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Joey Kennedy

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.

A translation of US Rep. Bradley Byrne’s “five priorities” column

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter I read an interesting guest column on Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, one written by US Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Mobile). Titled “Five things to watch in 2017,” it listed the five top priorities of the Republicans once so-called Republican Donald Trump is inaugurated as President on Jan. 20. Byrne was … Continued
January 5, 2017

Why doesn’t Alabama care about Alabama?

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Here we are, at the end of another year. Sunday starts 2017, a year of uncertainty. What we do know is that Alabama doesn’t really progress much more than in the bottom 50 of the United States. Frankly, we never have. And that is what’s on my mind. Why … Continued
December 28, 2016

How is America great? Again?

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter It’s Christmas week. Merry Christmas. This is the obligatory Christmas column. OK, neither Bill nor Susan Britt told me to write a Christmas column. But I’m going to just the same. I despise Christmas. I hate what it’s become. It’s like a Donald Trump holiday. Get everything you want, … Continued
December 21, 2016

Writing about politics can be depressing

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter There was a time nearly two decades ago that I was having an especially personal exam at my doctor’s office. After he finished what he had to do, I asked him how he could do that every day. He responded immediately: “How do you cover that Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky … Continued
December 14, 2016

I’m as wrong as wrong can be

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Has anybody who writes about politics this year been more wrong than me? Maybe, but I don’t know. I don’t think so. I wrote that Donald Trump would never win the Republican nomination for president. Surely we’re smarter than that, even the Republicans. No way the Christian right would … Continued
December 8, 2016

End the economic embargo against Cuba, not because it’ll help Alabama, but because it’s cruel not to

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Little doubt that the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro committed many atrocities during his iron-fist, nearly 50-year rule over the island nation 90 miles off the coast of Florida. I’m not an apologist for Castro. But I’m not going to ignore the fact that he was a Cuban patriot. … Continued
November 30, 2016

The truth will prevail, thank goodness

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter CARRSVILLE, Va. – I had planned this trip months ago. A four-day visit with Richard and Jill, two Virginia friends I’ve known since 2003. The trip couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Richard and I are like-thinkers. We’re both people of faith, but not people of … Continued
November 23, 2016

Learning a new process to grieve

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Earlier this week, I visited my mental health counselor. Ever since last week’s election, I’ve been pretty depressed and, literally, sick to my stomach. And learning who Republican Donald Trump is choosing for his leadership team isn’t helping. White nationalist Steve Bannon? Really? But this is the process. Trump … Continued
November 17, 2016

Congratulations, President Trump

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Say it. “I told you so.” It’s OK. It’s what I would have told you. Donald Trump is our president. He was elected by American voters. I respect that completely. If Americans want Trump as president, they have him. He’s my president, too. I accept that. I was wrong. … Continued
November 9, 2016