Bob Riley hates democracy

U.S. court asked to remove Jeffco commissioner appointed by Gov. Riley, let election proceed- al.com

As well as, of course, Democrats. Anyway, a lawsuit has been filed by Fairfield resident Fred Plump (attorney: Ed Still — these are great names!) to get Riley’s appointee thrown out and an election called for. Again, there seems to be a great big precedent in that a Federal court already ruled that Riley couldn’t appoint a member to the Mobile County Commission when the previous officeholder was elected mayor of Mobile. Seems a 100 point match. That case has been appealed to the US Supreme Court, which will probably hand down its usual partisan decision of “whatever benefits the Republicans!”

There’s a shocker

Alabama New South Coalition plans to endorse a Democrat- al.com

What’s next? The Christian Coalition going to endorse a Republican?

Yet another long headline

Residents, business owners raise cheers, objections to Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford’s tax increase plan at public hearings- al.com

The surprise, I guess, is that some people raised cheers. Maybe, if the tax increase is voted down, they can volunteer 1/100th of their take-home pay to the city. Meanwhile, here’s what Crazy Larry had to say:

“If a penny’s going to break you, you’re already broke anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

Does he realize that people won’t actually being paying a penny each?

Raise taxes now, ask questions later

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford wants fast action on tax increase plan- al.com

Crazy Larry wants his tax increase now and has no interest in answering the questions of the city council. He’s the mayor, give him his tax increase! Now! No time to wait!

Larry stays on

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is a legal resident, can remain in office, judge rules- al.com

Patrick Cooper will appeal, and you can never tell what a state supreme court packed with Republicans will do, but this was probably his best chance.

Well, yeah

Study to gather info for the next trip to the moon- al.com

First line:

“Oxygen, water and rocket fuel will be vital for astronauts manning an outpost on the moon.”

Actually, oxygen and water are pretty much vital for everyone everywhere.

Form of… an exorbitant white elephant!

Langford’s dome plan takes form- al.com

And what form is that? Well, as mentioned yesterday, it’s a form where the voters don’t get to decide on the thing, because they just don’t appreciate it and keep voting against it, and instead the city council will decide. The usual suspects — John “Horse Track” Rogers, and Gene “I’m Not Sure What He Does For A Living” Hallman — are all for it, though.

The Birmingdome would seat 57,500, with room for expansion. There is, of course, no pro football team to put in it, and only one college game a year (the Alabama A&M-Alabama State Magic City Classic) that would have a chance of filling it. UAB football is, of course, a sad joke. I guess they plan to keep it busy with tractor pulls.

You know, all these stories have long headlines

Birmingham mayor Larry Langford says referendum not in plans for dome bond issue- al.com

So, Mayor-For-Now Crazy Larry says that the voters don’t get to decide on a half-billion dollar bond issue to build the Birmingdome because the bonds would be floated by the Civic Center Authority and not the city, even though the city is going to have to pay for it anyway. Of course, every time the voters have been asked to decide on the dome, they reject it. Silly voters.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone

Apparently, diabetes gives you super-strength

Lipscomb official accused of jail damage- al.com

So, Gaston Randle, rogue Lipscomb city councilman, who was picked up in Brighton for wandering around outside a funeral home apparently drunk, somehow did fifteen hundred dollars worth of damage to the plumbing at Brighton city jail while he was there. Actually, the mayor of Brighton says that this is a “guesstimate” and it’s probably more. They say he ripped out a sink, lavatory, and pipes. He says that the sink just “fell off”.