33 replies to this topic

[convulso]

because it's going to come up at some point in this state....

http://news.yahoo.co...liticsexecution

i wonder if it would be at all helpful to just pre-emptively write to all the legislators and the governor, as well as the major newspaper editorial boards, and just go ahead and tell them 'hey, this is coming; everyone in the world expects alabama to pass this kind of legislation: DON'T.

that is, if you are opposed to this and think it's a bad idea.

what, really, is not death-worthy? i've probably done something in my youth that would qualify me for the death penalty in some damn backasswards state or the other, at least at the rate this is going. i want alabama to defy all outsiders' predictions and be one of those states that tables this, when the time comes.

i believe some heinous things just don't warrant killing somebody as punishment or justice. i would hate to have been molested as a child and then live the rest of my life on into adulthood and onward to the grave, carrying into my adolescence and maturity the psychological baggage that comes not only from having been touched by a perv, but also that the encounter led to the man's (or woman's?) socially-sanctioned killing. now that's a double-whammy f'd-up childhood.

Edited by convulso, 29 May 2007 - 03:17 AM.

[convulso]

legislators agree upon the dire need to modify or replace the statehouse because they feel it is old and inadequate.

JUST.LIKE.THE.GD.CONSTITUTION.

i wonder if they sometimes hear themselves when they speak. read the quotes in this article and imagine what they could be talking about instead of a gov't building:

http://blog.al.com/b...e_commissi.html

[jmanhsv]

^Last time I visited the State House (which was about a year ago), it looked fine to me. Besides, I don't think Alabama's lawmakers deserve a new (taxpayer-funded) state house until they actually do something for the benefit of ALL of the citizens of this state. How many bills has the Legislature passed that will benefit the whole state this session? I know of only two, the bill that provided more incentives for the ThyssenKrupp plant and the slavery apology. The rest of the session has been all about themselves (the lawmakers)- the worst being the massive pay raises and now this talk about a new State House. I wish the voters would quit being ignorant to the problems in this state and NOT re-elect the incumbent corrupt scumbags that are controlling the Legislature.

[kayman]

It is almost amusing how they are Legislators are whining about the Statehouse now and how so many Alabamians have complaining about the State Constitution.  I am with you, JmanHsv, I don't care what they whine about in Montgomery when they could have passed that bill and not killed it in Senate to allow us voters to vote upon rewriting the constitution.  They got their raise so they need STFU about the conditions of the Statehouse.

[Southron]

Some nice office space in the old RSA hq is going to open up within the next few months.  Some of those legislative offices could be moved over there, but that long one block walk would probably be too inconvenient for our poor public servants.  The old supreme court building is sitting vacant on Dexter Ave as well.

If they do build a new state house, the foundation should be poured over Charles Bishop to memorialize the international black eye that he gave the state this past week.    

[Southron]

Ron Sparks said he wasn't going to run for US Senate, so it looks like Sen. Sessions will get a free ride.  State Senator Vivian Figures will probably run, but she won't be any competition.

[Southron]

It turns out that in addition to giving Alabama an international black eye by punching Sen. Lowell Barron on the senate floor, Sen. Charles Bishop has been a troublemaking hothead throughout his career in Montgomery, both as a Republican and a Democrat.  According to an opinion piece in the Montgomery paper, he threatened Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma) and Sen. Larry Dixon (R-Montgomery). He challenged a woman, Sen. Ann Bedsole (R-Mobile), to a fight, as well as Sen. Zeb Little (D-Cullman), who is half his size. He pushed and hit an opponent's campaign manager when he was running for agriculture commissioner years ago.

Montgomery Advertiser:  Why Bishop should resign

If all this is true, Senator Bishop should at least be severely sanctioned by the state senate, if not impeached.

[kayman]

Barrack Obama will be in both Birmingham and Huntsville today.  There will be $25/plate fundraiser mostly aimed towards young people and college students to be held in Birmingham @ the Sheraton Birmingham tonight.

[Southron]

Good political news for the state:  If present trends continue, Alabama will hold on to its current seven congressional seats, after reports in 2005 that the state would likely lose a seat.  We certainly don't need to be losing political clout in Washington.

Birmingham News:  Alabama unlikely to lose seat in U.S. House in next Census

[kayman]

Yeah, also it seems that the state isn't growing a slow as it used to.  The growth rate has increased to 4.1%, so that means we will surpass the 5 million mark sometime within the next decade.

[kayman]

Recently as this week there has been talk in Montgomery about the possibility of the state's sales tax on groceries and drugs to be removed.  This bill is being sponsored by State Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery and is being supported by House Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andulusia.  The bill would essentially remove the 4% sales tax and remove the income taxes on lower income households while removing the state income tax exemption that is given to the higher income individuals.  The lost revenue would be replaced by enforcing the income taxes on high income individuals to pay their fair share.  If passed by the state legislature it would be on the ballot November 4 for the state voters to pass or reject.  

Tax plan up for debate could affect food bills

[Southron]

^ The bill passed the house!  Maybe it'll get through the senate - fingers crossed.

[Southron]

An Alabama-based political social networking website, Politics4All, was recently launched and got some national press.  The site was launched to audiences at the TechCrunch50 conference, highlighting the company as one of the top 150 Internet start-ups in the world.  Check it out if you're into politics.

MSNBC:  Politics4All Launches Political Social Networking Site

Politics4All

For news on Alabama politics, check out Doc's Political Parlor:  Doc's Political Parlor.

[kayman]

Sounds like an interesting site, and hopefully it will grow with time