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  • Trump Ballots: Primary Corruption & General Collusion

    John Sophocleus|Mar 1, 2024

    Reporting on Trump’s ballot access in States like Colorado and Maine prompted one loyal reader to recall a long past Gazette column about ineligible candidates on Alabama ballots; https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2018/06/01/news/state-school-board-races-worthy-inquiry-to-secretary-merrill/1376.html. No shortage of disagreement on what constitutes ‘insurrection’ in these current State cases w.r.t. ballot access for Mr. Trump. Ineligible candidates Alabama’s Secretary of State (John Me...

  • Happy Birthday My Beautiful Bride: A Valentine's Day Baby!

    John Sophocleus|Feb 1, 2024

    A ‘Valentine’ themed column was requested for the February Gazette… I thought, Lord help this poor wordsmith - esp. when writing from the heart. Once again, help provided via Scriptures. I believe God answers all sincere prayers - sometimes the answer is no. Seems there’s no fool like an old fool for Christ; a moniker more obvious as my life comes to a close. Oldsters seem reluctant to share ‘University of Hard-Knocks’ education with others who may benefit, in particular our...

  • SCOTUS: What Would Solomon Do?

    John Sophocleus|Jan 1, 2024

    Many thanks for all the wonderful correspondences on my Christmas 2021 column; Christ is Born, Glorify Him! Pleasantly surprised how many included kind inquiry on my “Tough Roe to Hoe” column [https://www.alabamagazette. com/story/2021/10/01/opinion/tough-roe-to-hoe/2231.html] evoking Solomon’s wisdom. This third king of Israel reigned circa 968-928 BC, heralded for his wise judgments. One of the more notable Solomon decisions I wanted readers to recall comes from 1 Kings 3:16-28...

  • Christ is Born - Glorify Him!

    John Sophocleus|Dec 1, 2023

    This year’s Christmas column is once again intended to be at least one sobering moment in veneration of our Saviour’s birth; reaffirming the importance of standing against tyranny in this world. My devout, wholehearted prayer is all who know the Power of Jesus Christ’s teachings will take Him into their hearts this blessed season and overcome alethophobic [fear of truth] distractions and destruction by those make government(s) their god. Little surprise as more deny/reject God’s Truth,...

  • 25th Anniversary: Bulldozer v. M-14

    John Sophocleus|Nov 1, 2023

    Alabama Gazette’s 24th Anniversary evoked recalling a 25th anniversary. My first column submitted at the end of last century addressed Kelo type unconstitutional takings via eminent domain abuse. I’m a victim of armed robbery and one who’s exercised his 2nd Amendment civil right as intended by ’intelligent designers’ of the 1787-9 ratified Constitution. I hold more respect for the criminal who attempted pistol whipping me with a nickel plated revolver while robbing this former...

  • Appeal to Judges Manasco, Moorer & Marcus; Mapping Our Future

    John Sophocleus|Oct 1, 2023

    As expected, the three Judge panel in Birmingham rejected another disingenuous Congressional district voting map submitted by our Montgomery politburo. Much ink has spilled w.r.t. keeping ‘communities of interest’ intact… one manifestation of ever cascading collateral damage driven by addressing symptoms instead of repairing the problem as population continually increases. We’ve witnessed far too much rhetoric evoking the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and Section 2 of the...

  • Thousands of Lee County dissidents

    John Sophocleus|Sep 1, 2023

    A most stirring column this year explains the economic lynching of Mr. Willie Philpot and his growing business [ViroTek] killed by Lee County. This anticompetitive, ACCA/BCA type clown-show of politburo members is currently led by the most corrupt ‘public servant’ Commissioner Gary Long. Lee County voters removed the previous anti-business/pro-cronyism ringleader [Ham] in the 2022 primary run-off. ‘Follow-up’ to my March 2023 Gazette column [https://www.alabamagazette...

  • Two Faced Senator Teletubby

    John Sophocleus|Aug 1, 2023

    Another one of our overcompensated ‘public servants’ made Alabama proud with potato-head mutterings and dim-witted TV comments this past month. Sunday talking head ‘Tube-R-ville’ mispronunciation amplify despair of how little Teletubby’s handlers improved performance of this highly subsidized (this IS Auburn) football coach milking the RSA on par with Florida resident Jay Jacobs… that is, if one controls for Tubberville’s shorter duration at Alabama’s hog-though on the Plains....

  • Applauding SCotUS...with Caveats

    John Sophocleus|Jul 1, 2023

    On June 8, 2023 SCotUS affirmed the federal District Court [Allen v. Milligan] finding Alabama's Congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. I applaud this inferior decision, polluted by a century of unconstitutional mappings... driven by the arbitrary 435 limit concentrating power to HoR members. Sadly, SCotUS shows little resolve to follow the Constitution and make our House representative again, so I submit strong caveats on how to proceed with elections after redistricting for...

  • Resolve for I&R [Initiative and Referendum] in Birmingham

    John Sophocleus|Jun 1, 2023

    Oppressed Birmingham citizens may appreciate LPA [Libertarian Party of Alabama] efforts for greater access to their ballots. Their Executive Committee recently approved a resolution introduced by District Representative Patrick Merritt [Region 3] to support Birmingham citizens using I&R, see Article 3.15(b) link: https://www.birminghamal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/mayorcouncilact.pdf to restore some of their cherished liberty. I&R enables citizens to place measures on their respective...

  • Lee County Installations: more Ivey Poison

    John Sophocleus|May 1, 2023

    On April 10th Richard Lagrand (who recently lost reelection as the incumbent last summer) was reinstalled to Lee County Commission District 5 by Gov. Ivey, reaffirming her fidelity to ACCA, BCA, et al corruption over the citizens of Lee County. The death of Commissioner Harris (see my February 2022 Gazette column) soon after taking office provided a perfect example for Ivey to show resolve on holding a special election with an entire term of office unexpired. Obviously this wouldn’t bode well...

  • The Auburn Greed 2.0

    John Sophocleus|Apr 1, 2023

    Five years ago my Alabama Gazette column featured a rendition of The Auburn Creed (originally penned by George Petrie in 1943) aptly re-titled The Auburn Greed. Petrie’s original prose righteously opens with this preamble impressed upon all Auburn students as follows: “I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.” Four score and steadfast tyranny of many high-plains grifters - e.g., Bobby (FDIC) Lowder, Ed...

  • Witness: Economic Lynching in Lee County

    John Sophocleus|Mar 1, 2023

    In the Spirit of 'never again' a few painfully addressed an ugly past of lynching documented by the Lee County Remembrance Project - specifically Messrs John Moss, George Hart, Charles Humphries, Samuel Harris and Charles Miller. As mankind evolves... cloaking evil to fool oneself and others, a 'new and improved' lynching method was witnessed by observers willing/able to understand the destruction of Willie Philpot, an accomplished young entrepreneur squashed by the anti-business/pro-political...

  • In Memoriam: the John Andrew Harris Rule

    John Sophocleus|Feb 1, 2023

    Prior to Sunday school on the morning of January 15 in the year of our Lord 2023, brethren at Green Chapel Missionary Baptist Church informed me Commissioner John Andrew Harris, Sr. died Saturday night. A long time kinship with Commissioner Harris (in our home phone speed-dial short list) prompted the first thing which came to mind; all the calls we exchanged these past decades. My bride would often get the phone and delight in John Andrew’s demeanor… either delightfully excited or solemnly...

  • Call Her Kat... Privett-Duren, that is

    John Sophocleus|Jan 1, 2023

    Feedback from last month's postscript compels writing more on Kat Privett-Duren who was the first courageous soul at AU to stand against the malicious administrator recently disciplined in federal court by upholding Professor Stern's First Amendment civil right. How little local Lee County media covered this unlikely victory against such abusive power is revealing. Helps one understand how wrongdoing of this sort in our city/county government, hospitals, school systems, etc. continues...

  • The Undisputed Winners of Alabama's 2022 Election...

    John Sophocleus|Dec 1, 2022

    Straight-ticket voting AND the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation; which will once again block political competition in Alabama. Most notable, even with mass straight-ticket and ‘write-in’ gubernatorial race votes (trumping up signature requirements to impede competition) was Dr. James ‘Jimmy’ Blake’s 3% result. This would suffice for ballot retention in most States. Some voters, who actually take voting seriously (didn’t mindlessly bubble-mark the Blue or Red...

  • Straight-Ticket Defiers

    John Sophocleus|Nov 1, 2022

    To those who don’t want to be a part of the Bloods or Crips political gang…. https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2018/12/01/opinion/the-scourge-of-straight-ticketers/1518.html Straight-ticket voting enables a voter to cast all their votes for one party with a single mark at the top of the ballot. This duopoly party enhancing practice finally died in most States. Little surprise it remains in uncompetitive/ballot access blocked Alabama which is among the last with six other States still suff...

  • Electing Lobbyists: Streamlining Political Theft in Alabama

    John Sophocleus|Oct 1, 2022

    Bill Britt (4/18/18 Alabama Political Reporter) stated current and former BCA [Business Council of Alabama] members thought the board’s vote demanding Bill Canary’s resignation was good news for our State’s future. Some were angry BCA Chairman Perry Hand wanted to keep Canary until fall. APR’s sources said Hand’s timing was designed for BCA to further influence election outcomes; control campaign donations and win enough races to rally a comeback. Hand seemed willing to risk...

  • Stealing Elections in Alabama: Next Step, Close Primaries

    John Sophocleus|Sep 1, 2022

    Champions of political competition often cite Alabama with the most restrictive ballot access laws in 50 States. Any non-duopoly political party wanting access/inclusion on the upcoming Nov. 8th general election ballot printing was required to submit over 51,000 verified signatures. Given the history of being blocked from ballots, debates, media coverage, etc. the LPA [Libertarian Party of Alabama] submitted almost 80,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office reducing ‘wiggle...

  • January Sixth Twenty Twenty-one: A Date Which Will Live in Stupidity

    John Sophocleus|Aug 1, 2022

    I can almost hear FDR’s shrill voice enunciating these words in my “mind’s ear.” The nation’s capitol was fatuously and ignorantly attacked… Apropos to evoke FDR as a traditional, big govt. New York Republican turned Democrat that drove the last nails in the Party of Jefferson coffin. TJ championed the long road to freedom and independence which morphed into the hegemonic coalition we observe today after the success of the newly formed Republican Party four score after Jefferson...

  • Trouble in Hubbardland?

    John Sophocleus|Jul 1, 2022

    More rumblings in ‘low turnout’ Lee County as voters try to reject Hubbardland, the epicenter of corruption in our State. Although in prison and well paid with back door hush money via the Auburn mafia/Yellagrubber coconspirators [www.alabamagazette.com/story/2019/10/01/opinion/the-au-horror-picture-show-bride-of-felonstein-meets-yellagrubbear/1750.html] Felon Hubbard still calls the shots. Reading Mike’s ‘code’ from prison dialog transcripts leaves little doubt. The Hubbard Boulevard...

  • 2022 Primary Retrospective: No Ad too Dumb for a Dumb Ad!

    John Sophocleus|Jun 1, 2022

    With all due respect to Gov. Ivey’s high-steppin’ through the bovine (dare I type BCA?) excrement, my beautiful bride took a sigh of relief as all the Dumb Ads disappeared Wednesday after the 5/24 primary. Still clueless what “No step too high for a high-stepper,” means, but it didn’t win my most Dumb Ad award. It was nonetheless a good political ‘weapon of mass distraction’ by this BCA incumbent’s handlers. More on that later… In spite of challenger ads touting Kay’s...

  • Remember Every Joesophant AND MAGAt

    John Sophocleus|May 1, 2022

    As expected, Joe’s approval numbers are in the ‘Trumpster.’ Duopoly voter buyer’s remorse once again set in as election hype attenuates. You’ll find admission of remorse difficult to extract from any Joesophant (blind Biden supporter) as was the case with MAGAts (blind Trump supporters) after the 2016 election Kabuki show. Readers of past columns may recall my explanation of stolen Presidential elections as taken from the PEOPLE under our current, very UN-representative republic...

  • New ASA President Sheriff Jay Jones

    John Sophocleus|Apr 1, 2022

    Longtime Alabama Gazette contributor Sheriff Derrick Cunningham’s service as President of the Alabama Sheriff’s Association (since January 2020) came to a close with installation of Sheriff Jay Jones last month. One can easily imagine Sheriff Cunningham, among the most respected Gazette supporters, was ready for a break after quickly walking into the Covid response quagmire. Perhaps Sheriff Cunningham could impose on Sheriff Jones to submit articles of interest at times as his succeeding...

  • Discrimination via Poor Representation

    John Sophocleus|Mar 1, 2022

    Once upon a time, I’ve been told, students were taught ‘taxation without representation’ as a trigger in our first war for independence. Sadly, it wasn’t something stressed in my government school approved education. Thankfully enough true teachers remained to direct me toward some of the more important clauses of our Declaration and Constitution. Some classmates may also cite old textbooks stored in the back of a high-school classroom where I’d try to hide (bored in trig class,...

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