On Voting Republicans Out Of Office

Alabama Speaker Hubbard Said to Have Threatened Superintendents


By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter

MONTGOMERY—According to several members who were present at the most recent meeting of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), an association that represents School Administrators across the State, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard threatened certain State School Superintendents.

On September, 22, Speaker Hubbard was in attendance at the CLAS board meeting to give a legislative update to the groups Board of Directors. At the meeting according to CLAS board member Bobby Jackson, Hubbard was confronted about the Alabama Accountability Act.

Earlier this year, 30 Superintendents of Alabama's 136 school systems filed an Amicus Brief with the court, in support of a lawsuit claiming the Alabama Accountability Act is unconstitutional.

According to several members present, Hubbard was confounded by Dr. Dee Fowler, Superintendent of Madison City Schools, “And he [Hubbard] kinda got a little offended,” said Jackson.

Fowler, one of the Superintendents who signed the Amicus Brief, was then threatened by Hubbard, according to several members present. “He told Dee he and the others [who signed the brief] would regret what they had done,” according to Jackson, “it got heated.”

It was relayed that Fowler had questioned why the State Legislature passed the Accountability Act without input from educators or administrators, and why they had passed an act that violated the State Constitution to which Hubbard replied, “The Legislature makes it own rules.”

In May, Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Gene Reese declared the law unconstitutional, saying the Act violated a provision of the State constitution requiring that each piece of legislation cover only one content topic.

The 30 Superintendents who agreed with Judge Reese were the targets of Hubbard’s threats.

The bill was passed with a legislative slight-of -hand, changing the simple School Flexibility Act into a complex taxpayer funded tax-credit for private schools.

“Now. I want to make one thing clear: This is Bobby Jackson, speaking, I’m not representing one or anything else. In my opinion, the original 9 pages of the bill was a good thing. But, when they added the 18 pages to it, that was a bad move.”

Even State School Superintendent Tommy Bice protested against the bill, even as the Republican supermajority rammed it though the House and Senate.

The Accountability Act with its Scholarship Granting Organizations has been a windfall for groups like the one headed by former Gov. Bob Riley, who heads the Opportunity Scholarship Fund and receives 5 percent of all money collected. Riley’s groups have amassed around $25 million and counting.

Hubbard, Riley, along with Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh have continued to defend the Act, even in the face of the court’s findings. The constitutionality of the Act will be decided by the State’s Supreme Court perhaps later this year.

Hubbard, who is known for his threats and bullying behavior was said to have left the CLAS Board meeting, “in a huff.”

Dr. Fowler elected to not comment on the events surrounding the meeting.
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Under MediCare, Kaiser Hospital and their doctors treated me for prostate cancer. I did radiation treatment for eight weeks, and now cured. I try to remain healthy by remaining active.

It makes me wonder why so many are against universal health care in this country.

It boggles my mind that the conservatives who own the GOP are able to get as many dupes to champion their drives against universal health care as they do, ci.

We are the only developed country to be lacking in that department...and it mostly is thanks to ordinary Joe's and Jane's who simply cannot see the people they are backing for the monsters they actually are.

But, as I have mentioned many times, throughout history there have been common folk willing to fight and die to protect the rights of barons to piss on them.

When I got my radiation treatments, I researched the net to find out what the out of pocket cost would be for such a treatment. The range was between $35,000 to $50,000. Not many Americans can afford to pay that kind of money for treatment, and will die from the disease if not treated. Why anybody would vote against universal health care is a big mystery in my books.

So many continue to believe in the "death panels" and "fiscal cliff" of ACA proves many don't use their own votes for their own interests and common sense.

TNCFS

I came up with an estimate of about $35,000 for my treatment.

I had no insurance at all...and I would have died if the VA were not available for me.

But everyone should be able to have access to reasonable medical care...and it should be a universal health program.

Obamacare (the ACA) is far from what I wanted to see in place...but it is a start...and a good one. Here's hoping more Americans catch onto the GOP stance on the issue...and dump that party.

Most of us see no reason to vote for a party that will only raise our taxes to pay for the things they want to give us. A vast majority of Americans had no issues with their insurance companies but the ACA went into effect anyways and now I have to pay almost double than I was last year. We have a new enrollment coming up at work, so you know I'll let you know what the cost increase was this year.

Wha'ts sad is the amount of power and responsibility you want to hand over to the govt. I like to make my own decisions but the left doesn't like that, they want me to be beholden to them.

I have asked several times over the last year or so and have never received an answer. What would voting for Dems do for me?

You give me free **** and I'll vote for you crowd is where the problem lies.

I wish you a speedy recover, Bobsal. Cancer research has made many advances and breakthroughs, and everyday brings the promise of more progress. BTW, I thoroughly enjoy your posts; its almost as if you and I are soul mates so much do I identify with what you present to a2k.....as you can see I am the classic Liberal with a capital "L."

Nah, stick with the GOP, Baldimo.

Like I said, throughout history there have been common folk willing to fight and die to protect the rights of barons to piss on them.

Through out history there have been common folk who do not appreciate the know it alls efforts to " save" them, often through abuse.

Like I said, no one, including you, has given an answer as to why I should vote for the Dems. It would seem from the lack of answers I get that there is no good reason for me to vote Dem.

There are many reasons to vote Dem. Here's several reasons why; a) republicans create legislation to control women's bodies, b) republicans try to discourage voting by Americans, c) republicans create the largest federal deficits, d) they discourage equality for gays and lesbians, e) they take away a woman's right to health care/abortion clinics, f) republican congress members do not know how to negotiate and compromise on any legislation, g) they lied about Obamacare/ACA about "death panels and fiscal cliff," and h) the republicans don't have a moderate leader that holds true to republicanism. They have become the fear mongers of our country based on lies and innuendos, and have resulted in the worst performing congress in history.

Besides that, Obama is no longer a candidate as our president. His performance rating by both republicans and democrats are at new lows. His disapproval rating is higher than his approval rating.

I'm not a Democrat...so I am probably the wrong one to try to answer that question, Baldimo. But if you see "voting Democrat" as the only alternative to "voting Republican"...then I think you should do it just to deny your vote to people who are asking you to steady their hand while trying to slit your throat.

The Conservative GOP feed the inherent hatred in many Americans who rigidly oppose the person responsible for the implementation of ACA. In West Virginia where there is severe poverty, "back in 2009, Priscilla Harris, an associate professor at the Appalachian College of Law, says that dental problems are especially bad because dental care is harder to get in Appalachia, which includes many of the poorest and most remote communities in the country." The people of Appalachia are the ones most hostile against ObamaCare.

In Kentucky, the ACA program was renamed "kynect" to distance it from Obamacare and it is a huge success among the people who hate Obama. McConnell says he's going to repeal ObamaCare but shies away from any talk of abolishing "Kynect" aka ObamaCare.

Racism is so deeply ingrained in the culture of America that many Whites would rather cut off their own nose than vote for something of true value for themselves like ACA if President Obama is responsible for it.

Our cultural society has a cancer inside it, and this unhealthy atmosphere is not only particularly noticeable because of the first black president but it's just waiting there for other minorities who will come after him. But at least Obama is making it easier for his successors by "suffering all the slings and arrows," the putdowns, the name calling, the birther lies, the butt of racist jokes. I recently saw the movie "42" a docudrama of Jackie Robinson who integrated baseball. Some white tormentors brought a dead black cat and called it Jackie Robinson and this hero could not stay in hotels where whites stayed. We have yet a long way to go to rid ourselves of the ignorance which is still regretfully so prominent in our society.

Low-carbon energy future is clean, feasible
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141006152126.htm

What I have seen is not only the hatred for Obama but the disrespect for the office of President in the first time in my life.

We can challenge what any president does, but to disrespect the office is uncalled for. The GOP has reduced the office by their hatred and ignorance. The President is elected by the people of this country and deserves respect. It has now been reduced to how the GOP has degraded this office.

This started with the left their treatment of Bush. You didn't like him so you see no disrespect. I on the other hand have listen to left wing radio both during the Bush years and after. The amount of hatred and vile things said about Bush and his family on left wing radio destroyed respect for the office of President. What I have seen is the same treatment from the right directed at Obama.

Until you can admit to the nastiness directed at Bush and him family, you have no leg to stand on. Dislike for the current President has nothing to do with racism for a majority of those who don't like him. You and the media like to play the race card, that is all.

I said it's okay to challenge the president for what one sees is wrong for our country, but not to disrespect the office of president. Your inability to know the difference is your problem.

Bush lied about Saddam's WMD's and started an illegal war that ended up killing tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis and destroying much of their infrastructure. That's a crime against humanity. He deserves and earned criticism.

The office of the president is not "a disembodied thing that exists ex nihilo and can go marching along without an occupant." Should we also have respect for the office if the occupant is UNQUALIFIED as were GWB? In many Americans' mind, Bush jr was a buffoon whose administration was taken over 100% by his sinister Vice President, Dick Cheney. The GOP's disrespect falls directly upon them and their total benightedness. In my personal opinion, the office of the president is just an office which we the people express high esteem for but only by the person who makes it so.

The attacks on Bush started before Iraq and WMD. You forget this because of your hate for the man. There was NEVER any respect from the left directed at Bush. You guys unleashed the beast and now you can't put it away. It's sad really that you don't recognize your own tactics.