Robert and Dianne Bentley on Election Day.

The mandate from Alabama’s voters on Election Day could not be more clear: Turn everything, and I mean everything, over to the Republicans for at least the next 2 years.

Let them screw things up for awhile.

The Democrats have screwed up plenty in the previous 136 years, and really, could the GOP do much worse? Alabama continues to trail in health, per capita income, transportation, education, crime, your category here. If this red state becomes any redder, you’d hope it would be from embarrassment rather than another shift to the right.

Not that conservatives haven’t been in control since the days of the Gipper. Essentially, most state races came down to the conservative Democrat or Republican since Ronald Reagan entered the White House. Which flavor of conservative suits you best?

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Winners and losers from Tuesday
around Alabama and metro Birmingham.

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So while the brand names may change, what can we really expect from the Republicans in power?

The new crew, including Gov.-elect Robert Bentley, has promised ethics reform out of the gate. We shall see, though my cynical side expects only token changes. Politicians are politicians after all, and you can hardly expect Republicans to clean up the cesspool in Montgomery if it also hides their fattened pockets.

Look back a mere month, and relive that infamous day when the FBI arrested four state senators (two Democrats, one Republican, one independent) in connection with selling votes on a gambling bill. Alas, the bingo bots and the mafia will have to try again in 2 to 4 years.

The mandate must include more jobs and a better economy. Like the president, the governor will likely receive an undue share of the credit or blame, though one leader has little say in global economic dynamics. Still, continuing to attract industry must remain a priority.

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More Vote 2010 coverage.

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With an all-Republican government, are we headed for sideshows popular in Texas and Arizona, from illegal immigration to revising school textbooks to repealing national health care? Let’s hope not, with more pressing issues such as constitutional reform and education funding.

Er, scratch that. Forget constitutional reform for at least another 4 years (sigh) and don’t hold your breath for an education miracle, though Gov.-elect Bentley has vowed to switch to a budget that determined by the previous year’s numbers (holds breath anyway). He took money from the Alabama Education Association and later lied about it. Such petty sins aren’t enough to keep you out of the governor’s mansion; likely, they are the only path to it.

Just imagine if it had been the learned Bradley Byrne had led the Republican charge instead.

Rural voters swept the new legislators into power and didn’t much care for the citified Byrne. City folk aren’t well represented in the new Republican regime. As a member of the city folk, I cast a wary eye at my country cousins calling the shots, probably no less menacingly then they’ve eyed us with suspicion.

They found a kindred spirit in Bentley, the dermatologist from Tuscaloosa. As he leads a unified party and state government, let’s pray feverishly that it marks the start of 136 years of progress and prosperity.

Otherwise, red state Alabama could end up dead state Alabama.

Wade Kwon is publisher of Wade on Birmingham.

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More post-election thoughts:

• Second Front: “The GOP Agenda: ethics reform, redistricting”
• Flashpoint: “Alabama Beat Down”
• Doc’s Political Parlor: “Who Had a Good Election Night? A Bad Night?”
• Left in Alabama: “Election Day Winners & Losers – Alabama Edition”
• The World Around You: “Can the Alabama Democratic Party Return to its Promise?”
• Birmingham News: “OUR VIEW: This time around, Democrats took it on the chin for control of the Alabama Legislature; now, Republicans must govern”
• Opelika-Auburn News: “Jennifer Foster: Newly-elected Republicans need to ‘proceed with caution'”

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What can we expect from the Republicans in charge? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Bad craziness.

That was the all-purpose phrase my college roommate used to describe the odd goings-on of life. And for Birmingham in 2009, it is all too fitting.

The city’s casualties of 2009 include a crooked mayor, three magazines, the high school football playoffs, the city budget, the county budget, trust in elected officials, two music festivals, thousands of jobs,

In many ways, Birmingham is broken. Education, transportation, the economy and government continue to be hurdles to greatness. How can this city make progress if it can’t pay its bills, educate its citizens, move shoppers and workers from point to point or inspire residents to take action?

It is also broken in the sense that no one community unites us. We are tribes at odds over territory, pride or mistrust. But who will reach out first to end the stalemate?

That’s not to overlook the efforts of volunteers striving to make a difference. Or businesses who remain stubbornly open and within the city limits. Or the occasional bright spot that reminds us of why we stick with Birmingham even in these dark hours.

Would the city make a New Year’s resolution, it should simply be this: Birmingham resolves to deal honestly and fairly with any and all challenges.

In a year of bad craziness, we must push past to face these mounting crises with boldness, with insight and with humility.

Birmingham can be better in 2010, if only a little bit.

Wade on 2009

JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: William Bell and Patrick Cooper
head to mayoral runoff election.

Dec. 1 | Our never-ending Vote 2009 coverage of the Birmingham mayoral runoff continued with a forum and a town hall, the sudden death of a candidate from Hoover, our final assessment of the contenders and the anti-climatic Election Night 1-2 finish of runoff hopefuls William Bell and Patrick Cooper. One debate will be Jan. 10 at Alys Stephens Center, airing on ABC 33/40 and WBHM (90.3 FM); another will be 9 p.m. Jan. 14 on Fox 6 and MyFoxAL.com.

Look for more Vote 2009 stories in … 2010.

Dec. 1 | The Birmingham Leadership Awards winners? We have ’em.

Dec. 1 | Birmingham’s Bobby Bowden announced his retirement from Florida State football, wrapping a 44-year career in coaching. His final game will be the Gator Bowl taking on No. 18 West Virginia. The game airs noon Friday from Jacksonville, Fla., on CBS 42.

Dec. 5 | More football news: Alabama wins the SEC Championship to advance to the BCS National Championship game. The next week, the school would have its first ever Heisman Trophy winner thanks to running back Mark Ingram.

Dec. 15 | In economic news, Birmingham and Alabama have endured tough times, indeed, with the highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years. A study found that the state’s low tax burden doesn’t really trickle down to the poor. The Birmingham Business Alliance sought input through an online survey for the next step in its economic development plan, Blueprint Birmingham.

Hyundai in Montgomery built its 1 millionth vehicle. And Birmingham’s McWane Inc. plead guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act, resulting in a $4 million fine.

Dec. 17 | The newly seated Birmingham school board selects Craig Witherspoon, superinten­dent of Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, N.C., as the new superintendent. The board had previously had problems picking a president, then faced accusations of bias during the superintendent search.

Dec. 18 | The feds take over New South Federal Bank in Irondale after big losses in loans. A Texas bank has taken over operations.

See all of our December coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

predictions for the next decade [Dec. 8]

Flying cars, yoga
weddings, telepathic phones,
wars without borders.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

As Alabamians figure out their year-end tax strategies, consider the following …

The state has the lowest tax burden in the nation, based on Census Bureau analysis of the 2007 fiscal year. Gov. Riley considers that a plus in attracting businesses. But lobbyist Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association argues that limited funds keep Alabama lowest in education as well.

Meanwhile, that seemingly light tax load still hits the state’s poorest families the hardest. A study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington shows that households below the poverty line pay more in taxes than those in the other 49 states.

More families are sliding ever closer to poverty because of the highest state unemployment rate in 25 years.

The Legislature raised the threshold in 2007 where families start paying tax. Other states followed suit, keeping Alabama at No. 1. The tax on food is also considered a contributing factor to this dubious distinction.

Is Alabama succeeding or failing based on its taxation?

What matters more to industries considering coming to Alabama: low tax burden or educated workforce? And are they mutually exclusive?

Defense attorney Emory Anthony is entering the race for mayor in Birmingham. This makes him the second candidate to announce, following Patrick Cooper’s kickoff on Thursday.

Anthony’s focus will be on education, jobs and transportation. He also says he’ll check the city’s finances to determine whether the domed stadium and Fair Park redevelopment can continue.

Previously, Anthony served as dean of Miles College Law School, municipal judge and prosecutor for the Jefferson County District Attorney, and a legal adviser to then Mayor Bernard Kincaid. This is his third run for mayor; he also ran once unsuccessfully for state Senate.

The election takes place Dec. 8.

Also:

• John Archibald of the Birmingham News sizes up possible mayors Anthony, William Bell, Cooper and Carole Smitherman.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

The runner-up has returned for a rematch, of sorts.

Attorney Patrick Cooper, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Birmingham in 2007, announced his run today. This makes him the first candidate to announce for the race to fill the spot vacated by convicted former mayor Larry Langford.

Cooper finished in second place last time, earning 29.5 percent of the vote.

Video: Cooper announces his candidacy and platform

Cooper promised to hire more police officers, citing a shortage of 200. He also wants to fund pre-kindergarten programs, and put people to work with public works programs.

His previous campaign site, CooperForMayor.com, has gone dormant, while his Facebook campaign page has not been updated, save for supporters’ comments.

Update: His new campaign Web site, CooperForBirmingham.com, has launched.

The election takes place Dec. 8.

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More Vote 2009 coverage.

Top-down and grassroots presentations prolong the conversation

Birmingham is bleeding. After a homicidal four-day stretch over the holiday weekend with nine deaths, police officers have long days and nights ahead keeping the peace. But the city continues to bleed residents, too, forcing schools to consolidate shrinking resources in an already troubled system.

Can we turn it around?

I visited two evening forums this week to hear what leaders and citizens had to say about crime and education, two issues that continue to limit Birmingham in numerous ways.

(more…)

What’s wrong with Birmingham? And how do we fix it? Birmingham Weekly gathered city and community leaders for a series of conversations on the issues of the day. Crime, education, communication and cooperation all came up, along with a rather detailed discussion on the pros and cons of the neighborhood associations. The group includes a Langford staffer, the president of the County Commission, a brain, a princess, a basket case and a criminal.

Sincerely yours, the B’ham Club.
• Birmingham Weekly: Pieces of the puzzle

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