July 24, 2014
The 1962 Governor’s Race really began in 1958. The Governor’s office and the race for it was the big show in Alabama politics in that era. Being a U.S. Senator was secondary in Alabama politics. Governor is still probably the most important and glamorous political position today, but it certainly was at that time.
Television had not come into its own. Most Alabamians did not own a television. There were no southern major league baseball teams to follow, such as the Atlanta Braves who were still in Milwaukee at that time. The closest team was the St. Louis Cardinals and they were miles away and not really in the south. The Grand Ole Opry was only on the radio on Saturday night. Therefore, southerners had to include politics as a prime source of their entertainment.Read more
July 17, 2014
As the 1958 Governor’s race dawned the shadow of Big Jim Folsom loomed over the scene. Even though Big Jim could not be on the ballot, because the Alabama Constitution prohibited a governor from succeeding himself, his larger than life presence was pervasive.
Although Big Jim was prohibited from seeking a record third term in 1958, the aspirants could not decide if they wanted his support or not. On one hand he was popular with rural Alabamians but, on the other hand, his second term had been as tumultuous and chaotic as his first and probably more scandalous and corrupt.
As was the custom, because you could not succeed yourself, the man who ran second became the frontrunner four years later. It was called running a get acquainted race. This pattern had been played out throughout the decades. The runner up to Big Jim in 1954 was Jimmy Faulkner, who was a State Senator from Bay Minette in Baldwin County. Faulkner was a successful businessman who owned a string of newspapers. He was sharp, handsome, and articulate with a little more polish than Big Jim but not nearly the charisma. However, having finished second in 1954, Faulkner emerged as the frontrunner when the 1958 Governor’s race began.Read more
July 10, 2014
If you think the turnout was low for the June 3 primary, “then you ain’t seen nothing yet.” The runoff primary is next Tuesday. The prognostication is for a paltry five percent statewide voter participation. Pundits and columnists should not chastise the average Alabama voter because, for the most part, he or she does not have much reason to vote on July 15.
Generally speaking, turnout for midsummer runoff voting is traditionally lower. You add to that the fact that the reason you are going out to vote on a sultry mid July Tuesday is to decide who is going to be Secretary of State. Lest you even know who is Alabama’s Secretary of State or much less what they do. Let me assure you that it is not the glamorous world traveling, peace making Henry Kissinger job that you see with the U.S. Secretary of State. It is basically a bureaucratic job that ensures the state’s records are properly kept.
However, having said that, Secretary of State is the best statewide race on the ballot next week. It is very difficult to raise money for this post. Therefore, neither candidate has been able to get any advantage.Read more
July 03, 2014
When talk turns to politics in Alabama it usually leads to the Governor’s race. It does not matter if the Governor’s race is four years away, political gossip starts early as to who will run for Governor. In Alabama politics the Governor’s office is the brass ring. As each new race approaches it is talked about more than ever around coffee clubs and kitchen tables from Sand Mountain to the Wiregrass. It is comparable to college football being the king of all sports in Alabama.
This infatuation with the Governor’s office is borne out in voting history. In most states the Presidential race sees the largest voter turnout, but that is not the case in Alabama where historically we have voted heavier in gubernatorial years. However the turnout has gotten closer in the last few decades ever since Alabama became a two party state. The emergence of the Republican Party in Alabama since 1964 has caused us to be more like the national norm. However, in the 40 years prior, the largest turnout in Alabama was in the Democratic Primary for Governor.Read more
June 26, 2014
A recent Fortune magazine article ranks Alabama as one of the top ten states when it comes to corruption. We were ranked number six.
The rankings were determined by a study of convictions of public officials for violations of federal corruption laws between 1976 and 2008. A good many of our sister southern states also made the list. Not surprisingly Louisiana came in at number two. They are a perennial corruption leader. It is part of their culture. They are proud of their status as one of the nation’s most corrupt environs. They are probably disappointed that they are not number one. Mississippi grabbed that ranking. Our sister states of Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee made the top ten along with us. That is six of the top ten. It looks like a final Associated Press Top Ten College Football ranking. It looks like corruption and college football go hand-in-hand.Read more
June 19, 2014
There is an old adage that says the more things change the more they remain the same. This is certainly apropos for this year’s primary elections.
On election night, I kept looking for some upset or surprise. It was not forthcoming. Essentially every incumbent won reelection, especially when it came to State Senate and House races.
The Legislature is where the power is in state government. There is a valid political maxim that says the Governor proposes but the Legislature disposes. The Legislature is where the rubber meets the road.
June 12, 2014
The big news out of last week’s political primaries is that there was no news. The results of every race came down almost precisely as was predicted.
The prevailing hypothesis among experts that there would be a low voter turnout was fulfilled. The turnout was around 20% statewide, as was expected. The reason for the sparse voter participation was because there was very little reason to go vote. Most of the major statewide and constitutional races were decided before the first vote was cast.
Our junior U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions is running unopposed for his fourth six-year term in Washington. Attorney General Luther Strange, State Treasurer Young Boozer and Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan all ran unopposed. As is the practice now, none of these four aforementioned gentlemen’s names even appeared on the ballot.Read more
June 05, 2014
You know the results of Tuesday’s primary elections. However, my column had to go to press prior to Tuesday’s vote. Therefore, we will discuss and analyze the outcome next week.
It is doubtful that there were any surprises. Gov. Robert Bentley more than likely waltzed to the GOP nomination. He will probably face Parker Griffith in this fall’s General Election. Ironically, both Griffith and Bentley are 72-year-old retired physicians. It is not likely that matchup has ever occurred in an Alabama Governor’s race.
Sen. Jeff Sessions was on the GOP ballot yesterday but it was only a formality. Sessions has drawn a base on balls for his fourth six-year term in Washington. Our congressional delegation will continue to be made up of eight Republicans and one Democrat. We will have six GOP congress people and one lone Democrat. Both of our U.S. Senators, Sessions and Richard Shelby, are Republican.
May 29, 2014
Believe it or not we are less than one week away from the 2014 Primary Elections. The Republican and Democratic primaries are next Tuesday. The turnout may be historically low. The reason is simple. There are no good statewide races on the ballot.
The Governor’s race is usually a marquee event. However, Gov. Robert Bentley is essentially running unopposed. The same is true for Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan, State Treasurer Young Boozer and Attorney General Luther Strange. Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey has a viable opponent but Stan Cooke is running a grassroots campaign with no money in a race for an office where there are no issues, only name identification.Read more
May 22, 2014
My early and continuous prognostication that this would be a lackluster political season has been justified. It may very well be the least interesting gubernatorial politicking year in memory.
The fact that Gov. Robert Bentley is waltzing to reelection with essentially no opposition is the primary reason for the lack of activity. In addition, the offices of Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General and Treasurer are held by popular incumbent Republicans who have no significant opposition.
Television stations, newspapers and radio stations are lamenting the loss in revenue. This lack of media exposure exacerbates the obvious lack of interest on the part of Alabama voters. Most Alabamians are probably not aware that our primaries are less than two weeks away.Read more