Thanks, Mitt.

I've been pretty silent on here for a while.  There are few longer posts in process, but I wanted to throw up this short one.  Apparently, Mitt has decided not to run in 2016.  I have mixed feelings about it.  Sure, Romney is not as ideologically conservative as I would like, but I still think there is no one out there better qualified to be President and work to fix the major problems.  I am proud to have supported him in 2008 and 2012 and (probably) would have again.  On a non-political note, I also think he's done a great job "representing" the Church.  Now will come the fun part of deciding whom to support in 2016.  I think I'm leaning towards Scott Walker, but I'm not sure.  I really think former governors make better presidents - I want someone who has run something as an executive.   And, I'm really impressed with what Walker has done in Wisconsin.  I'm pretty sure I've decided who I don't want, but that's for a different post.  In the meantime, thanks, Mitt, for fighting the good fight.

Happy Birthday, Gipper!

I thought I would break the dry spell of not posting - I'm still sorting out how I feel about politics after the outcome of the election - I wanted to wish a happy 102nd birthday to the Gipper and post one of the best speeches he ever gave.   It's message is timeless and equally applicable to the problems and issues facing us today.






Some other great Reagan speeches:

    "Tear Down this Wall"  (this is just a part, the whole speech is good too)


   His speech at the 40th Anniversary of D-Day




   After the Challenger disaster


   His farewell speech

It's That Time Again

In case you've been living under a rock for the last year, it's an election year.  As has become my custom, I have reviewed the sample Madison County ballot available at the Alabama Secretary state's website and write to provide my "endorsements" (for what it's worth and for the two people who read this blog).  So, here goes - in the order from the ballot:

President - Romney.  This is kind of a "well, duh" for me.  There is no doubt in my mind that a Romney/Ryan administration will be leaps and bounds better than the current set.  The reasons are legion.  Here's just one.

U.S. Congress, AL-5 - Mo Brooks.  Mo has been a great congressman and is a good friend.  I whole-heartedly endorse his re-election.  

Chief Justice, Alabama Supreme Court - Bob Vance.  Despite, my natural inclination to support my Party's nominee,  I can't support Roy Moore.  I believe his actions the last time he was Chief Justice should have resulted in his disbarment and disqualify him from serving as a judge.  Judge Vance is a good and fair judge.  I think he would do a fine job and would not have an agenda.  However, I think Moore will probably win.  

Many of the other judicial spots are not being opposed, so I will vote for the incumbents. (The same with Dale Strong for County Commission Chairman.)  There is one exception.  Please, please, PLEASE do NOT vote for Linda Coats for District Judge.  Write someone in, anyone.  I will be writing in Chris Messervy, the person who won the Republican Primary.  What the state party did by removing Chris and placing Coats, a poor choice, on the ballot was disgusting.  

Public Service Commission - Cavanaugh.  I'm not a huge Twinkle fan, but Baxley has had her time.  She's old and a democrat.  

Madison County Probate Judge - Patty Demos.  Beyond, being the Republican, Demos is an attorney.  Ragland has no legal training.  I don't say that to be condescending or elitist, but the Probate Judge has enough responsibilities for which legal training really is needed that having an attorney in the office will help it run more efficiently   

County Commission District 3 - Sisk.  It's time for the Commission to be representative of a Republican county.


There are a lot of Constitutional Amendments on the ballot this year - a function of the nature of our state's constitution.  You can find some more information on these amendments here, here, and here.  

Statewide Amendment 1 - No.  This amendment would extend payments to the Forever Wild Land Trust for 20 years.  This sounds nice, but the state is having budget problems.  I may change my mind, though, since the amendment just extends payments being received from the oil and gas trust fund.

Statewide Amendment 2 - No.  This amendment would allow the state to incur more debt.  On principle, I think that it a bad idea.  

Statewide Amendment 3 - Yes.  This would set aside a historic district in Baldwin County, without any addition tax expenditures.

Statewide Amendment 4 - Yes.  This is principally a feel good amendment to remove racist language from other parts of the State's Constitution.

Statewide Amendment 5 - Yes.  This amendment effects the friendly transfer of liabilities from the Prichard Water and Sewer Board to Mobile.

Statewide Amendment 6 - Yes.  This is an Obamacare opt-out.  It would prohibit mandatory participation in a Federal health care system.  It is a challenge to the overreach of Obamacare and should be supported.

Statewide Amendment 7  - Yes.  This amendment would protect the right of secret ballot in labor votes regarding whether or not to unionize.  

Statewide Amendment 8 - Yes.  This amendment would limit and peg the pay of members of the Alabama legislature to the median income in Alabama and would prohibit the legislature from setting its own pay.

Statewide Amendment 9 - Yes.  This one is a little confusing, but, best I can tell, it removes obsolete provisions from the corporation law, while preserving the right of the state to level business privilege taxes and pass other laws related to corporations.

Statewide Amendment 10 - ???, but probably yes.  This is another doozy.  It has very confusing wording.  As best I can tell, it modernizes the state banking system, including removing the gold standard.

Statewide Amendment 11 -  I think, yes.  This amendment prohibits any town located entirely outside of Lawrence County - i.e., Decatur - from imposing any municipal ordinance on Lawrence County.  Apparently, the police jurisdiction of Decatur currently reaches into Lawrence County.  

Local Amendment 1 - Sure.  This local amendment applies only to Madison County and would create a procedure whereby dogs may be declared dangerous and put down.

There you go.  Take them or leave them, those are my recommendations.  However you choose to vote, please just vote.  It is one of our most valuable rights.  Good luck.   

Disturbing

This disturbs me, and has for some time.  It has always struck me how the President has been building a cult of personality like we have seen in communist countries (the USSR, China, Romania, Cuba) and other authoritarian regimes (Nazi Germany).  It is sad to me that we are seeing it exhibited with so many of our youth in 21st century America.  Just a thought on this Friday.

Hmmm...

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. Regardless, I think this clip hurt my brain a little bit.

If I wanted America to fail,...

This is a great video.  Worth a watch.

One Term is Enough

A compelling video (the Tom Hanks propaganda "documentary" notwithstanding):