A reminder regarding Roy Moore

Roy Moore will be the Republican candidate for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2012. As I write this, he is hovering around 50%, so there may or may not be a runoff, but if there is, he is sure to win it.

Roy Moore is best known for his stand on the Ten Commandments, and his placement of a washing machine sized monument inside the Supreme Court Building when he was formerly Chief Justice. A case was brought against him, he was ruled against and the Alabama Court of the Judiciary removed him from office.

He later failed in an attempt to run for governor of Alabama in 2010, placing fourth in the Republican Primary.

But what people don't realize is how patently hateful and misguided Roy Moore is. In 2002, he issued a ruling in a lesbian custody case (D.H. vs H.H.) in which he said (bold print added by me),

"To disfavor practicing homosexuals in custody matters is not invidious discrimination, nor is it legislating personal morality. On the contrary, disfavoring practicing homosexuals in custody matters promotes the general welfare of the people of our State in accordance with our law, which is the duty of its public servants... The State carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution. It must use that power to prevent the subversion of children toward this lifestyle, to not encourage a criminal lifestyle... Homosexual behavior is a ground for divorce, an act of sexual misconduct punishable as a crime in Alabama, a crime against nature, an inherent evil, and an act so heinous that it defies one's ability to describe it. That is enough under the law to allow a court to consider such activity harmful to a child. To declare that homosexuality is harmful is not to make new law but to reaffirm the old; to say that it is not harmful is to experiment with people's lives, particularly the lives of children."

It is frightening that in the 21st century the most powerful judge in the state would state that gay people should be confined and executed to protect children.

In March of 2002 I had letters printed in the Western Star and the Birmingham News. Their content is applicable today, just as it was then.

From the Western Star, March 6, 2002

Dear Editor,
Thank you for your editorial comment on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 regarding Judge Roy Moore's opinion on homosexuality.


It is bad enough that he chose a case that was decided on other issues to spew forth his condemnation of homosexuality, but that he also wrote that the state should use the "power of the sword" and to even use the word "execution" when referring to punishment is frightening.


Since Alabama has no hate crimes law that protects its citizens from crimes based on sexual orientation, this type of speech from our states highest judge might be interpreted by those who would not commit such crimes as an invitation to do so.


This Taliban-like decree should strike fear with all gay and lesbian citizens.


And after Judge Moore has cleared the state of all homosexuals, which minority of citizens unlike himself will he choose to go after next? Muslims? Catholics? Hispanics? Blacks? Women?


Come to think of it, maybe it's not just the homosexuals who should be frightened.


Joe Openshaw
Bessemer

From the Birmingham News March 28, 2002

Dear Editor,

That it took more than a month for Chief Justice Roy Moore to comment on his condemnation of homosexuals tells us that he must not really have been concerned about the firestorm he created with his remarks - or maybe it just took a lot of time and creativity to come up with the rationalization that he gave us Saturday.

His words in his concurring opinion were written, and it is clear what they said and what their intention was. It is sickening that politicians can say anything they want and do their damage then later try to make excuses and reinterpret their statements to do damage control.

Moore hurt and frightened many people in Alabama with his words, but did he apologize? No. he inspired more hatred as fellow anti-gay personality Fred Phelps was drawn to our state in support of Moore.

The only way Moore can right the wrong he has done is to apologize to the people of our state, admit he was wrong and resign his post.

Joe Openshaw
Bessemer

It is shameful that this man is being accepted by enough people in our state to have a chance (and a probability) that he will return to the seat from which he was expelled.

If this man is elected, I predict there will be more hate crimes and possibly more murders against LGBT people in our state. Misguided individuals will hear his words and take them as assurance that they are acting with God's and Moore's approval.

It might take a miracle to prevent this man from becoming our chief justice. 

Alabama Republicans are a symptom

It's as if someone has brought a really, really sick cat into the vet's office. A good veterinarian will do a thorough examination, probably order some lab tests and/or radiographs, and begin supportive treatment while awaiting results. The doctor and staff will be encouraged by signs of improvement, and will not be dismayed by recurring symptoms of the illness. Rather, they will adjust their treatment plan with confidence, knowing that a successful outcome is probable.

The same is true of Alabama politics. The loudest voices are those of the conservative sickness that represent an era and mindset that we have been trying to overcome for decades.

The rest of the country, and many in our own state, see Alabama as a backward and racist, in spite of the fact that as individuals we are pretty much like everybody else in the country. For instance, we look at evolution as a matter of science , and a necessary part of education and not a political tool. And we get along with our co-workers and neighbors who are of a different race.

But then Republicans and conservative groups open their mouths. You can pick almost any of them, but for the purpose of this blog, I will choose three examples. Just hearing any of these might be enough to make a progressive pack up and give up. But the things we are hearing are just a symptom of a disease that is being defeated.

Jeff Sessions

Yesterday at the opening hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elana Kagan Alabama Republican Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III took shots at the future justice and in doing so (once again) embarrassed all of us from Alabama.

"Ms. Kagan has associated herself with well-known activist judges. She clerked with Judge Mikva and Justice (Thurgood) Marshall, each well known activists. These justices really don't deny their activist ideas, they advocate it. And they openly criticize the idea that a judge is merely a neutral umpire."

Sessions and his Republican counterparts at the hearing referenced Thurgood Marshall (negatively) 35 times. Marshall's son, Thurgood Marshall, Jr, sat in the audience and listened.

Thurgood Marshall is best known as the Supreme Court's first African-American justice, but as a practicing attorney and solicitor general before that he argued before the high court on numerous occasions. The most famous was Brown v Board of Education, the landmark case that did away with separate but equal public education because it could not be equal. He won 29 out of the 32 cases he argued before the Supreme Court.

Here see Sessions and other Republicans criticizing this American judicial hero.



Senator Sessions: the year is 2010, not 1965. Segregation is over. Gone. Done away with. It's not coming back. Give it up.

Unfortunately, Senator Sessions gets to continue his assault today (in fact, as I write this, he is grilling the appointee on her views regarding Don't Ask, Don't Tell).

Rick Barber

Rick Barber is in the Republican runoff with Martha Roby to challenge for the congressional seat held by DINO Bobby Bright of Montgomery. Barber has run ads which have been criticized for advocating gun violence and now is running an ad in which he and an Abraham Lincoln portrayer agree that health care reform is a form of slavery. I won't force you to watch his ad, but here's a screen shot.

Rick: as has been pointed out, President Lincoln imposed the first Federal income tax in 1861 for the purpose of raising money to fight the Civil War. That is not too unlike using tax money to promote the general health and welfare of the nation. And Rick, the south lost that war, and as a result, Barack Obama was able to run for president. I don't think Zombie Abe and you see eye to eye on this issue.

But you did a good job of embarrassing us in front of the rest of the nation.

Christians against Bradley Byrne

I heard a political ad on the radio, in which Republican front runner Bradley Byrne was criticised for promoting evolution, profiting from gambling, and supporting Sunday liquor sales. Then the voice said or indicated that Byrne was (paraphrased) distancing himself from the Bible.

Whoever put this ad out: First, evolution is the accepted explanation for the diversity of life that we find on our planet. Second, show me in the Bible where it says thou shalt not sell liquor on Sunday. Third now explain why your beliefs about such things, based on your biblical worldview, should apply to all of us. Fourth, isn't your entire ad sort of gossipy, and doesn't that sort of distance you from the Bible?

So, these examples of Republican silliness show us that Alabama conservatives want to return us to the good old days. Remember, the Tea Party people carry signs advocating taking the country back, and all indications are that they want to take it back to the 1950's.

But we keep reminding ourselves. This is 2010. These guys are just symptoms of the illness that affected our state a half century ago. An illness characterized by inequality and ignorance.

In reality, we are past that. We are (for the most part) an educated populace that believes in science and equality and celebrates the historical figures that got us here, most notably in this case, Thurgood Marshall.

So as progressives we recognize that these vestiges have a limited life, and we will continue to educate and inform and push our state forward, not pull it back.

Tim James....Swords

Swords comedy, a two person (most of the time) Brooklyn improv featuring Bradford Jordan and Lucas Kavner.

Tim James, our bigoted goober (natorial) candidate, made an impression.

Laugh at this.





And please don't let it happen.

Election news and McCalla news

Election News

Hueytown council person Carole Marks has announced she will seek the seat currently held by Merika Coleman, District 57 in the state house of representatives.
The primary for this election will be held June1.

Marks heads donor relations at Children's Hospital and serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama.

She is also a member and past president of the Bessemer Historical Homeowners Association.

McCalla

446 acres of farmland near the planned Norfolk Southern intermodal facility are up for sale. The property borders the JeffMet McCalla industrial park and is right there by the hub site, spanning the area from the railroad tracks to Old Tuscaloosa Highway and from Old Tuscaloosa Highway to Interstate 20/59.

Does this indicate that more spin-off development from the hub could be in the future?
Well, only if someone buys it, I guess. The asking price is $20 million, or $45,000 an acre.

Already, nine projects are underway in JeffMet, creating 1,556 jobs, including Posco, a Korean steelmaker. Posco broke ground Thursday on a $19 million facility.

Bama - National Champs, Ron Sparks moving up

My friend Neal made an interesting observation.

The Crimson Tide is the National Champion-but keep in mind that the Tide defeated Texas by 16 points and Florida by 19 but Auburn by a mere 5! War Damn Eagle!

Congratulations to Alabama. Many of us Auburn fans pulled for Alabama in last night's BCS championship. Let's see how many Alabama fans will pull for Auburn next year when we are in that game.

So Tuscaloosa developer and Bessemer developer Stan Pate paid for the banner that flew around the Rose Bowl urging impeachment of Governor Bob Riley.

Picture credit Mark Almond

While Pate's explanation certainly holds water, his action shows a complete lack of class.

"Look, this guy is trying to shut down businesses that employ thousands of hard-working Alabamians while he's out there for a football game on the taxpayer dollar. I think what this guy tried to do in Dothan Wednesday was an act aimed at putting Alabamians out of work, and somebody has to hold him accountable and that's what the banner is doing."

"Impeach corrupt Alabama Governor Bob Riley," the banner read.

Regardless of who the governor is, when they are trying to promote our state, we should not detract from that. This was a celebratory event, even before the kickoff, and flying a banner around just seemed childish.

Oh, yeah. It was Stan Pate.

Riley will be gone soon enough. There's not a snowball's chance in hell that he will be removed from office before the regularly scheduled departure following the election this year.

The only question is, which democrat candidate will be replacing him?

Artur Davis' popularity is falling, and Ron Sparks' is rising. That's not based on polling, it's just based on listening.

Ron Sparks had the following to say about Governor Riley's failed plan to raid Country Crossings in Dothan.

“Governor Riley’s latest attempt to shut down gaming operations at Country Crossings in Dothan, Alabama is just one more example of why the State of Alabama needs to once and for all address gaming in Alabama and pass comprehensive legislation that regulates it, controls it and taxes it.

“Bob Riley’s campaign against an industry that employs thousand of working people across the State, has already cost the Alabama taxpayers in the millions.

“Country Crossings, in the short time that it has been open, has already generated over a million dollars in revenue for Houston County as well as employing some 2,000 workers.

“Regulated and taxed gaming will create jobs and jobs will create economic prosperity in our State. This is the right path for Alabama on the gaming issue and one that I will take as Governor.”