Author

Joey Kennedy

Joey Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, writes a column each week for the Alabama Political Reporter. You can email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter.

From the puppy mill to the bill mill

As a state, Alabama traditionally ranks from pretty terrible to just plain awful in child welfare. If Alabama were a parent, it would be reported to DHR for child neglect. If we’re that bad in child welfare, you only get one guess where Alabama stands in animal welfare. Right. Below awful. That doesn’t mean we … Continued

Joey Kennedy

April 11, 2019

Opinion

We dare tilt at windmills

Alabama’s state motto is “We Dare Defend Our Rights.” You’ll see it at practically every rest area welcoming visitors to our state. It’s a lie, though. I have my own twist on the motto: “We Dare Defend Our Wrongs.” Because, indeed, that’s what Alabama’s history is all about – defending lost, ugly causes against the … Continued

Joey Kennedy

April 4, 2019

Opinion

The privilege of privilege

Lots of people are up in arms, and rightly so, about those wealthy, privileged parents who illegally rigged the college admissions system to accept their little over-privileged children when their brats wouldn’t have otherwise qualified. When we observe those privileged parents’ progeny in their natural habitat, we just turn away in disgust. Aunt Becky’s (actress … Continued

Joey Kennedy

March 28, 2019

Opinion

For dogs: Breaking the glass window

Spring in Alabama can be wonderful. Temperatures warm, but it’s usually not too hot yet. Spring also can be violent. Already this year, even before spring officially started, we’ve seen deadly tornadoes wreak havoc across the state, taking many lives. One fact about Alabama’s spring, though, is that it won’t be long before we see … Continued

Joey Kennedy

March 21, 2019

Opinion

A legacy of compassion

I am in no way opposed to Gov. Kay Ivey’s gas tax hike for bridge and road infrastructure. It’s been a long time since the gas tax was raised, and during all that time, Alabama’s roads and bridges have not been repairing themselves. I’m all in. But that is not the legacy Ivey should want … Continued

Joey Kennedy

March 15, 2019

Opinion

The fallen Star

At the beginning of last year, when former Consolidated Publishing chairman and Anniston Star publisher H. Brandt Ayers basically admitted to abusing at least two of his former female employees by spanking them decades ago, those of us who followed the story knew this was just the cliché’d tip of the iceberg. When my wife, … Continued

Joey Kennedy

March 7, 2019

Opinion

Brandy Ayers stole “normal” from the women he abused

Shortly after the Anniston Star posted a story that Washington Post Executive Editor Martin “Marty” Baron was coming to Anniston to deliver the annual Ayers Lecture, the rumblings started. On the surface, it appeared to be an insult to the many women, including my wife, Veronica, who were abused by H. Brandt Ayers, former publisher … Continued

Joey Kennedy

February 28, 2019

Opinion

SMH and calling BS

You may not believe this, but there was a time in Alabama where we had commonsense, level-headed Republicans serving in office. There weren’t many of them because there weren’t that many Republicans. But they were real Republicans – fiscally conservative, rarely invoking their God as a running-mate, and they supported and sponsored good legislation, regardless … Continued

Joey Kennedy

February 21, 2019

Opinion

One year later, we still March for Our Lives

On the day we celebrate love, we also must commemorate a devastating anniversary, the first since the mass shooting last year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. That Valentine’s Day afternoon, in six minutes of terror, a former MSD student killed 17 students and staff members and injured 17 more. Sadly, in … Continued

Joey Kennedy

February 14, 2019

Opinion

A real danger in America: Driving, walking, running, biking, shopping while black

E.J. Bradford died because he was shopping while black. When a shooting occurred at the Galleria on Thanksgiving night, Bradford did what any decent guy with a gun would do: He went after the shooter. He was killed for that. Because he was out shopping while black. Doing something while black and getting into trouble … Continued

Joey Kennedy

February 7, 2019