GOP takes control of Alabama legislature after 136 years

[Syrinx]

Source: Birmingham News

MONTGOMERY -- Republicans on Tuesday appeared to take control of the Alabama Legislature, with top Republicans claiming to have close to 60 seats in the 105-member House of Representatives and perhaps 22 seats in the 35-member Senate.

''We know for certain that we're in the majority," said state Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, who also chairs the state Republican Party.

''I think it's exciting," Hubbard said. ''I think the people of Alabama have spoken. They wanted change. They were tired of the Democrats with control for 136 years."

Democrats had controlled the state Legislature since 1874.

Read more: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/11/gop_takes_alabama_legislature.html

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I can't imagine how bad things are going to get down here. I'm really worried.

[thunder rising]

1. The racists have spoken. We want white.

[hughee99]

12. Damn those racists for not voting for Democrats anymore! n/t

[countrydad58]

16. one in the same.

these are the same racist segregationist neo-confederates. D or R does it matter?

[Zax2me]

17. Yea, it's racism.

Riiiiiiiight....
Last I checked, reps won a few seats outside the south.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. You have my profound sympathies, my friend.

I can't even imagine how bad it can get, but I have an idea, since I've been paying attention. And I don't want to think about how bad it can get in my neck-of-the-woods, either. I live in a traditionally red district here in NY, but in 2006 we elected Kirsten Gillibrand, who's now senator, to Congress. She was the first Democrat to be elected from my district, at least for as long as I've been voting. And she was wonderful, was overwhelmingly popular. When she was appointed senator, to replace Hillary Clinton, we managed to elect another Democrat, Scott Murphy, whom she supported and who carried on her good work. :)

And in the year-and-a-half he's been in office, he's really come into his own, has been extremely proactive on veterans' issues, is a member of the Armed Services Committee, as well as on job creation in the district, his signature issue. I worked for him on both elections, spent until 45 minutes before the polls closed tonight knocking on doors to get out the vote. I've barely managed to warm up yet. But I turned on the local news just in time to hear his concession speech. His teabagger opponent, career military who opposes repealing DADT, wants to eliminate the Dept. of Education and has managed to scare senior citizens because Scott voted for health care reform, has sent this district back to GOP control. x(

I'm so shellshocked that I can't take it in yet. And I doubt I'll ever understand. What does it take?! Uninformed voters is my best guess. So I'm sorry for both of us tonight... ;(

Rhiannon :hug:

[Syrinx]

3. thanks, sweetie.

You're always there for me. :)

Sorry to hear about Mr. Murphy. In a perverted way, I guess it's kind of comforting to know that not all the crazy people live down south. But, my lord, we're certainly afflicted with more than our fair share.

Our legislature has (practically) always been controlled by Democrats, but they were mostly well to the right of, say, New England Republicans. But now they've been pushed aside as "too liberal for Alabama." And replaced by honest-to-goodness racist, gay-baiting, Bible-thumping, book-burning neanderthals.

We live in a manic-depressive country. And apparently I live in a criminally-insane state.

Thanks for being so nice. :hug:

[Frances]

10. My neighbor here in CA

thinks that Kissinger, Bill Clinton, and Bush Sr. recruited Obama 20 years ago to run for President so that the Masons (who she believes worship the devil although they don't know it) can create a one-world order.

Because I'm on medicare, I've been getting letters telling me that if I am on traditional Medicare, I have lost benefits and therefore should join a medicare-advantage plan. In reality, Medicare plus my supplement are FAR superior to any medicare advantage plan. The medicare advantage plan was a Bush-Republican plan to give money to the insurance companies.

I called the number on the latest letter and told the receptionist that I understand she needs a job but that the letter is not truthful and that I hope she can find a job with a more ethical company. She was polite and took me off the mailing list.

I think one reason the Repubs did so well in this election is that the Repubs have lied to seniors and seniors have been too gullible to see that they are being played for suckers by the insurance companies.

[quakerboy]

14. That makes sense.

I would add another layer to the fun, however. I would bet money they are bent on doing things while they have power that will cause reductions in the programs seniors depend on, and have already sketched out how they will make sure public blame falls on Obamacare and the Democrats.

[Hissyspit]

4. Karl Rove still.

Good thing we looked forward.

[enuegii]

5. I think the one thing that bothered me most in this election cycle

was the meme that ran through just about every Republican candidate's message to the voters, which was something similar to "I'm going to protect your values."
Funny, I thought one's "values" something that comes from within and are developed through personal experience and reflection about what is right and what is wrong, and, as such, can not be taken away, but only given up.
Silly me.
On the slightly brighter side, I don't really think the situation here will change much. This state has been under de facto Republican control for a number of years.
I do wonder, though: how long will it take before they feel an overwhelming urge to ban Sharia law?

[Syrinx]

6. Unlike the federal elections...

I think the new state officials take office immediately. So I give it two days, tops. :(

[Stuckinthebush]

7. Oh, hell, they've had it for years...

Listen, Alabama Democrats are as conservative as many Republicans. This state has been backward forever and will continue to be. I was involved in State politics for a number of years and our Democrats many times tried to out-conservative conservatives.

Nothing will change in this hell hole of a state - sorry to all of my fellow Alabamians but you know it is true. The rich keep getting richer and the poor and middle class continue to vote against their own best interests.

[Syrinx]

9. think how conservative our democrats are

The fucking Republicans just won. That's basically "civilized life is over" in our state.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Have to agree with you.

All the Dems and Repugs did in the legislature was fight and stall and hardly pass anything.
Blue Dogs and Red republicans, Rove and Bill Canary controlling the strings.

Thank god they get distracted by football for the next few months.

[Stuckinthebush]

15. Don't get me wrong - there is a lot I love about this state

But I get so annoyed at how the people continue to vote against their best interests. All a politician has to do is invoke gays, god, or guns - and maybe be anti-gambling.

I guess I'll stay in the progressive island of Southside Birmingham and tune out the noise. Ugh.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Ah..Southside..an oasis.

Here in rural rural Ala., small town life dictates that one does not publicly discuss contentious topics.
Thus the social wheels roll smoothly.

Were I younger, I might find village life stifling.
When I WAS younger, I enjoyed the city, in several states.

As long as I don't watch tv or read the Republican rags, my blood pressure remains in the safe zone.

DU is SO helpful.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Here, this is for you.

[Stevepol]

8. The voting machines have had their say in AL.

[TroglodyteScholar]

11. Reminds me of GA in 2002 n/t