The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 20 - 44 of 1975
Perfect for The Fourth of July, the feature film, "Young Washington", is now showing in movie theaters nationwide. It is a compellingly good movie. While the film does have some French and Indian War era violence which gives it its PG-13 rating, it is overall suited for family viewing. As one young lad of 13 years of age put it while holding up his large cup of Coca Cola in the movie theater, "Young Washington" is a good movie, "even better than this Coke". "Young Washington" focuses on the expe...
July 4, 2026 marks an extraordinary milestone: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The United States Semi quincentennial serves as an opportunity to reflect on the principles that have shaped the American experiment: self-government, individual liberty, the rule of law, and the role each state, including Alabama, carries to preserve them. Our history has not been without challenges or imperfections, but it has been marked by a continual effort to strengthen our...
Key was a lawyer and obviously had other talents as well. Key was born in 1779; his father was a lawyer and a judge. Though Frances considered becoming an Episcopal priest, he decided to go into law instead. He “read” law under his brother-in-law and Judge Jeremiah Townley Chase. He passed the Bar in 1801. He was considered a good lawyer, practicing in Frederick, Maryland and Washington, D.C. His law practice was successful and was involved in several important cases, appearing even before the...
Happy 250th Birthday, USA!!! As we commemorate this historic milestone, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the values that unite us as Americans. Our nation’s journey has been shaped by the courage, resilience, and hope of generations who have come before us. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the freedoms we cherish and remember the importance of coming together as a community, not just in celebration, but in support of one another. "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free....
There are moments in American history when doing the right thing requires courage long before it receives applause. This is one of those moments. The United States Supreme Court has affirmed what millions of Americans have believed all along: states have the constitutional authority to protect women's sports and preserve the promise of Title IX. This is more than a legal victory. It is a victory for fairness, common sense, and every young girl who has spent countless hours training with the...
Today, just about everybody understands that Elon Musk’s greatest dream is to establish a permanent human colony on the planet Mars. Obviously, it is a gargantuan proposal, and many people are claiming that it is utterly impossible. For starters, Musk can’t just jump in and attempt it immediately. Right now, we are in an intense race with China to send American astronauts to the Moon’s south pole to claim the limited strategic high spots with 24/7 daylight for power generation and ice-b...
This Robservation is actually special to me. Not only is it a celebration of the birthday for what I consider to be the greatest country on Earth, but this is also my 200th Robservation. I just wanted to thank Mrs. Grant and say what an honor it has been for me to write for her. During the 250th birthday bash for this great country of ours, emotions are swimming wildly in my head. For me, in my mind at least, my service to this country started long before I even knew it. How? Well, I absolutely...
There are moments in history when a nation pauses, looks back with gratitude, and looks forward with confidence. America's 250th birthday is one of those moments. As hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have traveled across America for the World Cup, they have discovered something television cameras and international headlines could never show them. They have found welcoming communities, thriving downtowns, churches filled on Sunday,...
In the classic mystery, The Dog That Wouldn't Bark, the investigator cracks the case by observing a canine that remained silent-a stillness that spoke volumes. When it comes to Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin's campaign finance irregularities, that pooch is none other than Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen. In the first two segments of this series, I outlined how public funds were funneled to utilize city employees for election functions and how the Woodfin political machine operates...
Party registration first appeared on the legislative agenda last session; I held my reluctance and did not support such measures at the time. Even though I have never cast a ballot in a Democratic primary, my first thought: people should have the right to participate in whichever one they choose. A voter might support a friend running in a specific race, and that serves as reason enough to select that ballot. We also have independents; why should they change party affiliation each election year...
While Alabamians who are rising up against hyperscale data centers are expressing concern that they don’t want “Alabama to be the Wild West for industrialization”, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Tommy Tuberville, has strongly backed the construction of hyperscale data centers throughout Alabama the Beautiful in his rhetoric the past couple of days. For Coach Tuberville stated on Monday at a Sheriff’s conference that, “"Everybody asks, 'How do you do that?' I've talked to several g...
In the murky waters of Alabama political finance, the line between "necessary campaign expenditure" and personal gain is often blurred by creative accounting. When a personal achievement-like a memoir-is funded by a candidate's principal campaign committee, it raises serious questions under the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA). The Legal Framework Under Alabama Code § 17-5-7, a candidate or principal campaign committee may only use campaign contributions for specific, defined purposes:...
We spend far too much time asking whether Alabama is red enough or blue enough. We're asking the wrong question. The question isn't whether our politics can win another election. The question is whether our politics can still solve problems. Somewhere along the way, we confused politics with identity. We started treating our political parties like college football teams, where loyalty matters more than results and questioning your own side is considered betrayal. That's not leadership. The...
Power outgrowing consent of the citizens thirsts for more and oft requires reaching out. Auburn's incumbent mayor (re)election slogan is 'we' can do it together. The we becomes less ambiguous when connecting the 'I Believe in Felon Hubbard' political thieves. Robert Wilkins put his finger on two of those reaches in a June 30 letter to the Plainsman [https://www.theplainsman.com/staff/robert-wilkins] and readers owe him many thanks for his illumination, whatever they make of his run for mayor. I...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - At a candidate forum recorded July 19, I asked the candidates for Alabama's Second Congressional District about the sanctity of life. State Rep. Rhett Marques answered by saying two things that cannot both be true. First he said this: "Now, I do believe that life begins at conception. I do believe that." Then, in the same answer, he said this: "Until that fertilized egg is put into the woman, that is where it starts." Those are not two ways of saying the same thing. If life...
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin In the first four parts of my investigation series on the corruption and misuse of funds from the administration of Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin here is what I have laid out detailing alleged criminal activity from 100 plus documents I have from the Woodfin files. To see screenshots of the evidence please go back and review the first four articles. Campaign Finance & Ethical Allegations: The series centers on documented evidence of multi-year campaign finance...
Woodfin investigation - Part 5 When examining the Woodfin files, what initially appeared to be a straightforward investigation quickly peeled back like an onion, revealing deeper layers of questionable conduct. While the Birmingham mayor and his administration initially brushed off the findings as a joke, the gravity of the situation has left no room for laughter. The Promotion of the Randall Woodfin national brand On March 9, 2026, a community conversation event at Birmingham's historic Carver...
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance." — Psalm 33:12 History records the rise and fall of kingdoms, empires, and republics. Ancient Greece gave civilization democracy but could not preserve it. Rome built the greatest empire of the ancient world, yet eventually collapsed under the weight of its own excesses. Great powers have risen, flourished, and disappeared into history, leaving behind little more than monuments and memories. Yet t...
When Katie Britt assumed her role on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, she did so as the most junior Senator of the entire body, ranking last in seniority. She was low on the totem pole, and she had big shoes to fill taking over legendary Senator Richard Shelby’s seat. He ranked fourth in overall seniority and was probably one of the five most powerful elected officials in the country when he retired as Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Many expected it would b...
The June 16 Republican runoff yielded the final revelation of the 2026 election year. Winning the GOP Primary nomination is tantamount to election in the Heart of Dixie. Several of the most important and prominent political posts in the state were decided in the first primary on May 19. Tommy Tuberville prevailed in the Governor’s race, garnering an amazing 85% of the vote. Caroleene Dobson won the Secretary of State race against two opponents. Young Boozer captured an unprecedented fourth t...
July 3, 2026 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Founders of our great Republic gathered in Philadelphia to fulfill a God-given destiny - the freedom and Independence of the United States of America. Fifty-six men - representing legions of freedom-loving Patriots sprawled across 13 Colonies - pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to sign a legendary charter of freedom and declare America's promise that all...
Abuse of Purse Strings - Part II] Last month I laid down the AU money 'stem to Stern' so to speak. Trustees' wealth buys access to the seat through corrupt governors who appoint them; the same wealth funds Tiger Paw PAC, the PAC pays budget chairs who ramrodded HB 580. The Board executed this ill-advised Second of two parts. legislation on June 5 by dissolving the faculty Senate in 15 scheduled minutes. I ask readers to(re)visit Part 1: https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/20...
Jackson Hospital Must Not Be Allowed to Fail History will remember what the River Region does in this moment. Long after the bankruptcy filings have been archived and the court proceedings have ended, people will remember whether this community came together to save one of its most important institutions or stood by while it disappeared. Jackson Hospital is simply too important to fail. This is not merely another corporate restructuring. Jackson Hospital is one of the largest employers in...
This year offers a meaningful opportunity for reflection. As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, Taiwan marks the 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election--a historic milestone that reflects the democratic aspirations of the Taiwanese people and the shared values that continue to connect our two societies. The relationship between Taiwan and the State of Alabama is not merely one of economic exchange. It is a deep-rooted partnership built on...
"Young Washington", the full-length feature film about the early days of George Washington, opened in movie theaters over the Fourth of July weekend. It was predicted to bring in $15 million at the box office, however, it brought in a third more than was predicted and took in $20 million at the box office. An impressive accomplishment since the movie debuted over the weekend in just 2,700 movie screens across the country instead of the usual 4,000 for major new releases. The $20 million in box...
