October 15, 2008
As the Presidential Election draws near, there appear to be signs that a record turnout of votes will be cast. Hopefully we can have a harmonious decision whereby the candidate who receives the most votes wins. Our system of relying upon the Electoral College is archaic and unimaginable in this day and time. The system is a disaster waiting to happen. In the greatest democracy in the world it is hard to understand how the candidate who gets the most votes throughout the country could not win the election.
Read more
October 08, 2008
The presidential campaign has come a long way since January when two dozen aspirants were trudging through the snow in Iowa and New Hampshire. With that being said, I would like to share a few thoughts regarding our presidential politics.
First, we need to do away with the Electoral College and have a direct election for President so that the person who receives the most votes is elected President. Every American’s vote should count the same, regardless of which state they call home.
Read more
October 01, 2008
We are down to the proverbial lick log and headed into the homestretch in the 2008 Presidential contest. The protracted race, which began in earnest in the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire two years ago, has four weeks left to go.
It is a historic contest. The Democrats have fielded the first African American in history to head a major party ticket. Freshman Illinois Senator Barack Obama will face the stereotypical Presidential candidate in Republican Senator John McCain. McCain is a 72 year old white male who has been a Congressman and Senator from Arizona for three decades.
Read more
September 24, 2008
The horses are at the starting gate and the presidential horserace is set to begin. It will be a sprint to the finish line. It will be close with probably a photo finish. In less than six weeks it will be all over but the shouting.
The conventions have ended with their coronations of Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee and John McCain as the Republican standard bearer. For the first time in many years the major party nominees are both sitting members of the U.S. Senate. In recent years most of the nominees have been current or former Governors.
Read more
September 17, 2008
The Republican National Convention was held in Minneapolis last week and John McCain was officially chosen as their presidential nominee. The four-term Senator from Arizona wrapped up his party’s nomination early. He has had six months for the party faithful to coalesce and unite behind the war hero.
Read more
September 10, 2008
A good number of you found last week’s column, regarding negative ads, compelling. Many of you were surprised at how effective negative ads have been in recent political races. However, the optimum word is recent. In bygone days negative ads and dirty tricks were not as effective. In fact, when I first entered politics you were taught to ignore a dirty attack. The mudslinger would be dismissed as a loser and the reason you were being attacked was because your opponent was desperately behind.
Read more
September 03, 2008
It is a proven fact that over the past fifty years of modern politics that negative advertising is very effective. It has been illustrated time and again that there is a direct correlation between a negative ad against someone and their immediate demise in the polls. Surprisingly, in an inexplicable but positive change of events, negative advertisements appeared not to be working as much earlier this year. In fact, when used in this year’s primaries negative ads have actually backfired on the purveyor. However, the presidential race is really just starting. Now that it has crystallized into a two-man race, the negative or comparison approach is appearing to be as effective and back in command.
Read more
August 20, 2008
Now that the primaries are over we have our menu selection for the general election in the fall. The presidential race has overshadowed all of the other races. However, we do have some interesting state races on the November 4th ballot, although it is not as combative a year as the gubernatorial years. We Alabamians long for and get more involved in gubernatorial races than presidential contests. I suppose our forefathers predicted this when they decided to put the majority of the big state races on the ballot in gubernatorial years. In two years we will elect a new governor as well as all constitutional offices and all 140 seats in the legislature.
Read more
August 13, 2008
During the summer I have been traveling around the state talking with civic clubs about Alabama politics. With it being a presidential year, an obvious topic of discussion is the presidential contest. However, invariably the first question asked is who is going to make the Governor’s race in two years. Alabamians love the gubernatorial year. The presidential years are simply spring training for the real marquee event.
Read more
August 06, 2008
All the national polling data this year points to the economy as being the major issue on voters’ minds. The prevailing issue of the War in Iraq is a distant second. However, you would never know that Alabama was even a part of the nation if you perused the ads in the congressional races this year.