Alabama's Economy is Imploding Under Bob Riley

[ensho]

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2010/01/alabamas-economy-is-imploding-under-bob.html


When Republican Bob Riley ran against Don Siegelman for governor of Alabama in 2002, he repeatedly bashed the Democratic incumbent on two issues: no-bid contracts and the state's stumbling economy.

We've already learned that Riley is a two-faced phony on no-bid contracts, dishing out a $13-million sweetheart deal to a company that doesn't even have a business address. Now we learn that Riley is a lousy steward of the economy, too. In fact, Alabama's economic woes are far worse than they ever were under Siegelman, who had to wrestle with the bursting of the dot.com bubble in 2001-02.

A recent report shows that Birmingham's jobless rate for October 2009 took the fifth highest jump in the nation among metro areas of 1 million or more people. Only Riverside, California; Las Vegas, San Jose, and Detroit were worse.
At the state level, Alabama's jobless rate had the third highest increase in the nation. Only Nevada and Michigan were worse.

-snip-

And how is this for irony? No state has sucked up to (and sold its soul to) the U.S. Chamber of Commerce more than has Alabama. The chamber has bought up our state courts and has one of its acolytes, Riley, leading the executive branch. Only Alabama's legislative branch remains out of chamber control, and Republicans are making a well-publicized bid to take over the legislature in 2010. William Canary, president of the Business Council of Alabama, is a player on the chamber's national stage and a self-appointed kingmaker inside the state. (Just ask Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Artur Davis.)

In other words, business interests have come to dominate Alabama's political landscape. But our economy, in terms of rising unemployment, is one of the worst in the nation. Alabamians have consistently voted conservative for statewide offices since Karl Rove slithered into the state in the 1990s. What do we have to show for it? The worst economy in what is supposed to be the prosperous Sun Belt--the worst economy of any deep-red state.
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[still_one]

1. The question is will the people in Alabama stop voting against themselves? /nt

[ensho]

2. I'm thinking by the time voting comes around they will stop voting against

themselves. and wise up.

[still_one]

3. The red states have felt a lot of pain under republican rule /nt

[jpak]

4. short answer - nope

God, Gays, Guns and Confederate Pride are still the prime motivators for the GOP in AL...

[ensho]

5. would anything change their thinking? are they a lost cause?

nt

[jpak]

6. Old times there are not forgotten

sorry but it's true

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Williiam Canary is husband of Leura Canary, who is STILL Bush US Attorney in Ala.

She was also involved in the Seigleman prosecution.
Very interesting that she has not been replaced.

Rove and Riley conspired to hand Riley oversight of the election process back in 2004.
And the Business Council is THE place where all candidates are chosen for all offices.

Fox news reigns here in the Bible belt.
"Change" is not a positive idea. Under-education, racism, propaganda are rampant in a state where
Presbyterians are considered liberal and Methodists radical.

It is not easy living here at times. Even the Democrats are conservative.

[ensho]

8. a Fox News state, what a shame. is the state stagnating?

nothing going on to shake it up?