politician

News / State

Merrill response not a surprise

I like John Merrill. I can’t help it. I like people who embrace who they are, imperfections and all, and make a hard run at whatever life they’ve chosen. John Merrill must’ve known in elementary school that he wanted to be a politician, and he’s worked at it every day since. Shaking hands. Remembering people’s … Continued

Josh Moon

August 5, 2019

Opinion

Nothing matters more than the desperate politician

Del Marsh is having himself quite a week. And by that, I mean that Del Marsh is doing dumb things in the hopes that some of you will please remember that he exists when it comes time to vote for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Doug Jones. Apparently, the way to win the … Continued

Josh Moon

March 22, 2019

Opinion

Leader or follower: The two sentence fig leaf test

After the 2018 election, constitutionally we seated newly elected and re-elected officials at the local, state and national level. You can always KNOW when a politician is dealing with a very hot political issue with two key sentences: Let the People Vote and I am personally opposed, But! This is a true litmus test for … Continued

John W. Giles

January 9, 2019

Opinion

What nobody (and everybody) is talking about

When a politician doesn’t want to address an essential but thorny policy issue, they say, “Nobody’s talking about that.” Expanding health coverage to low-wage earners and passing a meaningful lottery are just a few of the things nobody’s talking about but are at the forefront of needful things that should be addressed by the State … Continued

Bill Britt

November 22, 2018

Opinion

Republicans playing by different rules when it comes to state ethics laws

The law is simple: Candidates running for public office in Alabama must file a statement of economic interests when they qualify, and then must file an annual SEI by the yearly deadline. That’s not hard, right? File an SEI when you qualify. File again at the next year’s deadline. Simple. But then, following ethics laws … Continued

Josh Moon

August 14, 2018

Ainsworth blasts Twinkle in lieutenant governor race, lays out his plan for the office

Career politician vs. successful businessman. That’s the way Will Ainsworth sees his Republican primary race for lieutenant governor. He, of course, is the successful businessman, having founded Dream Ranch and the Alabama Hunting and Fishing Expo, and his opponent, Twinkle Cavanaugh, is the “swampy” career politician. “You can’t get more swamp than my opponent in … Continued

Josh Moon

May 17, 2018

Opinion

Willful American stupidity: How Russia rigged the U.S. election

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter This is how Russia manipulated a U.S. presidential election. On Tuesday, my Facebook feed began filling up with posts about the Florida high school students who are leading the gun reform charge following the deadly shooting on their campus last week. Most of those posts were people in awe … Continued

Josh Moon

February 22, 2018

Ainsworth qualifies for lieutenant governor’s race

Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter State Rep. Will Ainsworth, R-Guntersville, announced Wednesday on the Dale Jackson Show in Huntsville that he officially filed qualifying papers to seek the office of lieutenant governor in the 2018 Republican primary election set for June 5. “I want to use the lieutenant governor’s office as a bully pulpit for … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 8, 2018

Opinion

Why doesn’t it hurt to be wrong anymore?

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Do conservatives never feel dumb? Maybe “dumb” is too harsh. Embarrassed? Ashamed? Any of those? Any feeling resembling some level of remorse for loudly holding a belief that is 100 percent wrong? Because, I hate to be the bearer of tough news here, but you guys are wrong a … Continued

Josh Moon

January 12, 2018

Opinion

Roy Moore is on the run

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter It was all just a show. I think that deep down most everyone knew this about Roy Moore — that his entire persona was nothing more than a contrived act. A ruse. A way to tweak his ego and bring easy money to his doorstep. He’s not the tough … Continued

Josh Moon

November 8, 2017