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“This is Alabama, we speak English.” — Tim James, candidate for governor, speaking in a campaign commercial decrying that Alabama offers driver’s license exams in 12 languages What, is he loco? If this ninja candidate was feeling angst at recent polling and looking for a way to add panache to his bid to be Alabama’s next governor, James found it. With this YouTube sensation, he can say “sayonara” to campaigning under the radar. Or, as famed Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto might say, “Se trata de Alabama. Hablamos Inglés.” So, what was the motivation — the raison d’être — of...

He says something that affected him profoundly is, “The Oath of Office I took when I put my hand up on July 7, 1981. There was no expiration date on that oath. Even at the age of 18, I realized it was the Constitution, not the man nor the office but that document I was protecting. I still take that oath seriously today.” Phillip understands the U.S. Constitution is not a “living, breathing document” as some try to depict it.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs flashed a left palm with notes written on it at the news briefing Tuesday, an apparent mocking reference to former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's use of her hand as notepad during the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. The words "hope" and "change" were written on Gibbs's hand where Palin had written "energy," "tax" and "lift American spirits" on hers, the AP reports.(continued)

Allahpundit: Via Weasel Zippers. The money line: “Are you going to keep building your party with Dixiecrats, ex-Democrats, who think the Democratic party is too mainstream?” Savor that last word, as it suggests that a party pushing a signature bill that’s now -20 in net approval in some polls is the one that speaks for the great “mainstream.” The idea of a liberal silent majority goes hand in hand with the idea of the GOP as a radical collective, which is where the confederacy meme comes in here. Nothing new for “Hardball”: Kathleen Parker pushed that smear herself back in...

Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby has confirmed that she is going to run for Congressional District 2 in Alabama. In a statement to WSFA 12 News, Roby says that she has filed her Statement of Candidacy and Statement of Organization with the Federal Election Commission, which allows her to begin to raise the resources necessary for a campaign. "For the past six years on the Montgomery City Council, I've used common-sense leadership and conservative Alabama values to guide my decision making, and in Congress I will continue to apply those same principles when seeking solutions to get this country back...

Eric Johnston, director of Citizens for a Better Alabama Has put together this video in response to the misleading high price ads the promoters of the gaming industry are showing. With your help we can get the truth out about what the harmful effect gambling has on communities. To find out who your legislators are click here. Website for state senate http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senateroster_alpha.html Website for House of Representatives. http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/houseroster_alpha.html

A Republican House candidate from Alabama began running a television ad Wednesday featuring vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, making it the first congressional campaign commercial to include the Alaska governor. "I'm supporting pro-lifers Sarah Palin and John McCain," state Rep. Jay Love, of Montgomery, says in the ad. The spot shows Palin together with GOP presidential nominee John McCain. Love said ad is intended to highlight the differences between him and the Democratic candidate, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright. He also said he wanted his would-be constituents to know he was proud to support McCain and Palin. Campaigning as a conservative...

Democrat Bobby Bright leads Republican Jay Love in the race for the 2nd congressional district seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Terry Everett, R-Rehobeth, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Capital Survey Research Center. Bright, the mayor of Montgomery, was the choice of 47.1 percent of the district voters surveyed. Love, a state representative from Montgomery, was the choice of 37.4 percent. Another 15.5 percent of voters surveyed said they didn't know or didn't reply when asked for whom they would vote in the congressional race.

Huntsville insurance executive Wayne Parker and Huntsville attorney Cheryl Baswell Guthrie will be in a runoff for the Republican nomination for the 5th Congressional District seat. Parker nearly won without a runoff but didn't quite reach 50 percent of the GOP primary vote Tuesday. The runoff is July 15. State Sen. Parker Griffith of Huntsville won the Democratic Party primary Tuesday. The winner of the 2nd District race will replace veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, who has represented the district since 1991. Parker has previously run twice against Cramer.

State Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, announced today he will not be a candidate for the Congressional seat being vacated by Bud Cramer. Butler, who is serving his seventh term in the Alabama Legislature (fourth in the Senate), was considering running as a Republican for the north Alabama congressional seat. "After much prayer and consideration, I have decided not to run. I appreciate the support of many across the district and the state who encouraged me to seek the office, but at this time being with my family and finishing the job I stated in the State Senate is my priority,"...

Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks says he won't run for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Bud Cramer. Brooks, who's a Huntsville lawyer, said Thursday he has been encouraged by many voters to qualify as a Republican for Congress. But he said he has many trials coming up and can't abandon his clients during their time of need. Brooks said he also has family commitments that take priority. Brooks ran for lieutenant governor in 2006 and finished third in the Republican primary.

The announcement produced outpourings of praise for Cramer and then immediate scrambling by potential successors who have until April 4 to qualify for the June 3 Democratic and Republican primaries. The general election is Nov. 4. State Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, said he plans to visit with political and other leaders in Washington to gauge his chances of winning the seat. The physician joins about a half-dozen others who either have been asked to run or are considering running, including Huntsville attorney Ray McKee, who has qualified as a Republican. State Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, is being courted by Gov....

If history matters to you, then voters should pick Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton and Republican Fred Thompson as their parties' presidential nominees. That's because they are the choice of America's social studies teachers. In a miniconvention sponsored by Pearson, the education and media giant, Clinton, the former first lady viewed as the most experienced in the field, was first with 41.9 percent, followed by Sen. Barack Obama with 34 percent and John Edwards at 12.3 percent. On the GOP side, Thompson, the actor and former Watergate prober, won 23.2 percent, followed by Rudy Giuliani at 20.5 percent and surging Mike...

Here's your chance to make a cameo appearance in Fred's Presidential campaign. Make a video telling us why you support Fred Thompson for President and upload it using the form below. We'll share these videos with all of our supporters on Fred08.com, and allow you, and them, to pick the best one. Here's your chance to be a star. Submit your video now. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sure, Fred Thompson is an accomplished lawyer, prosecuting criminals in Tennessee before serving as counsel on the Watergate hearings. And yes, he served the people of Tennessee as a common sense, conservative Senator for eight years....

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 7 /Standard Newswire/ -- Senator Fred Thompson announced his extensive Tennessee political leadership team today. Senator Howard Baker will serve as the honorary chairman of the Tennessee delegation, joined by 13 honorary co-chairs and 61 honorary state chairs, reflecting the depth of support for Senator Thompson in Tennessee. This leadership team includes two former United States Senate majority leaders, current and former members of Congress, former governors, and every Republican member of the Tennessee state legislature. "I am grateful for the wide support I'm receiving from my home state of Tennessee," said Senator Fred Thompson. "This group...

Here's how Jeri Kehn Thompson felt when she learned her husband, the former senator named Fred, had decided to run for president: “I felt so sick. I was depressed. I didn’t want to throw my husband to the snakes.” We learn this and more in a kind of coming-out interview in People magazine, coming out today. It's titled "No Trophy Wife" because, absent any information to the contrary, many in American society make assumptions about a 65-year-old man being married to a beautiful woman 24 years younger. The story opens with the former Jeri Kehn in sweatpants and ragged nails...

To the surprise of probably none of the 1,800 Democrats packed into a Birmingham ballroom Friday night, former President Clinton said he's decided women should run everything. "I think it's a real hoot you elected the first woman chief justice," Clinton told state Democrats at their annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. He was referring to Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, the first woman to hold that office in state history. "You know, I've about decided women ought to run everything," a grinning Clinton said as the crowd yelped and clapped. The quip was an obvious plug for his wife, Sen....

The Alabama Republican Party invites you to a "meet and greet" with special guest 2008 Presidential Candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter. Tuesday April 10th,11am to 1pm at the ALGOP Headquarters. 2019 Highland Ave Birmingham 35205

Luther Strange, a lawyer and lobbyist making his first bid for elected office, defeated one of the most famous political names in Alabama history in Tuesday's runoff elections to secure the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Tuesday's outcome might mark the end of the political aspirations of George Wallace Jr., Strange's opponent, who had said he would not seek office again in the event of a defeat. Wallace is the son of four-term governor and presidential candidate George Wallace and one-term Gov. Lurleen Wallace. Strange's race against popular Alabama political families will continue in the Nov. 7 general election, when...

Poll: Riley starts with big lead Capital Bureau Sunday, June 18, 2006 By BILL BARROW MONTGOMERY -- Gov. Bob Riley is beginning his general election campaign for a second term with a 2-to-1 lead over Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, according to the results of a new statewide survey. The Press-Register/University of South Alabama poll found that Riley, the Republican nominee, was the choice of 53 percent of those polled, while Baxley, the Democratic challenger, garnered 25 percent support. The remaining 22 percent were undecided. Riley's lead in the poll came in part from tangible support among unlikely sources: black voters...