I have new found respect for Mike Goens.
Perhaps he has been reading the propoganda and drivel that is posted on this forum at the newspaper he works for.
Even in Alabama, people are going to realize the folly in electing TEABAGGERS!
Great oped Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From the Times-Daily
Republicans need attitude adjustment
Published: Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:51 p.m.
A Montgomery friend posed an interesting question the other day. He was at the Statehouse when several hundred people from across the state arrived to have their say about the Legislature’s efforts to revamp or eliminate teacher tenure.
My friend, who tends to be Republican-leaning on most issues, said he understands why teachers and support personnel in schools feel they’re under attack by the Legislature.
“Republicans have an agenda, and it’s to destroy the (Alabama Education Association); we all know it,” he said.
What followed made me stop and think for a second.
“(Republicans are) in danger of going too far and turning this anti-Democratic sentiment into anti-Republican,” he said. “No one likes the thought of someone being picked on over and over again — even if they don’t like them. You can see it happening in Wisconsin and elsewhere. It’s a little upsetting to me, too, and I voted that way in most of the races.”
Then the question: “Given what is going on, do you think Republicans would sweep every state race if the election was today?”
You can’t base your opinion on that question solely on what you hear in this area. Democrats still have a stronghold in this area, although it’s clearly not as significant as it was 10 years ago. Democrats in this area, however, are more vocal against their Republican brethren than I’ve ever seen. People tell me it’s the same in other parts of the country.
Some changes are past due in Alabama, and there are some good ideas from Republicans that are floating around in Montgomery. We just don’t hear much about them because the Republican leadership in the Legislature has been a lightning rod of controversy.
The promise made during the campaign about working with the other side is clearly a joke. Like Democratic leadership in the past, there is an attitude of you’re either for me or against me.
It’s as if Washington has moved to Montgomery.
Here’s an example:
Without naming names, one newly elected legislator was confronted the other day about the pending immigration bill, which is modeled after Arizona’s law that has been shot down in the U.S. Supreme Court. The new guy on the block was told the Alabama bill was unconstitutional and will cost Alabama thousands of dollars to fight in the Supreme Court.
“I don’t care; it’s constitutional in my district,” he said.
The reply speaks volumes on many fronts.
Republicans have time to turn the ship around and do positive things for Alabama. It won’t happen without an attitude adjustment, though.
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