politicos Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

The political genius in film: William Goldman

Last Friday, Oscar-winning writer William Goldman died at the age of 87. Movie-goers and Hollywood enjoyed his wry wit and sardonic wisdom, but investigative reporters worldwide are forever in his debt for giving us the single best lead for tracking down public corruption and nefarious politicos. Goldman wrote the screenplay for the movie adapted from … Continued

November 19, 2018

Reading right, left and center

Since its inception nearly eight years ago, the Alabama Political Reporter has worked to inform, educate, alert and, on occasion, call to action its readers on a wide variety of political issues facing our state. APR’s focus is state politics and those things that make our state better. Along with in-depth reporting on policy, the politicos that … Continued

October 15, 2018

Republican brand still strong despite corruption, convictions and copying Democrat predecessors

According to Real Clear Politics, Democrats in Alabama have little chance of making progress in November’s general election because the Republican brand is so strong. RCP polling shows Gov. Kay Ivey is a hands-down favorite to win against Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in November’s general election even though she has only been governor for just … Continued

August 21, 2018

Activist calls for Attorney General Steve Marshall to be decertified or impeached

Across the state, lawyers, politicos and candidates are questioning how to deal with the dark money that flowed into the Republican Attorney General’s primary race. North Alabama Republican activist Thomas J. Scovill is calling for Speaker Mac McCutcheon and the ALGOP steering committee to deny Republican primary winner—appointed Attorney General Steve Marshall—certification because of funds … Continued

July 23, 2018

Steve Marshall is slowly dismantling the Special Prosecutions Division

Since his appointment by disgraced former Gov. Robert Bentley, Attorney General Steve Marshall has slowly and deliberately undermined the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division established by his predecessor, Luther Strange. By withholding funds and not replacing staff, he has destroyed morale, fostered discontent and generally worked to disrupt the efforts of the elite public corruption … Continued

May 1, 2018

Thank goodness, I’m an “outside agitator”

I guess I’m an outside agitator. Alabama politicians love to throw that phrase around. Seems like anytime somebody disagrees with one of Alabama’s horrible laws or policies or acts, the politicos throw out that line, or something like it. In defending his law to prohibit removing monuments more than 40 years old, state Sen. Gerald … Continued

April 26, 2018

Does Volkert chairman have millions of reasons to support Canary at BCA?

Perry Hand, the chairman of Mobile-based Volkert Inc., is standing behind the Business Council of Alabama’s besieged CEO Billy Canary, while his company has seen a dramatic rise in state business that roughly coincides with his tenure on the association’s board. Could it be that Hand’s dogged support of Canary is tied to the engineering … Continued

April 23, 2018

Hey Batter, Batter: Taunting Ivey over debates is a silly thing

Some in the media, a handful of politicos and three Republican challengers for governor are dyspeptic over Gov. Kay Ivey’s decision to skip last Thursday’s debate to attend a baseball game. While these head-to-head match-ups between Republican gubernatorial candidates might be entertaining, only the debate between the major party primary winners could prove decisive. Ivey … Continued

April 16, 2018

Democrat Mayor Walt Maddox sees what lawmakers and governor can’t

Politicos across the state are recognizing that the state’s Republican leadership is endangering their legacy by passing legislation to weaken current ethics statutes. Gubernatorial candidate Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox early this morning called on Gov. Kay Ivey to veto the hotly contentious House Bill 317, which carves out a certain class of economic professionals who … Continued

March 29, 2018