I have seen a lot of activity in recent weeks on Facebook and Twitter, indicating that our elected officials and candidates for federal and statewide office are beginning to understand the tools that are available and use them more effectively. We still have a long way to go, but I [...]
Artur Davis is picking up a key endorsement from Mobile Mayor Sam Jones today (as indicated by George Talbot of the Mobile Press-Register on his Twitter feed). It comes on the heels of Mitt Romney’s endorsement of Kay Ivey. Why Ivey? Well, she chaired his Alabama campaign for [...]
The Economist last week had an excellent cover story laying out the options for how America might go about reducing our federal budget deficits in the coming decade. The article first pointed out that now is obviously not the time to be acting to reduce deficits, as the recovery is [...]
I received the following from my state representative, Greg Wren, yesterday:
Dear Constituents,
Â
The United States Senate is preparing for a vote on the latest version of a massive government funded intrusion into the health care system. Senator Harry Reid (Democratic Majority Leader) will force a vote on President Obama’s [...]
Bradley Byrne voiced his strong support today for giving Alabama parents options in educating their children,
“As the father of four children who attended public schools, a former member of the Alabama Board of Education and a former senator, I have long been a proponent of bringing school choice to [...]
I’m always happy to see young professionals stepping forward and providing leadership. To that end, a loose affiliation of Birmingham young professionals that has dubbed themselves “The Birmingham Roundtable” is hosting a Birmingham Mayoral Debate on December 3rd.Â
Leading candidates Attorney Emory Anthony Jr., Jefferson County Commissioner William Bell and Birmingham City [...]
The issue of gambling in Alabama is continuing to take up a lot of space in the political discussions around the state. It’s getting more and more difficult to dicsuss anything else.
Sebastian Kitchen does an excellent job in the Montgomery Advertiser this morning laying out where we currently are [...]
The Center for a Better South is a great example of what we are capable of when we are allowed to dream. They spent some time working with leaders from across the south (including former U.S. Rep. Glen Browder, H. Brandt Ayers, Bob Davis, Stephen Foster Black and Sarah [...]
Yesterday, Bradley Byrne released a ten point ethics reform plan.
Require public servants and their family members to disclose to the Ethics Commission all work they are engaged in with any entity that receives public funds, and all income derived from any state or local government entity or institution; Extend the [...]The Mobile Press-Register received some very interesting responses from a survey they submitted to the candidates in the Alabama governor’s race. First, they note that Ron Sparks refused to answer any of the questions on religion, abortion, gay marriage or immigration (presumably because he hasn’t been told what his positions are).Â
The other Democrat [...]
The latest press release from Artur Davis’s campaign showcases another issue where Ron Sparks is trying to have it both ways, education.
“Ron Sparks proudly touted his participation in President Obama’s education reform tour when he thought it would win him votes, but less than two weeks later he is taking [...]
NOOOOOO…the following is being circulated by e-mail from concernedcitizensofbirmingham(at)gmail(dot)com
If you want Dr.
Richard Arrington
Jr. to Run for Mayor
of Birmingham…Â
Â
Come out to Linn Park
(On 8th Ave North, Between
20th Street N & Richard
Arrington Jr. Blvd N)
This Monday, November
16, 2009
At 12:00 Noon
Concerned Citizens of
Birmingham want to draft [...]
The contentiousness of the Democratic nomination for governor in Alabama is already at a fever pitch and we haven’t made it to the beginning of election year yet. Â The latest salvos from both campaigns came within the last 24 hours, but to get the real flavor of where we are, [...]
I spent the better part of this past weekend defending Democratic Rep. Artur Davis, Rep. Bobby Bright and Rep. Parker Griffith to progressives around the country. Why? Because they were amongst the 39 Democrats who voted against HR 3962 on Saturday night, and many progressives view that as unforgiveable offense.
Here is [...]
The US House of Representatives passed historic healthcare reform legislation last night. There was vigorous debate on both sides (amazing, given some contended it was impossible for anyone to have read it in the time allotted, how could 435 legislators each have an opinion) and in the end a vote to [...]
Now, you have seen me go after Ron Sparks for lack of depth in his press announcements, I will give credit where credit is due on the announcement yesterday of support from 28 Democratic Sheriffs, that is a real accomplishment in the endorsement wars. Yet, it did make me [...]
In case you missed them, here were the most viewed posts at The World Around You in October:
 1. More on State Employees Salaries and Whose Salary is Missing
2. How Many State Employees Make More than the Governor
I became concerned when I heard that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act wasn’t doing what it was intended to do, that it was creating few jobs at a very high cost. So, of course, I did what I do, I went to look at the information out of Alabama (big [...]
You could feel it building over the last few weeks, as Ron Sparks and Artur Davis exchanged jabs on gambling and the truthfulness of the opposition. It came to a head in Auburn tonight as a gubernatorial forum that also featured Robert Bentley, Tim James, Bill Johnson and Bradley [...]
Since it’s election day, I thought it entirely appropriate to unveil another feature of The World Around You. Since my directory of Alabama Elected Officials on Social Media was so well-received, I am proud to announce the Alabama Candidates & Social Media page here at TWAY.
Currently the page [...]
Well the first month of the fiscal year has now finished and the grand total for state spending is over $2.799 billion dollars, in one month.
Where did it go?
$1.38 billion to “Grants and Benefits”
$430 million in Medicaid payments to doctors and other service providers $344 million to local school systems $108 million [...]The results are in. The question was: Who is running the best campaign so far for Alabama governor? 122 votes were cast and the tallies are:
1% – Roy Moore
2% – each to Bill Johnson, Kay Ivey and Robert Bentley
4% – Ron Sparks
8% – Tim James
22% – Artur Davis
and congratulations to [...]
Do people really not see the connection?
Alabama Boasts Lowest Taxes in the Nation
and
Alabama is 44th Most Livable State
Not to mention this Alabama 48th for Kids, or this Alabama 45th “Smartest” or this Alabama 40th in Overall Health  (and here)
Of course, [...]
