The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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I’m grateful to the Alabama Gazette for printing what is becoming all too rare these days: the truth. Here’s a hard pill to swallow: the politicians aren’t the problem – you are. Politicians do what they must to get your vote, and you keep giving it to them. The late, great Jimmy Buffett, an Alabama native, had an epiphany that led to his famous realization in “Margaritaville.” At first, it was “nobody’s fault.” Then, he shifted to “it could be my fault.” And, finally, he came to a conclusion...
With the inauguration of every new president, there is always the discussion surrounding the first 100 days of their administration. There can be absolutely no doubt that the current administration is doing things never seen before. A president who is actually fulfilling campaign promises and leaving opposition forces crying and moaning with their heads exploding. There is so much to discuss already but for now, want to focus only on two areas: DOGE and the rash of airplane crashes. 1....
The Tik Tok issue, just recently decided by the United States Supreme Court is found in Tik Tok, Inc., et al v Merrick Garland, Attorney General and the case of Brian Firebaugh, et al. v Merrick Garland, Attorney General. The parties as petitioners to the cases include both the company Tik Tok and a group of users in the United States of Tik Tok. The only issue before the Court is whether the First Amendment rights of free speech are violated in regard to both the company and users. I have...
After 50 years of public ‘service’ Mr. Biden’s farewell address reaffirmed Joe’s ineptitude and lack of integrity to the very end. Once the coalition’s youngest US senator (elected 1972 at age 30) from Delaware, I observed more of him than most as an impressionable youth in neighboring Maryland. Joking Joe was just another ‘17th Amendment Senator’ who would’ve never been sent to Congress by the Delaware legislature… we dubbed him, the ‘Dullard from Delaware.’ Biden illustrated why incre...
President Donald Trump's first Cabinet meeting of his second term was a resounding success, setting the tone for an administration focused on results, efficiency, and accountability. "We have a Cabinet full of great Americans who are dedicated to serving our country and the American people, ensuring safety, security, freedom, and prosperity," National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stated, emphasizing the inspiration that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already sp...
Planned Obsolescence is a recent and hideous idea that was never even considered in business practices until the early 1900’s. It wastes our resources, time, and money. It benefits nobody but criminals and greedy corporate profiteers. Its origin is a dark chapter in our history. On December 23, 1924, a group of leaders from the world’s major light bulb manufacturers met in Geneva, Switzerland to exchange ideas on business practices. These included Germany’s Osram, the Netherlands’ Philips...
King James of England was rather unremarkable so at his death 400 years ago, only his retainers and courtesans grieved his loss, and most assumed his historical legacy was limited. His memory today would likely be little more than a footnote except for the one thing that would make any marketing director green with envy for product placement —the King James Bible; the Royally authorized translation of the Holy Scriptures. In James’s case, this contribution was substantial, and he deserves cre...
It is common for Baby Boomers to “thank God they grew up when they did.” Those born between 1946-1964 will likely understand that commentary. Indeed, freedom of expression was greater then than now as was appreciation and understanding of the past. Perhaps the modern reality of virtually instantaneous communications is partially at fault since erroneous information often spreads immediately and the retractions and corrections do not always see the light of day. The subject of history has bee...
I really like it when I feel like I am controlling things… I think we all feel this way to some degree. Knowing that I have all my ducks in a row so that no surprises come my way is where I am most in my comfort zone. But no matter how hard I try to control things, the bottom line is that’s not how life works. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all under...
The first mention in a novel of the All-American pastime, baseball, comes not from "The Old Farmer's Almanac" or some such publication; but rather from the novel, "Northanger Abbey", by the British author, Jane Austen. As the heroine of "Northanger Abbey", Catherine Morland, is described in her childhood in chapter one of the novel as preferring "cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about the country . . ." to the domestic arts such as tending a garden and drawing. While Jane...
When Don Wildmon with his marked Southern accent decided to call to task the television network executives in the 1970s, the entertainment media giants of the time simply dismissed him. After all, this Wildmon fellow was from Mississippi, which meant he "was dumb". And not only that, as a Methodist Minister, Wildmon was a Southern preacher. Which the television network executives of the 1970s took to mean that Wildmon "was double dumb". However, "double dumb", or not, Donald E. Wildmon...
March 10, 2025–Linda "Lindy" Blanchard has been nominated by President Trump to be America's Ambassador to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). On behalf of the Gazette, congratulations! Lindy is one of the earliest Ambassadors to be appointed by the administration-I think she's eight or ninth-which is a mark of distinction. Presidents have about 4000 positions they appoint, and it takes months and months for those slots to be filled. For Lindy to get the nod this early is truly i...
President Donald J. Trump delivered what was undoubtedly the greatest address of his tenure to Congress, igniting a renewed sense of optimism and resolve among the American people. With unwavering confidence, he declared, "America is back," sending a powerful message that the days of decline and weakness are over. This was not just another policy speech-it was a rallying cry for a nation ready to reclaim its destiny. President Trump outlined a bold vision, championing economic resurgence...
March 6, 2025–SB85 passed out of committee and now is headed to a vote on the Senate floor, and that’s a very good thing. Introduced by State Senator Orr and co-sponsored by State Sen. Chesteen, SB85 strengthens religious vaccine exemptions for both children in K-12 and adults in higher education. At present, religious exemptions for K-12 can only be issued by county health departments. Also, public institutions of higher learning are not required to acknowledge medical exemptions for imm...
March 4, 2025–notes written during the President’s Joint Address to Congress, with reactions as they happened. Some editing was done prior to publication but the shorthand format and comments were generally left as initially recorded. —The Cabinet is coming in now. You have NO idea how happy it makes me to see Bobby Jr, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Pam Bondi and all the rest coming in. The Republican side is ebulent, the Dem side looks like they’re at a funeral, right after somebody kicked their...
On May 17, 2021, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the Darren Wesley "Ato" Hall Compassion Act. Alabama became the 36th state to allow for a medical cannabis program for patients with a qualifying illness. Unfortunately, that program never got off the ground despite the state spending millions of dollars. On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee was mulling legislation designed to fix the legislation they passed four years ago. Senator Tim Melson...
March 1, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - In at least 39 places, this bill takes powers away from the SBVA and places them instead with the Governor, the Commissioner, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. It takes away this power in a variety of ways: By striking “Board” and inserting instead “Governor,” “Commissioner,”, or “Department,” wherever the Board formerly had actual powers. Those powers are now transferred to the Governor, the Commissioner, or the Department. Except for management of o...
March 3, 2025–HOOVER, AL - There are a couple of things I’ve come to expect from the ALGOP Summer and Winter Meetings. They’re about as exciting as watching paint dry, and the food is good. The food is easy to understand. The Renaissance in Montgomery consistently does a great job, and any hotel in Foodie Birmingham that doesn’t have a good kitchen and catering staff risks bankruptcy and/or angry mobs with torches and pitchforks. The main Executive Committee meeting is also carefully scripted to...
The mask has finally slipped. Volodymyr Zelensky-the man who has begged, pleaded, and demanded billions from the American taxpayer-waltzed into the White House today, only to sneer at his benefactors, dismiss their calls for peace, and lecture America like we owe him something. The sheer audacity is staggering. Let's be clear: America has poured untold billions into Ukraine's war effort. Weapons, intelligence, financial aid-we've done it all. We've shouldered a conflict that isn't ours, while...
The radical left has once again shown its true colors. Last week, in a moment of sheer political theater, Senate Democrats donned pink, a color traditionally associated with supporting women's rights, in an ostensible display of solidarity-right after voting in lockstep against Senator Tommy Tuberville's Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. The contradiction was glaring. They claimed to stand for women while actively undermining their privacy, dignity, and opportunities in sports. This w...
Antisemitism has no place in a civilized society, least of all in higher education, where young minds are molded, and ideas are forged. Yet, America’s universities have become breeding grounds for Jewish hate—rhetoric, harassment, and violence masquerading as free speech or political critique. Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down, and it’s about time after the Biden’s administration’s complete failure on fighting antisemitism on college campuses letting Hamas sympathizers rule the day....
Long time Alabama resident, Bela K. Berty, was a young child in the formative years when his family escaped from communism in Eastern Europe. Having experienced first-hand the perils of communism, the influence of communism in the modern American legal, banking, and educational systems is a matter of grave concern to him. Consequently, he and his wife, Linda Gail Berty, a veteran of The United States Navy, sponsored a showing of the documentary, "The Agenda 2: Masters of Deceit" on Wednesday at...
March 19, 2025: - As the Legislative Session evolves, I find myself missing my ole friend Mac McArthur around the Statehouse. We would visit in the halls and sometimes sit together in the gallery. He would be busier than a one-armed paper hanger as he was always having to work on legislative matters for the state employees. We would reserve our long hours of talking politics for lengthy phone conversations in between legislative sessions. We both very much enjoy our political discussions. Mac...
President Donald Trump is smashing through the Russia-Ukraine quagmire with the iron will and razor-sharp instincts America demanded when it swept him into office, and Senator Lindsey Graham's recent X post nails it: Trump's leadership is the only force fierce enough to forge a "just and honorable" end to this three-year slaughter. While Biden bumbled, tossing cash and guns at Zelensky like a clueless bystander, President Trump seized the reins and if I know President Trump he will outmaneuver V...
Known for their "Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes", the Radio City Rockettes will celebrate their 100th Anniversary this year. Founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1925 as "The Missouri Rockets", the Rockettes are a tap dancing troupe that bills themselves as "the longest-running precision dance company in America". The Radio City Rockettes have been performing in the Radio City Music Hall in New York since 1932, hence their name, and to celebrate their 100th anniversary,...
