Making big bucks in Alabama classrooms

Glencoe Literature Programs in Widespread Use in Alabama Secondary Schools appears in the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch. Truly Glencoe/McGraw-Hill is doing rather well. I've mentioned their questionable ties to the "Reading First" programs yet in this case it simply appears they've played ball on a level playing field. Their products may very well be divine and worthy of such a market share. Still, I find it somewhat disconcerting that this outfit is making such coin. John Gunn

Is Paul Davis a Lion Past his Prime?

I scolded Paul Davis about six weeks ago for his lashing out against politicians, in that case Lowell Barron, while accepting that we ought to be frustrated. Yesterday, he ranted over our electing these same old same old and darned if much of what he wrote didn't resonate. I'm sure he's smart. I would hope he's relatively well informed. But here's what he got wrong:

1. "Congress made it a federal offense to buy anything made in America." WTF he's writing about is a mystery to me. Maybe he's just been sloppy or perhaps I've misread something but I have no idea of what he writes.

2. "The two men who would-be president spent last week talking about lipstick on a pig and whether John McCain could operate a computer." I know they talked about plenty more that this. And Mr. Davis does as well. There are tons of difference between these candidates even if both are trying to attract the middle ground, low information voters that still remain undecided. Still, if these themes got coverage blame the corporate media for covering the horse race and insults rather than doing the complicated, expensive work that would be be required for covering issues, providing context, or otherwise practicing the craft of journalism.

3. "And don't forget, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, who have steadfastly refused to build small, fuel-efficient cars and trucks, want some government billions soon." The markets spoke didn't they? Hell, the GOP passed tax incentives back early in the years of Bu$hCo to encourage Americans to buy heavy trucks. Also, I recall Progressives trying to get CAFE standards, alternative energy incentives, etc. passed only to have them fail thanks to the power of the well connected corporations.

4. "Now you see why we had to stop building American products and send our money to China, Japan and the oil-rich nations. We have no other place to borrow money to keep our economy afloat." "We" hell! The vast majority of Americans have had no say in any of this mess.

5. "Former Sen. Phil Gramm said it best, but America didn’t want to hear it. His comment got him dismissed as a key adviser for the McCain campaign. His words: 'The United States is only in a mental recession ... it has become a nation of whiners.'" Phil Gramm is "Mr. Free Market" Mr. Davis. He's all about crony capitalism and no discussion of Phil Gramm is complete without recalling his ties to Enron. You blame Americans for Phil being sent to the shadows? And you really think he's gone? That you accept the idea that many folks which are hurting are simply whining is perfectly offensive Mr. Davis. Tax policies, busting of unions, swelling health care costs, offshoring of jobs, "tort reform", rising tuition costs, fuel expenses, plummeting home values, rising productivity and stagnant wages, ... aren't real?

6. "Want someone to blame? Let’s start with ourselves. We always re-elect the bulk of the politicians on Capitol Hill. In addition to a chicken in every pot and a car in ever garage, we also want ..."

~While I hardly want to cut the average American any slack for their votes I can also accept that many get minimal information from the corporate media. The media has left assertive journalism for "balance". The right wing has built a message machine ranging from bought and paid for research delivered via seemingly legitimate policy shops to a network of talk radio outlets that reach well into the heartland.

~Many Americans have been marginally educated with a fair number of young folks taught mostly test taking to show they've learned one damn fact after another.

~ We have a long tradition of anti-intellectualism in this nation. "We" elected C-Plus Augustus after all.

~A large population, especially in the South, are Christ-haunted, Bible thumping rubes.

~I also agree than consumerism and infotainment has made things all the worse. "Bread and games?" Wouldn't the corporations that sell us all this stuff through sophisticated marketing have some responsibility? And didn't Dubyah tell us to go shopping after 9-11?

~Truly I seldom if ever vote for a winner. I'm surely in the minority. I refuse to accept any of your blame Mr. Davis.

~ Hasn't conservatism dominated government for the last three decades? With a few limited exceptions, the power has been with the right ever since FDR yet surely you'll accept that Clinton was centrist at best and regardless of his beliefs working with a conservative Congress. DLC Centrist Weenies are plentiful and true Progressivea a rarity.

I for one think Paul Davis is right to lament where we stand. But I think he's wrong in deciding how we got here. Until he understands the past he's not ready to suggest solutions for the future. John Gunn

Even more cognitive dissonance for Bama Baptists!

Muttering "horseshit", on the TeeVee no less, ought to suffice, especially when the allegation by Senator Obama is perfectly true. Gambling, married to a pusher of the devil's drink, and now he's cussing in front of the children! John Gunn

Billy Sumday's Church Lunch with Republicans in Indiana = McCain is Toast

I tend to think much of the Midwest, and perhaps especially Indiana, is rather like the Deep South. Perhaps not as Christ haunted or battered as was the South after the War of Northern Aggression but the similarities remain. Via Daily Kos, billysumday claims Church Lunch with Republicans in Indiana = McCain is Toast. His books from the parents angle makes me a little sad as I wish mine were still about to beg books from. John Gunn

Sarah Silverman and The Great Schlep

The Great Schlep might not compute for some Bamers yet we'll work with what we have. Shalom. Wa Assalam Alakum! John Gunn

Mc$ame-Palin ~ "Gotcha journalism" from a voter?

Barney Frank takes on the manly men of the GOP

Here's the text of the mean terrible things Nancy Pelosi said to so offend the tough guys in the GOP House. For the record, I'm not so sure the failure to pass this legislation is a bad result. When in doubt I'll generally listen to Bernie Sanders and Russ Feingold and ... John Gunn

Will Prince Troy King cause a galactic meltdown?

On October 14th I'll turn 43 yet I'm worried that for my birthday I'll see the end of days. This is rather Spaghetti Monsteresque yet I just share the predictions of Australia's Blossom Goodchild in claiming the following:

"messages channelled to her by the Cosmic Beings known as The Federation of Light ... have announced that one of their craft will appear in our skies on October 14th 2008 for a period of three days in such a way as to prove to us the existence of other life forms in the Universe. The Federation of Light stress that they come in LOVE to help us and our planet move to a new Higher Vibration of Love."

This Federation of Light says, "We give to you the name of Alabama." So they are coming to freaking Alabama? Troy King will simply have a fit over this "Higher Vibration of Love." It gets worse! Prince Troy got all fired up when the United Nations scolded Alabama for her flawed death penalty system. There's no telling what he'll do to a "craft of great size" full of new age, peace loving aliens. We better hope trusted Executive Assistant John Godwin can soothe Prince Troy before he causes Armageddon. John Gunn

UPDATE ~ I cross-posted over at Daily Kos to use the Great Orange Satan's polling feature. And I'm also blog whoring. To do this work and only merit fifty or so visits a day is admittedly a touch troubling at times.

Heck of a job Johnny!

Bob Martin of the Montgomery Independent reports "John W. Stevenson, publisher and editor of The Randolph Leader based in Roanoke, is the new president of the National Newspaper Association and he is bringing the association's annual convention to Mobile next year." I've known Johnny I suppose most of my life. He and his first bride lost a son in a tragic automobile accident several years ago whom I understand was a truly exceptional young man. He recently married a superb catch per Earl Manning. And if there's anything Mr. Earl knows, it is what a classy and lovely wife looks like as he's had a gem by his side for years. The Randolph Leader, like so many small home town papers, has a rich history. President Bush might not care to bother with reading newspapers but the National Newspaper Association is lucky to have such talented leadership. John Gunn

How might Al.com cover DOJ's Special Prosecutor

The BBC (among pretty much every other paper) reports New probe into US attorney affair. In the WaPo, Dan Froomkin shares further damning details. The White House claiming Executive Privilege in response to a Department of Justice, part of the Executive Branch I'll remind you, internal probe strikes plenty of folks (like looseheadprop) as rather odd. The exodus of DOJ underlings wrapped up in this mess was per FDL's Christy Hardin Smith not only fear of Hatch Act perils but also a way to get them the hell out of DC. These minions wouldn't even testify Karl Rove style! So far I'm not seeing much if anything in Alabama papers on the DOJ report yet given the treatment Don Siegelman's case has gotten from the Newhouse Triad I'll not expect them to give the story a whole lot of coverage. "Nothing to see here folks. Move along." John Gunn

USA Today covers Bright & Love race in AL-02

With a tip of the tam for the graphic to that great political theorist SpongeBob, I'll up front take some exception to the U of A's Emeritus Professor of Political Science William Stewart's claim that "It's a matter of survival for Democrats in Alabama to present themselves as conservatives." I'll also add that I think "The Blue Dog Democrats are a group of 49 fiscally conservative House members ..." hardly goes far enough in describing their views yet that one goes on the journalist rather than the Professor. Both are pulled from Sebastian Kitchen's Rivals in Alabama race both claim conservative tag appearing in today's USA Today.

Although I'll circle back to covering this later, I'd submit there are few if any in the folds of the Alabama Democratic Party that have tried another path to success. Racial politics of course matters in Alabama. That Big Mules run Goat Hill is another reality. Fundamentalism, or at least evangelicalism, is another certainly here in the belt of the Bible Belt.

I supported Cheryl Sabel rather than Bobby Bright yet like the idea of having even a Blue Dog take this seat. Or the 5th up in North Alabama for that matter. I've bragged on the "Bright Republican" effort. However, if Bobby Bright wants to follow the Blue Dog approach to governing or merely politicking ... well that dog won't hunt! Corporatist Canines might suffice? Or Phone Privacy Puppies? That Blue Dogs are overwhelmingly white Southerners that are rather seasoned is I hope well known. Thomas F. Schaller can tell you more in his recent American Prospect piece.

I'm not so sure I'd boot all of them out of the Democratic Party as might Glenn Greenwald yet I'll admit I often am frustrated with centrist weenies. I admittedly go after the DLC rather often yet Chris Bowers some time back suggested I ought to just go straight after the Blue Dogs. In fact he shows Bud Cramer was the most problematic of the Democratic Party's problem children at that point in the 109th Congress. I have little patience with Bu$h Dogs yet soon he'll be gone.

I also can accept that at times party discipline requires some discipline. A "whip" to enforce party loyalty doesn't have to be a Tom "The Hammer" DeLay rogue yet can still allow consequences to those not playing team ball. If we have an Obama administration with gains in Congress and the chance to change the Courts then I'd be prepared to put the Blue Dogs on a very short leash.

Left in Alabama has a nice thread following RedEye's The Lessor of Two Evils or The Enemy Within? I personally like the idea of working past labels. I hope Progressives can align with even the most "conservative" to craft decent if not good policy. "Movement conservatives" aren't interested in compromise of course. Fusion/coalition politics also seems to be a way forward on the national, state, and local stages yet there's no point in wasting time with the true believers.

Despite all of the above, I feel some empathy with RedEye's frustrations. I also don't always feel like the Democratic Party, in DC or up on Goat Hill, is looking out for regular folks. But I want to flip "conservatives" to our side of the mix, at least on some issues. And here's a stream of consciousness type look at how that might occur ...

Following the money from think tanks to actual candidates to ... helps. The right has truly bought a movement and to peel back the layers is hard work but it must be done.

Trying to expose how values voters get used by the Big Mules seems a worthy effort. You've got to be careful in doing this yet it is long overdue. To offend a few Christianists for the sake of our future is worth the harm.

Challenging journalists and media outlets for sloppy or downright sorry reporting is a good use of time. In Alabama, from al.com to talk radio options, there's a long row to hoe yet the work must be done.

Populism is another winner, despite what Thomas Schaller suggests. Civil liberties seems another. Opportunity seems foundational. Shared prosperity resonates with I think many voters. As does environmentalism (labeling it "stewardship" for instance) I'd argue. Protecting people from harm is attractive to all but the most reactionary. Is tolerance and respect really all the difficult to have voters embrace? Rebuilding our deteriorated infrastructure can be attractive to all but the most strident "conservative".

Reasonable regulation might seem even more reasonable given the Wall Street meltdown. After Enron and ... we let the GOP off the hook way too easily but surely this time our "leadership" can get this one right. Honesty and transparency seems so simple yet we've left this one out of the mix all too often.

Taking on "conservative" foolishness is another way to gain back the high ground. When the Mobile Press-Register or Alabama Policy Institute or ... go off on some twisted effort to advance a conservative agenda Progressives ought to push back.

We can't count on the leadership here to always do this pushing back yet as we try to change the party that might change. Working on the outside is required yet to gradually gain influence within the Democratic Party here and in DC makes sense.

Governor Dean's Fifty State Strategy and ActBlue and ... efforts are helping Progressives gain some ground in Red States. Networking is becoming all too easy via technology yet having actual races to work is priceless.

We'll need to identify and develop young talent. The care and feeding of young activists is certainly one area where we've been outflanked.

Blog, read, learn, write, advocate, talk, share, collaborate, compare, refine, regroup, ... Progressives have lots to offer our world. Stand up straight and show the backbone required to win anywhere but especially in Alabama. No weenies allowed! John Gunn

Starting the day frustrated with old folks yet ...

I'll admit a near total meltdown over Professor Stanley Fish writing George Bush: The Comeback Kid in his Think Again column in the Gray Lady. He predicts that "within a year of the day he leaves office, and no matter who succeeds him, George W. Bush will be a popular public figure, regarded with affection and a little nostalgia even by those who voted against him and thought he was the worst president in our history." Those writing a response to his prophecy seem to universally think Dr. Fish does need to think again.

Krissah Williams Thompson of the WaPo files Brothers in arms hit road for McCain: GOP candidate enjoys backing of veterans and their families and I'm a touch bothered by her reporting. I'm mostly frustrated with the one demographic that does seem to reliably lean McCain's way. Ms. Thompson's writing that Mc$ame has "the fervent backing of a fraternity of veterans and their families" early on is finally contrasted with the fact that Senator Obama has outraised Huggy in overseas donations from the troops plus the fact taht only Obama actually supported the new and improved GI Bill. I'm pleased that the Obama/Biden effort is more than capable of pushing back on this piece.

I've mentioned that St. John doesn't always walk the talk when it comes down to supporting the military yet one supporter, a Col. Moe who was a fellow POW with McCain, offered the following:

When a question about McCain's votes on such bills came up at the breakfast, Col. Moe said, "Now, ask yourself, does it make sense that John McCain, who has served and sacrificed so much for this country, would not support veterans? Is it logical to you for a man who has served his country as a war hero? Most of these bills had a lot of pork in them."

The legislation is expensive, yet a fraction of bailing out Wall Street, but I'm hardly aware of it having much "pork". Conservatism will of course mandate, via Bu$hCo's executive action rather than by the actual legislation, some profits for business yet I doubt that troubles Col. Moe? Also, I'd think the increased revenues gained from educating veterans more completely would offset or perhaps even eclipse the costs.

Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel certainly also qualify as a "war hero" don't they and they were out front on this issue. John McCain is now claiming credit for improving the legislation and perhaps that's legitimate. Col. Moe and his friend can't have it both ways however. Huggy is also crossways with the VFW over his “Veterans’ Care Access Card" that is a backdoor way to start breaking down a relatively solid gov't run health care effort.

I bragged on Ms. Thompson just yesterday for compassionately covering disaffected poor people in Mississippi yet this reporting troubled me. Perhaps she was simply examining the generational divide? Maybe it was about the fact that a few votes in a few places may decide this election? I do like how she digs out quotes from regular people and generally tries to provide some factual context to their opinions and claims.

Finally, there's also a some writing about and a quote from Karen McTague, 54, treasurer of the Ottawa County (PA) Republicans, which troubles me.

It is what she doesn't know about Obama that worries her. The Democratic nominee has spoken frequently about his Christian faith, his commitment to national security and his love of country, but McTague said she still harbors fears about his background because Obama's father, whom the candidate hardly knew, was raised as a Muslim.

"If it looks like he appeals to Muslims, those countries may think they have opportunity," she said.

You mean the opportunity to have leaders from the House of Saud come here and hold hands with the President? The opportunity to buy up many our assets due to the GOP once again running the country into the ground? I suppose they've had to fall fall back on the "if he looks like he appeals" angle as all the false flag efforts have pretty much faded to all but the most loopy.

I've mentioned Dr. Malcom Cutchins' columns here and here yet all of his work may be found here. Perhaps he, Dr. Fish, and Col. Moe should meet? John Gunn

UPDATE ~ I've got another more seasoned soul for the Cutchins crew and she's right there in Auburn. Sis Burleson might enjoying traveling but I fear she's ventured way off into crazy base land with the following:

Why won’t Obama give back to charity from all of his riches?

Barack Obama, the American Red Cross needs your help!

The American Red Cross had made an urgent plea for funds to assist people who have experienced natural disasters this year (fires, storms, floods and hurricanes).

Maybe you and your Hollywood friends who collected all that money from your fundraiser on the West Coast want to give to the people of the Texas coast that have no water, electricity or a home. It surely would give them hope!

All your friends that hate America have no problem making all those millions in this country.

Why not give back — it’s the patriotic thing to do.

By the way, have you added up how much money you’ve spent on fuel these past two years flying everywhere, any time and several times? Bet you could clothe and house, pay off mortgages, pay health care premiums, gasoline this year for most of the U.S. population. Think how many less carbon footprints you could have saved.

Will you tell the Red Cross you are going to divert these funds to this volunteer organization?

Sis Burleson, Auburn

UPDATE - 03 November 2009 - I made a slight change to the above as suggesting Dr. Cutchins thinks the way he does even partly due to his being somewhat more "seasoned" than some isn't very nice.

Vladimir Putin sez Sarah Palin's Curtains Suck

Katie, I'd like to use one of my lifelines

This Scot likes Dutch Proverbs

I could have done without the Reagan reference, and the Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle (nice work they did for my own favorite Congresscritter Jerry McNerney!) lead that didn't get edited out on the YouTube version. I much prefer the Sue Bell Cobbesque video (her "This Little Light of Mine" ad was perhaps the best evah!) you'll find at the splash page for Judge Deborah Bell Paseur. I really appreciated Robert Leslie Palmer, a smelly hippy tree hugging trouble making lawyer perhaps to some Big Mules and the simpletons they so often use, pointing out in The Anniston Star that her opponent is bought and paid for by Big Business and especially Big Automobile Dealer. Indeed "promises make debt, and debt makes promises." John Gunn

UPDATE ~ Just a few hours later ... I think mooncat's $treetwalker label works nicely for Greg Shaw. LIA rocks!

The invisible hand of free enterprise solves ...

Anna Velasco reports in the B'ham News What will Obama, McCain mean for your health care? Well done for the most part, I appreciated the coverage of issues relating to rural folks. I liked the explanation of the issue and respective plans. There are tons of differences in these candidates yet health insurance is a perfect place to start.

John Mc$ame relies on the fantasy that "market solutions" solve all ailments. Thankfully Ms. Velasco points out the radicalism of Huggy's health care approach in that "McCain proposes ... ending the tax-exclusion for employer-sponsored health coverage. ... In exchange, everyone - those who get coverage through work or on their own - would be eligible for a flat tax credit toward the purchase of health insurance. An individual would get $2,500 and families would get $5,000." Good luck out there getting coverage for those amounts Bubba and Bubbette!

Of course the grown ups in Congress wouldn't let Mc$ame's foolishness pass yet I'm not sure Obama's plan goes far enough. It will certainly be a step in the right direction however. Again, a tip of the tam on this reporting. John Gunn

UPDATE ~ September 29, 2008 - From South Florida's Biz Journal, a favorite read of Bama Bubbas and Bubbettes I'm sure, we can see figures of around $15K for family coverage. Huggy wants us to party like its 1999!

Populism please!

I was hardly a Hillary fan or, for that matter, an Obama supporter. My default candidate failed to keep it in his pants so I'm glad he never got traction even if I think private sexual matters are none of our damn business. I wanted Senator Feingold to run and still hope he'll give it a go one of these days. He'd surely climb on a pickup and reach out to regular folks as Backbone is what he consistently demonstrates. The WaPo's Krissah Williams Thompson files a solid piece with her In Mississippi, Deep-Rooted Doubt: Some Believe That No Matter Who Wins Election, Little in Their Lives Will Change. The photo gallery from Linda Davidson accompanying the writing is equally rewarding. Reaching folks like those covered in Mississippi requires a dose of populism that unfortunately Centrist candidates don't always deliver. Hillary found it way too late (Heck of a job Mark Penn!) and at this stage Obama/Biden might find stumping like this a little unrealistic. Alabama's Big Jim Folsom, even when drunk as a bicycle, was a master of politicking from a pickup. A blend of entertainment and outrage, with a dose of fusion politics, can still work wonders. We're leaving too many votes unrealized down here. And there in the fast growing exurbs for that matter too. John Gunn

A day in the life of another well paid GOP operative

I learned of Susan Dudley from my ongoing reading of Thomas Frank's The Wrecking Crew" How Conservatives Rule. It is a gem of a book! According to Mr. Frank, he found, while deep behind the lines at The Mercatus Center, a pamphlet titled "A Day in the Life of a Regulated American Family" that was seemingly designed for kids. This might be as close an example I can provide. This somewhat reminds me of Alabama Policy Institute's "Facts Not Fear: Teaching our Children about the Environment" effort. Truly Susan Dudley represents perfectly how conservatives "govern". She's obviously smart as a whip but she's wrapped around "the marvelous markets solve all" theories that the GOP (and "Centrist Weenies" as well) use to regularly run this great nation into the ground. That Mercatus and George Mason University and ... are at least in part, and I'd argue significantly so, funded by Koch money, mentioned yesterday as relates to Nancy Pfotenhauer, is undeniable. She and her husband can both drive hybrids but she's nevertheless totally in the tank. John Gunn

UPDATE ~ Just a few minutes after posting the above I found the NYT's Don’t Blame the New Deal. Rightly they lament much of this trouble going back to "antiregulation disciples of the Reagan Revolution: yet they also point out, "Indeed, it was in the Bush years that antiregulation and deregulation found full expression, fueled by an ideology that markets know best, government hampers markets, and problems will magically fix themselves." Amen!

Any more cognitive dissonance for Bama Baptists?

I'd previously posted on John McCain's ties to the devil's drink, wondering if that might not trouble some of the Baptists I'm expecting will pull the lever for St. John Mc$ame. In fact, a "Wet-Dry" vote is coming up for Randolph County where I still vote. Bobby Kirby claims to know the Christian stance. E. Clayton Scott calls alcohol poison and a drug "just as much as meth, crack and heroine (sic)."

Perhaps they'll cut Huggy some slack on marrying a beer heiress as that helped get him to DC so he could do the Lord's work, as only Republicans can do of course? Then again, IOKIYAR may suffice? A fellow can only go so far on a 100% disability pension after all. And if he can rake in some extra change at the gambling tables, even those under the jurisdiction of his own Senate Indian Affairs Committee, that's cool I'm sure.

And by the way, Sarah Palin was in a bar on Friday evening! She at least had a chaperon in the form of Philly gazilionaire Ed Snider. There was no dancing!

I'd like to think that today's NYT's piece from Jo Becker and Don van Natta titled McCain and Team Have Many Ties to Gambling Industry surely will trouble at least some of the Bible Thumpers. Details include forty plus lobbyist and heavy hitters tied to his campaign, monthly trips to Vegas for "weekend betting marathons", and seizing the Abramoff scandals for opportunities (while still protecting his friends) as delivered by The Gray Lady. Reminding us of the role that nasty wingnutter and well-connected Grover Norquist played in the Abramoff scandal is a bonus. John Gunn

Another example of markets working for wingers

Is there some kind of conservative eugenics effort? On the left Kurt and Nancy Pfotenhauer are an attractive pair. Her first hubby (there on the right), Heritage Foundation economist Daniel Mitchell isn't an ogre either. Kurt is neck deep in the mortgage industry and Miss Nancy is a professional indeed. Via Daily Kos, joesgarage wrote, "Pfotenhauer's career is a blueprint for advancement through the interconnected world of private equity, right-wing think tanks, and the Republican power elite." I've never seen as muckety a Muckety map as hers. She's frequently the McCain spokesperson on the economy and I'd surely like some host to rip the bark off her given her reliance on wingnut welfare. Following the money to and from the funding fathers like the Koch family is a rewarding process and an endeavor that continues to amaze me. John Gunn

UPDATE ~ Afternoon of September 29, 2008 - Nancy demonstrates pre-emptive working of the refs on the upcoming Biden-Palin debate.