Columnists
America still at war with terror, terrorists
By Representative Jo Bonner
This Saturday, the nation will pause to reflect on that tragic morning nine years ago as New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania suffered the combined loss of thousands of American lives at the hands of Al Qaeda terrorists.
The 9/11 anniversary also comes on the heels of the official end of American combat operations in Iraq and a greater focus on the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, a location which has become increasingly violent for our soldiers.
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Labor Day marks race to campaign finish
By Steve Flowers
As we approach the Labor Day weekend it reminds me of bygone days in Alabama politics. Labor Day was the biggest campaign day of a gubernatorial election year. There were campaign rallies from one end of the state to the other. Although politics today is not as colorful, Labor Day still officially marks the start of the fall election campaign. We will have an eight week sprint to the finish line on Nov. 2.
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Thanks for attending town meetings
By Representative Jo Bonner
Last week, my staff and I journeyed throughout the six counties of the First Congressional District to hear your views first-hand and to take your ideas back to Washington. Next week, I will comment in greater detail about what I learned during our 13 stops. But, for now, I just want to say “thank you” to everyone who joined me in city halls and community centers from Chatom to Orange Beach. Suffice it to say the economy and the oil spill dominated the conversation.
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New governor faces huge burden when elected
By Steve Flowers
The new governor, whoever is elected this year, when they enter the Governor’s office in January of 2011 will be walking onto the deck of the Titanic. Never in my lifetime, nor most of yours, have we witnessed the likes of the horrific dilemma the new governor will face when he takes over the reigns of state government.
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Bentley’s course to victory unusual
By Steve Flowers
One of the amazing stories that emerged from our gubernatorial primaries was the dissolution of the political adage that money talks in politics. Most pundits pegged Bradley Byrne to be the odds on favorite to win the GOP nomination because he had the big business special interest money solidly behind him. During the course of the primary and runoff his campaign raised and spent $6.9 million. In comparison, Dr. Robert Bentley spent $1.8 million. This is an amazing almost 4 to 1 disparity. That, my friends, is unheard of in Alabama or anywhere else.
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Vice president visits Theodore
By Representative Jo Bonner
A month after President Barack Obama toured the U.S. Coast Guard Gulf oil spill incident response staging area in Theodore, Alabama, Vice President Joe Biden followed suit. Last Thursday, Mr. Biden and National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, viewed operations at the facility located south of Mobile and the vice president met afterwards with local fishermen and small business owners affected by the spill.
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Hometown politics are always present
By Steve Flowers
In 1949 Dr. V.O. Key, Jr. wrote a book entitled, “Southern Politics in State and Nation.” His book is considered the bible of southern political history. It is still the cornerstone textbook of choice for most courses on southern politics taught at universities throughout the country.
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Republican race looms with interest
By Steve Flowers
As the Republican field for governor began to formulate almost two years ago, the players crystallized early in the game. They all figured that the winner of the primary would have a cakewalk to governor because they assumed that an African American congressman named Artur Davis, who had been Barack Obama’s campaign manager in Alabama, would be their Democratic opponent. Therefore, winning the Republican nomination would be tantamount to election.
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Obama’s Gulf tour to Alabama
By Representative Jo Bonner
Last week, President Barack Obama made his first visit to coastal Alabama to assess the physical and economic damage caused by the Gulf oil spill. He spent several hours in our backyard, visiting the oil spill response staging area at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Theodore, taking the ferry from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan and traveling over to Orange Beach to eat at Tacky Jack’s before leaving for Florida.
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Republican candidacy will need runoff
By Steve Flowers
You have an advantage on me as the results from Tuesday’s primaries are known to you as you read this column because the column was sent to your newspaper prior to the vote. Undoubtedly we are looking at a July 13th runoff for governor on the Republican side. The Democratic nominee has been decided.
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