A big Bessemer welcome to Matt Moore, who along with his sister Kim Vann and father Bud Moore, purchased the former Dixie Nissan, now named Moore Nissan.
He is optimistic that 2010 will be a good year for the auto industry and for his dealership.
Here is what their web site says about the community.
From the employment opportunities that we provide for individuals to the tax revenues we generate for our City; from giving to local organizations and schools to participating in and promoting local events, you will find that Moore Nissan is a positive force in the Bessemer community and the surrounding vicinity.
In Bessemer and around we have a boatload of elections coming up. Who's getting election fatigue?
Several candidates for these various offices have contacted me. I'm not naming any yet, some have announced and some have not.
On June 1, the state primaries will take place. There are a lot of state offices on the ballot, but I am more interested right now in those candidates who will actually represent and be in touch with the people. You know, representatives and commissioners and such.
So, here in Bessemer and near, we will elect new county commissioners. Bobby Humphryes indicates he will run again, but none of the other commissioners are. Celebrate.
If you live in William Bell's former district, you will vote twice, once for a replacement to finish his term, and again for someone to represent the district beginning in November when the other commissioners begin their terms.
Recently elected state legislators will have to run again.
Lawrence McAdory will have to run again for the seat that he just won in the special election for Alabama House -56. People are lining up to challenge him.
Merika Coleman in nearby district 57 will have competition from at least one strong contender.
State Senator (District 19) Priscilla Dunn will be up for re-election. Remember, she just won the seat in another special election, and formerly held the seat the McAdory now holds.
By the time that election and the runoffs, if needed (on June 22), are over, the Bessemer city elections will be well underway.
The mayor and council elections will take place in the late summer/early fall, assuming Bessemer can legally hold an election.
Several announced and unannounced candidates want to replace Ed May, who despite telling supporters in my living room in 2006 that he would only serve one term, would be seeking his third.
And there will be at least one open council seat, as one current council member is running for mayor. Another incumbent, who I am not sure if is running (but really I am), told me the people of Bessemer should elect a whole new council. We should be so lucky.
After all, it is a bad year to be an incumbent, and this holds true from the U.S. Senate down to dogcatcher, so watch out.
In the meantime, we have the President's State of the Union Address to look forward to, James OKeefe's arrest to gloat over, and the knowledge that Riley Anti-Gambling Task Force head John Tyson got $100,000 of his 2006 campaign funds from gambling interest PACS to stew over.
Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris performed this song during the Hope for Haiti Now Telethon. Not the best version ever, but nice, still. Hallelujah.
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
More on the teabaggers and racism
This video shows the link between the current tea parties and the racist white supremacy.
It's 24 minutes long, but worth it.
The teabaggers say "Take back America."
The white supremacists say "Take back America."
And this is why anyone associated with Tea Parties is suspicious.
Glenn Beck is identified, along with a certain "News" network.
Yes, I know the video was aired on AlJazeera English. So?
It's 24 minutes long, but worth it.
The teabaggers say "Take back America."
The white supremacists say "Take back America."
And this is why anyone associated with Tea Parties is suspicious.
Glenn Beck is identified, along with a certain "News" network.
Yes, I know the video was aired on AlJazeera English. So?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Bits and pieces (no pun intended, John)
Just a few items that might interest you.
*Fox News has pretty much ignored the earthquake in Haiti, devoting about 5-7 minutes per hour to the tragedy when it first happened. Story. They also did not participate in the Hope for Haiti Now telethon.
No surprise, as we already know they don't care about the underprivileged here in the United States, as they support denying health care to the uninsured.
*The IPhone will be available through Verizon (probably)in the near future.
*John Edwards has a sex tape. No one wants to see it, but there is some curiosity because he is said to be "physically very striking" and people say, "Whoa," when they see his...well, when they see the tape. (the tape is not at the link, just the story)
*New Orleans is headed to the Super Bowl!!!
*Fox News has pretty much ignored the earthquake in Haiti, devoting about 5-7 minutes per hour to the tragedy when it first happened. Story. They also did not participate in the Hope for Haiti Now telethon.
No surprise, as we already know they don't care about the underprivileged here in the United States, as they support denying health care to the uninsured.
*The IPhone will be available through Verizon (probably)in the near future.
*John Edwards has a sex tape. No one wants to see it, but there is some curiosity because he is said to be "physically very striking" and people say, "Whoa," when they see his...well, when they see the tape. (the tape is not at the link, just the story)
*New Orleans is headed to the Super Bowl!!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Give up the fight?
I am this close (thumb and forefinger are about 4 mm apart) to abandoning the fight for gay equality.
Why?
Corporations are now afforded the rights of individuals.
SCOTUS yesterday ruled that corporations can pretty much buy elections, and since the big money corporations are the oil and insurance and financial companies, they will support Republicans that will vote to prevent progressive energy and health policy and to overturn Obama's restrictions on banks. These same Republican legislators will vote against any equality legislation, so the LGBT community is screwed.
President Obama turned his back on us during the first year of his presidency, and now that Scott Brown has been elected the Republicans can really be the party of "No." "No" to equality (along with any other progressive legislation).
Corporations are not individuals, they do not vote, why, pray tell, are they now treated as individuals with the same right to free speech that a person has?
Heck, they have more rights than I do! They can already marry (they call it merger) and I can't even do that!
Why waste my time fighting for that which is unattainable?
It looks like we will just have to wait until all the old bigots die before we begin to see change, and that may take a decade or two.
The worst Supreme Court decision since the Dred-Scott decision, this has been called. Alan Grayson is fighting back. But even if his legislation is passed, the corporations can buy votes to overturn the laws. This screws everybody. While Republican legislators seem pleased for the most part, and conservative pundits seem to like it, some day this will come back to bite them.
In the meantime, damn. Good-bye, democracy.
But, in reality, I wonder what the effect will be. Unions and such progressive corporations as Microsoft and Google might buy Democrat wins, so it might balance out. Time will tell.
Update: Sign Alan Grayson's petition to Save Democracy, click here.
To visit Alan Grayson's web site, click here.
Why?
Corporations are now afforded the rights of individuals.
SCOTUS yesterday ruled that corporations can pretty much buy elections, and since the big money corporations are the oil and insurance and financial companies, they will support Republicans that will vote to prevent progressive energy and health policy and to overturn Obama's restrictions on banks. These same Republican legislators will vote against any equality legislation, so the LGBT community is screwed.
President Obama turned his back on us during the first year of his presidency, and now that Scott Brown has been elected the Republicans can really be the party of "No." "No" to equality (along with any other progressive legislation).
Corporations are not individuals, they do not vote, why, pray tell, are they now treated as individuals with the same right to free speech that a person has?
Heck, they have more rights than I do! They can already marry (they call it merger) and I can't even do that!
Why waste my time fighting for that which is unattainable?
It looks like we will just have to wait until all the old bigots die before we begin to see change, and that may take a decade or two.
The worst Supreme Court decision since the Dred-Scott decision, this has been called. Alan Grayson is fighting back. But even if his legislation is passed, the corporations can buy votes to overturn the laws. This screws everybody. While Republican legislators seem pleased for the most part, and conservative pundits seem to like it, some day this will come back to bite them.
In the meantime, damn. Good-bye, democracy.
But, in reality, I wonder what the effect will be. Unions and such progressive corporations as Microsoft and Google might buy Democrat wins, so it might balance out. Time will tell.
Update: Sign Alan Grayson's petition to Save Democracy, click here.
To visit Alan Grayson's web site, click here.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What do the teabaggers believe in?
The teabaggers may feel energized, but why? I mean, I understand that their centerfold candidate won in Massachusetts and all.
But Americans with brains want to to know: what do you stand for?
But Americans with brains want to to know: what do you stand for?
Reduced spending? Give specifics. What would you cut? Give me specifics, and I will address them in future postings.
Reduced government regulation? Then why do you keep trying to prevent loving couples from getting married?
When I try to find out what specifically the Teabagger party folks believe in, I either come up with web sites that you can't enter without registration (scary) or videos like this (I think I posted this one before, but let's watch again).
Dang, they are as uneducated as local letter writer Snuffy Garrett, (who made a fool of himself in this week's Western Tribune by not researching before he wrote).
We watched a story on BBC in America where Tea Party members in Washington, Missouri, were interviewed. They couldn't say what they believed in, but they did claim not to be the fringe that we see on TV. Then the fangs came out and they said they would sabotage Republicans that did not agree with their beliefs.
But the Tea Party movement is not all roses either. This video calling on grassroots protesters to avoid the upcoming national teabag convention, and unite, not letting the GOP hijack their efforts.
Notice that while a black person or two is shown in the video, that when they speak of uniting, it is all white hands that come together. A fist bump between a white fist and a black fist seems to represent conflict, not approval, because it immediately follows the words "Don't fall for it again. Not now!"
But the Tea Party movement is not all roses either. This video calling on grassroots protesters to avoid the upcoming national teabag convention, and unite, not letting the GOP hijack their efforts.
Notice that while a black person or two is shown in the video, that when they speak of uniting, it is all white hands that come together. A fist bump between a white fist and a black fist seems to represent conflict, not approval, because it immediately follows the words "Don't fall for it again. Not now!"
As best as I can tell, the Tea party movement is a white supremacist, anti-choice, dominionist, homophobic, uneducated (obvious from the first video) group of noisemakers.
I'm not saying they shouldn't be taken seriously. But realize this, as well. Part of the anger in the country is coming from the left. After all, we helped elect the congress and president, and they haven't come through like we expected. So don't think that all the anger reflected in polls and election results comes from the right.
Western Tribune column January 20, 2010 - Haiti
My column from the Western Tribune on January 20, 2009, regarding the earthquake in Haiti.
The 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Haiti last week is not the first major seismologic event to occur in that country. Recorded history tells us that in 1842 a major quake struck in north Haiti, destroying the city of Cap-Haitien and killing thousands. Geologists are able to document many quakes prior to that which affected Haiti as well as other Caribbean islands.
Televangelist Pat Robertson, quick to assign blame whenever a natural disaster occurs (and sometimes before they occur), said that a long time ago the enslaved Haitians made a deal with the devil in order to gain freedom from the French. He said that ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other.
Robertson is referring to the Bois Caiman ceremony, a poorly documented event that some scholars doubt is accurately remembered, in part because the earliest account was written by a white man who may have had an ulterior motive in denigrating the slaves.
If Haiti is cursed, it is not because of the sacrifice of a pig centuries ago, rather it is because it lies above the boundary between the Caribbean and the North American Plates, and these geologic plates are always moving.
Nature does not take sides and certainly natural events do not occur in response to ritual religious practices that may or may not have occurred centuries ago.
But as certain as we can be that devastating events will occur, we can also assure ourselves that Americans will respond generously. The rebuilding of Haiti will take years, but right now the major need is for medical relief and money for supplies. The best thing we can do is offer our prayers and donate money to The Red Cross or another reputable service organization. In addition, President Obama has called on former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to head our country’s effort and you can support them online at ClintonBushHaitifund.
President Clinton, who honeymooned with his wife in Haiti in 1975, stated that hopefully as the city of Port au Prince is rebuilt, it can be done using better materials and with better construction techniques that will reduce the loss of life and injury should future earthquakes occur. But that type of construction will cost more money, so our assistance will be needed for years.
Let’s be there for Haiti. Let’s stand behind Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton in this huge humanitarian effort.
The 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Haiti last week is not the first major seismologic event to occur in that country. Recorded history tells us that in 1842 a major quake struck in north Haiti, destroying the city of Cap-Haitien and killing thousands. Geologists are able to document many quakes prior to that which affected Haiti as well as other Caribbean islands.
Televangelist Pat Robertson, quick to assign blame whenever a natural disaster occurs (and sometimes before they occur), said that a long time ago the enslaved Haitians made a deal with the devil in order to gain freedom from the French. He said that ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other.
Robertson is referring to the Bois Caiman ceremony, a poorly documented event that some scholars doubt is accurately remembered, in part because the earliest account was written by a white man who may have had an ulterior motive in denigrating the slaves.
If Haiti is cursed, it is not because of the sacrifice of a pig centuries ago, rather it is because it lies above the boundary between the Caribbean and the North American Plates, and these geologic plates are always moving.
Nature does not take sides and certainly natural events do not occur in response to ritual religious practices that may or may not have occurred centuries ago.
But as certain as we can be that devastating events will occur, we can also assure ourselves that Americans will respond generously. The rebuilding of Haiti will take years, but right now the major need is for medical relief and money for supplies. The best thing we can do is offer our prayers and donate money to The Red Cross or another reputable service organization. In addition, President Obama has called on former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to head our country’s effort and you can support them online at ClintonBushHaitifund.
President Clinton, who honeymooned with his wife in Haiti in 1975, stated that hopefully as the city of Port au Prince is rebuilt, it can be done using better materials and with better construction techniques that will reduce the loss of life and injury should future earthquakes occur. But that type of construction will cost more money, so our assistance will be needed for years.
Let’s be there for Haiti. Let’s stand behind Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton in this huge humanitarian effort.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Election hash
What do yesterday's election results tell us?
Let's start with Birmingham. Congratulations, first, to William Bell. While I supported his opponent (even though I don't vote in that city), Bell will be the new mayor, and it is up to him to lead us out of the funk we are in. Almost as bad an assignment as the one Barack Obama was handed when he assumed the presidency.
Bell can do this, I am confident. It just won't be in the same manner that Patrick Cooper would have.
As for the gay community, we should support Bell. William Bell has been our friend in the past. He is not responsible for the homophobia that disgraced his campaign. Frank Matthews is. Bell can show us how he feels by ignoring Matthews as he builds his team. Time will tell.
As for Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts, I could write about the failure of the democrats to select a decent candidate, or about the candidate herself and her gaffes, but let's be honest and look at the big picture.
In 2008 America made a statement when it elected Barack Obama. He campaigned on health care reform among other things, and most who voted for him supported it too.
So what happened? Did Americans since then decide they like having 40 million uninsured countrymen? Do they appreciate that people die every day because they lack health insurance?
I find that hard to believe. But I'm not going to answer the questions here. I don't have those answers.
Besides, here are my concerns. The teabaggers have the momentum now. Democrats in congress may be afraid to pass anything, health care related or other. Teabaggers will be giddy.
Teabaggers in this state will be energized. Sorry, Artur. Sorry, Ron.
If it were just Republicans I wouldn't worry. But the teabaggers are a different story. They are the modern KKK. White separatists. Seriously, listen to the radio. Read their blogs. Within the last week I have seen that they have selected a (battle) flag, heard them talk about secession, heard about commandeering the southern auto plants for munitions and weapons manufacture, speak of getting the guillotine ready, and more. Idle talk? Hardly, one of the people being interviewed was an elected official in our state. Sorry I don't know who, I was in the shower listening to the radio on Sunday when I heard it on 101.1 FM.
That is the concern I was alluding to the past few days on this blog. God help us.
But there are progressive people in this county, and this country, and we will continue to search for and support progressive candidates and promote progressive policies. Gays are already abandoning the Democratic Party (shutting down the GayTM).
Let's start with Birmingham. Congratulations, first, to William Bell. While I supported his opponent (even though I don't vote in that city), Bell will be the new mayor, and it is up to him to lead us out of the funk we are in. Almost as bad an assignment as the one Barack Obama was handed when he assumed the presidency.
Bell can do this, I am confident. It just won't be in the same manner that Patrick Cooper would have.
As for the gay community, we should support Bell. William Bell has been our friend in the past. He is not responsible for the homophobia that disgraced his campaign. Frank Matthews is. Bell can show us how he feels by ignoring Matthews as he builds his team. Time will tell.
As for Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts, I could write about the failure of the democrats to select a decent candidate, or about the candidate herself and her gaffes, but let's be honest and look at the big picture.
In 2008 America made a statement when it elected Barack Obama. He campaigned on health care reform among other things, and most who voted for him supported it too.
So what happened? Did Americans since then decide they like having 40 million uninsured countrymen? Do they appreciate that people die every day because they lack health insurance?
I find that hard to believe. But I'm not going to answer the questions here. I don't have those answers.
Besides, here are my concerns. The teabaggers have the momentum now. Democrats in congress may be afraid to pass anything, health care related or other. Teabaggers will be giddy.
Teabaggers in this state will be energized. Sorry, Artur. Sorry, Ron.
If it were just Republicans I wouldn't worry. But the teabaggers are a different story. They are the modern KKK. White separatists. Seriously, listen to the radio. Read their blogs. Within the last week I have seen that they have selected a (battle) flag, heard them talk about secession, heard about commandeering the southern auto plants for munitions and weapons manufacture, speak of getting the guillotine ready, and more. Idle talk? Hardly, one of the people being interviewed was an elected official in our state. Sorry I don't know who, I was in the shower listening to the radio on Sunday when I heard it on 101.1 FM.
That is the concern I was alluding to the past few days on this blog. God help us.
But there are progressive people in this county, and this country, and we will continue to search for and support progressive candidates and promote progressive policies. Gays are already abandoning the Democratic Party (shutting down the GayTM).
The Democratic Party and the president and the state parties really need to pow-wow and get their act together. November comes quickly.
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