solid thinking on massive credit/finance powers at work on the global stage.

Looking back in part to perhaps better understand where we are going, I dropped in a Captain Plaid post off the WaPo's inequality series. Supply side economics really never seemed to work that well yet in today's increasingly multi-national world it may even even yield no rising tide. I also did a Captain Bama post prompted by Mr. Ayers's Anniston Star op-ed from today that suggested a shift away from government serving the needs of the elites, as happened at times in our history, could very well soon occur. Each paper provided me grist to consider my increasingly clear belief that DC and Goat Hill must develop policies that will benefit the branchheads here in Randolph County. We can and should do all in our power locally yet without some assistance on up the food chain we'll likely see little change.

Peace ... or War!

Roanoke's Spaceport (or Jail?) is U,G,L &Y!

2006-04-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

"U - G - L & Y, you ain't got no alibi, you ugly (stomp, stomp or clap, clap) you ugly!" was a cheer we used back at dear old Handley High in the 80s. And I've already blogged on how wonderful the renovations and additions are at HHS. But within hollering distance we see Roanoke's new spaceport/jail being "assembled". I can't use "built". It is the ugliest damn thing I've ever seen, and that's compared to our dreadful downtown. Decay on Main Street and Dome Pods on "Back Street". It's like left over props from Star Wars. "Luke, have you fixed those hydrators?"

While I agree that we might need improvements to our jail, or even perhaps a new facilty, and I know this got lots of beds for the buck, I can't imagine choosing this option. For one thing Roanoke simply operates a "revenue" court at times. I know for a fact a current councilman scolded a former City Judge for not raking in enough cash. On multiple times actually ... although the first times were rather informal.

Of course District Judge Whaley has set the bar rather high for stuffing the jails plus providing free labor to his Randolph County Engineer brother-in-law. There is probably no way a county of our size needs this many jail beds yet perhaps as time allows either myself or a helpful person could track down some comparisons. Peace ... or War.

UPDATE : April 2, 2006 - I have continued thinking about how Roanoke took potential parking for a still longed for downtown "revival" effort to create the spaceport/jail. I tried to rally the powers that be several years ago on the idea of taking the old Deli building, I think Lamar Davis owns it now, and tearing it down. I'd thought the City could put a courtyard/walk through to that parking out on backstreet. Of course comprehensive reforms like codes and nuisance enforcement and all of that was in the mix, although I was holding back on those ideas. Finally, to put any jail, especially this ugly thing, where folks can see it seems plain short sighted. Most places I've seen tend to hide their jail! Razor wire, geo-domes, ... right in the business district. WTF were/are these "leaders" thinking?

Relay for Life, Alfa, Youngsters, & Aw Shucks

2006-03-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

Just back from Relay. First thing in the gate I ran into Dean Wyser out campaigning and laid into him about Alfa. Dean holds a Director's position with Alfa. I bluntly told him that I was furious about how Alfa had once again helped kill Constitutional reform of Alabama's outdated and racist 1901 Constitution. Mr. Wysner said that he'd tell them my thoughts and I know they'll get a laugh should he. They've been ignoring, and actually scheming to stop, concerned citizens (that actually have some influence!) on this issue for many years. If Alfa gave a damn about the small farmers and regular folks in Alabama they'd stand aside and allow reasonable reform. They are the Biggest Mule in Alabama. Shamelessly selfish!

Good crowd. Good vibe. Enjoyed seeing all the young people. Some were especially vibrant, attractive, talented, energetic ... but I kept thinking how many will leave our community, possibly by choice yet most certainly by necessity. Very few people can remain here and perhaps many that do are making that sacrifice to try to have a decent place to raise kids. If parents are willing to make up the difference for what we lack in culture and the like Randolph County can be a rather nice place to grow up. Yet making a living here can be tough. And being single and a bit of a lefty bookworm to boot can be a challenge.

The second confrontation I had was with Mayor Spec Bonner. I had a couple of folks say, perhaps teasing but I think they meant it, that Mr. Bonner wanted to talk to me about my letter I'd placed in The Leader. So I walked up and asked him. He said he didn't want to see me but I told him I'd like to hear what he thought. He said he didn't understand what I wrote. "Aw shucks" ... just like his President. I said we'll you wrote ...

For the record here's what appeared in The Leader: "He wants everyone to boycott Citgo because of that nasty little despot who is running the government of Venezuela. If we do that, though, we must buy from those nasty Mid-Eastern oil barons who are killing our young men in Iraq or the ones in Iran who are busy making their nuclear bomb."

Mr. Spec then admitted that Miss Lissa wrote the letter. Mr. Bonner then just up and volunteered that if Chávez were killed it would by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. That assertion freaked me out in how Spec might know this and yet I do think the military/industrial complex, especially in a multi-national world, is alive and well. I then said my only beef was their assertion that "oil barons" were killing our soldiers. More "aw shucks" from the Mayor. I told him as Mayor his allegations surely needed to have some factual basis but once again he tried "aw shucks". Now Bu$h deflects and dodges reporters and critics with his "aw shucks" and the like. But I kept after the Mayor. He then said something like "well it could be that those folks could be behind it". I said there's absolutely no evidence of this that I'm aware of and "Do you have any?". Cornered, game over, no more "aw shucks". I told him I was fed up with folks not knowing what our kids were facing in Iraq and we owed them that much. I left Mayor Bonner with "If you want to talk then you know where to find me."

I don't really care about being right as much as not wanting to be wrong. I want to use facts and reason to support what I advocate. Spec could not support what was written above his name to The Leader and, while I'd like the public to understand Iraq and that strategic portion of the world, especially when we have so much cultural tension now between Islamic nations and the West, I'm hardly optimistic than even a mea culpa would make much difference. Nationally I wish some ReThuglican leaders would challenge the lies and admit the incompetency of Bu$hCo. There's not much I can do on the national level to change the GOP Rubber Stamp Congress.

Locally however I do care that Dean Wysner simply can't be looking out for the little guy if he's supporting the Alfa stand. And he's not on that Board, which I think is a rather well compensated position, without towing the line. And to have Mayor Bonner leading Roanoke, a vital part of this whole area, doesn't give me positive feelings. Truthfully he never has appeared to be the best leader, although we've had some limitations in that area all over the county for some time, to see how he handled this one minor issue has given me a real jolt. We've got critical times in these next few years and we've got to have super solid folks up front that should be 100% dialed in to facts and policy and creativity. These kids I referenced above need serious LEADERSHIP to make our community better for their present. This need is especially true for making the option of remaining here, should that be what these kids want once they are grown, possible .

Peace ... or War!

See You at Wright Field for Relay for Life!

2006-03-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

Supporting the wonderful work of The American Cancer Society, the Randolph County Relay for Life begins tonight and runs from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. in the morning at the Handley High School Athletic Complex (Wright Field.) ACS has a video that explains what they do ... just in case you have your doubts. Lots of fun! Most folks leave by 10 ish. Music and fun ... and probably some politics to boot! Peace ... or War!

Dixie Outfitters, Dialogue, and Deliverance

2006-03-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

I'll return to Dixie Outfitters and neo-confederates as able yet I know that Civil War profiteering continues. Here's to our proud heritage!

I am also getting some local dialogue on my posts at Captain Plaid and related blogs. I'm enjoying yet would certainly think the more the merrier.

Today we must celebrate the release of Jill Carroll. I'm heading out in fact to hoist one for Jill!

Peace ... or War!

Letter to Editor in The Leader - Woops and Why!

2006-03-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you came here looking for the link in The Leader. Surely I need an editor! If you tried to get to the link placed in the paper it might have returned a "page not found". I've yet to check but when I dropped the link in I expect it put the period behind the html. "My bad!" and "Sorry!" is all I can say. Blogger creates these file extensions from hell when you title the posts creatively. Here is the Hurst/Bonner/Handley post that you might be seeking.

And for the record I did not want to offend or be ugly beyond trying to bring some clarity to the issue. I think the world of Mr. Spec and Miss Lissa and have no problem with Mr. Hurst. I enjoy the debate and banter, feeling that we need more and not less of that sort of thing. Snark is part of blogging.

It should be clear that I simply loathe George W. Bu$h. This is so since I first studied him well before 2000. I can recall e-mailing a neice (in perhaps 1999) and pondering a GOP ticket of W and Liddy Dole. Yet as I scratched further into W I figured he was at best "all hat and no cattle". If I'd have know the future would involve the attacks of Islamist radicals on our soil I'd have been even more distressed. That Dead Eye Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld would be part of his administration would have put me over the edge. And with the exception of how George W. Bush handled things just right after 9-11 I'd argue I've been proven correct.

I also think Conservatism ... as applied by Reagan through Bu$h the Elder (and even Slick Willy who turned Republican Lite thanks to that darned Newt) and certainly this Bu$hCo cabal is poor policy. I can, however, have a reasoned debate with some of my conservative friends and colleagues from that end of things. I know that some of what the old school conservatives argue makes some sense. I am surely a lefty. More of a Progressive than a Liberal yet I personally think "Liberal" is hardly a dirty word. I'd actually think I'm a Moderate or Pragmatist or Populist or ... Can one be a "Propservralist"?

So why blog? Venting is part of it. Perhaps since I've been single and not in a serious relationship for some time now I have a little extra need to get things off my chest. Actually I am just seriously frustrated and frightened with the direction of our world. I enjoy writing, or what passes for it via my keyboard, and the process forces me to refine my thinking. I've learned a good bit I hope in these last few years. I surely wish I could have applied some of what I think I know now to my life some years ago. Blogging locally allows me to take some Lefty Progressive ideas and bring them to an audience deep here in the Red States where at times the Right drowns out that type of discourse. I do deeply care about this community and my world.

I am actually blogging at five locations now. Lots of links to various sources on most of the blogs. There's Captain Plaid where I tackle national/global issues. I post at Captain Bama on state/regional concerns. I use Tin Shop Tartan for local issues. There's Captain Jimi where I tackle the "cultural war" with my hardly fundamentalist ideas (via reasoning, science, compassion, etc.) on spirituality, sexuality, sexism, ... Finally I use Marque Stuart for my efforts at playing gardener, cook, host, etc.

I hope you'll challenge me when I'm deserving. Scold me when I need it. Prompt me when I missed something. CoRec tmy typos (I did that on purpose!) and critique my writing. Send me to articles, sources, gossip, sites, ideas, etc. Comments are welcomed and enjoyed, at least if they are offered in good faith and with a measure of class. I know I'll offer up some stuff that might be 100% wrong but I'd like to get it right. So tell me where I missed the mark. I'd love this blog to be a location where we can engage in change and activism. If you want to start your own blog then Blogger is easy enough and I'd be happy to share what I know. If you want to get me up some money and/or buy stuff via my links then that will keep me in Cutty yet it is hardly a profit-making effort. Why start being a good businessperson now?

Thanks for dropping by. Peace ... or War!

Philly, East Helena, and Randolph County

2006-03-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

David Sirota has a piece in The Philadelphia Daily News entitled "Workers on the Slag Heap of History" that is relevant for our area. He writes,

... But today, in America, the richest country on earth, the gates of many towns welcome visitors with abandoned factories. And the communities these factories flank tell you more about what's really destroying America than any Wall Street analyst or Washington policy wonk ever could. ...
So, while East Helena, its rotting Asarco plant and its mistreated retirees may seem far away or isolated, the town's tale is not as distant as you think.
Unless our government starts outlawing these heists and forcing profitable multinationals to fulfill their promises to workers, East Helena's story may soon be coming to a community near you.

Federal leadership is required to avoid globalism and corporate greed from having drastic consequences. Peace ... or War!

Troup County Takes One for the Team?

2006-03-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Troup County Schools, which I can assure you aren't always hitting on all cylinders, made the AJC today with an opinion piece entitled Education takes a back seat to Kia. Some of the writing is rather shocking in that is reads,

Clearly the Kia plant will be welcome in an area of Georgia hard-hit by textile plant closings. But while Troup County was trading away future school funding for assembly line work, Kia officials were securing a deal that better reflects the value of education: HOPE scholarships will go to 10 children of Kia managers who wouldn't otherwise qualify for a HOPE scholarship because they didn't graduate from a Georgia high school; and an unspecified number of managers and family members will be granted waivers for in-state tuition at Georgia colleges and universities. (Clearly, Kia managers understand that U.S. workers won't be able to compete long-term against lower-cost countries in manufacturing.)

Education again comes out on the short end. Assembly line jobs for those kids that can't escape? By the time the waivers run out the world economy will have changed enough to where these jobs might migrate elsewhere. Peace ... or War!