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.

“Once in a lifetime” is happening far too often in our lives

Earlier this week, I listened to Dr. James B. McClintock speak to students in the University Honors Program at UAB. McClintock, the renowned Endowed University Professor of Polar and Marine Biology at the university, once again showed, with ample evidence, what climate change is doing to polar ice in both the Arctic (Northern Hemisphere) and … Continued

September 13, 2018

The duty of the voter

Now that Labor Day is behind us, the political campaigns for November’s General Election are in full swing. Or should be. While polls indicate Democrats likely will take back the U.S. House of Representatives, nothing is certain. It depends on which side can get out their voters. In Alabama, these “midterm” elections are always a … Continued

September 6, 2018

Go big, Sen. Jones, or go down trying

The perception, if not the reality, is that there is nobody to take the late Sen. John McCain’s place in the U.S. Senate as a “maverick,” or whatever one wishes to call McCain. There is no doubt that McCain leaves a void. He had a reputation for “independence,” if nothing else, even if that’s an … Continued

August 30, 2018

Snakes, canaries and the party of corruption

There’s all this talk about a “Blue Wave” this November in the midterm elections. Those “midterms” are also the major elections for Alabama. What kind of Blue Wave we might have in Alabama is anybody’s guess. If one or two Democrats won their legislative or statewide races, that’d be a Blue Wave in Alabama these … Continued

August 23, 2018

A blue few days away, and a same-sex wedding

After another disappointing Alabama election where voters decided against their better interests, I was characteristically frustrated. One of my friends, this one living in northern Virginia, wrote to me: “Joey, you and Veronica should move to a blue state just for a little while. It’ll add 10 years to your life.” I chuckled. I can’t … Continued

August 16, 2018

Toe the lie, err, line, or get out of it

Earlier this year, I was on a panel for a debate of gubernatorial candidates at Alabama Boys State’s annual meeting at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. One night, the GOP candidates debated; the next night, the Democratic Candidates debated. Only two Republicans showed up; all of the active Democrats were there. Whatever you think … Continued

August 9, 2018

Refuse to be ignored

Watching the way Republicans in Alabama are campaigning for their offices – statewide, congressional seats, Legislature – is discouraging to people who care. They are running invisible campaigns against their Democratic opponents. Their strategy appears to be out-of-sight, out-of-trouble-with-their-views. They don’t want to stick their heads up too far and end up the victim of … Continued

August 2, 2018

Debates? “No way Kay” says no way

Why does it matter whether current not-elected Republican Gov. Kay Ivey and elected Tuscaloosa Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Walt Maddox debate the issues before Alabama voters? What’s the big deal, anyway? Each candidate will simply say what they think we want to hear. And, really, what advantage can Ivey gain from a debate with … Continued

July 26, 2018

Alabama voters: You just don’t care

Secretary of State John Merrill expected turnout in Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican Party primary runoffs to be “extraordinarily low.” Merrill said he thought, on average, 15 percent to 18 percent of the state’s registered voters would go to the polls. Even that was wishful thinking. Alabama voters: You don’t care. With as much going on … Continued

July 19, 2018

Our duty to refugees

Anybody who pays attention knows that the world has a refugee crisis. What they may not realize is that the United States has a refugee crisis, too. Not a crisis of people fleeing the United States because of persecution or threats of ethnic violence, or an unstable government out of control, or one ruled by … Continued

July 13, 2018