It was revealed late this past week a resolution passed by the House and the Senate honored Angela Davis, a native of Birmingham.

By Art Parker, Editor

 Angela Davis earned infamy in the 60s and 70s as an accused in the murder trial of a judge and her activism as a Communist. She is currently a professor in California and at one time was a vice presidential nominee of the Communist Party. A Democrat lawmaker from Birmingham introduced the resolution. The timing of the resolution is perfect since the intent is to honor Davis during the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the diabolical church bombing in Birmingham.

Now remember, we put the Republicans in complete control of everything here in Alabama in the last election. They have a death grip on the State House and own the Governor's Mansion. This means they control all information, all committees, all gavels in the hands of all chairmen...they control everything.

Yet, our legislature approved, without a breath of dissent, a resolution honoring a Communist, one that actually once sought the White House in a national election.

Who is to blame? Those in charge, the Republicans, are oblivious to what happened. After you tell them about the resolution they passed that honors a Communist you then quickly hear a rabble of excuses, all of which do nothing but confirm their unacceptable major blunder. However, the bottom line is that the Republicans are the one to blame. The only way to STOP or START anything in the State House is with Republican approval. Period.

I asked several of our lawmakers that represent Millbrook just what they were thinking. It was easy for me to determine that they really don't know. First, most of them didn't know who Angela Davis is (or was at the time). I find that to be an insufficient excuse considering the shame Davis brought upon our state years ago. When I told Senator Dick Brewbaker who she was he just kept saying, "Oh, my God." Representative Paul Beckman answered the way others did, and said, "I didn't read those things and I didn't vote for it." I have not been able to talk with Representative Greg Wren, who has been in Washington lately. The responses I heard from others reminds me of a Bill Cosby comedy routine when he asks his kids why they tore up the house... "Uh, I don't know."

It is true that these resolutions of commendation and congratulation are passed in large mass and by voice vote. Any voice vote makes it impossible for any of us to ever know how anyone votes, a cowardly practice by the legislature that should be ceased. I have always been against these unnecessary resolutions. They consume time and money and there is too much to do in the Legislature as it is. I don't wish to lessen the importance of a resolution honoring the Pee Wee football team that won the County Championship, but seriously, the State Government has other things to do besides pass these congratulatory resolutions while creating a delay in tending to critical matters. Besides, these things are done just to help an incumbent get votes back home, and the truth is, these resolutions appear in a trash can in a couple of years.

Honoring a Communist may not register with some people, but I'm sure it creates fire in the eyes of a pro-business capitalist like me. The truth is the GOP, with all its power, failed to exercise any power or good judgment, and brought even more shame to an institution whose reputation is already barmy. The major point is that they did not pay attention. They did not take time to read this before there was a vote. And not a single person stood up to contest it. What else do they just blow off in the course of their normal duties? What else do they refuse to read before a vote is taken? Do they not respect the ones who pay them, their constituents, enough to at least read or review everything before it hits the floor? I guess not. Apparently, we the people are not worth due diligence. Apparently, we are not worth the time. Maybe our lawmakers are just lazier than a sleeping pig in the mud.

To make matters worse, not a single lawmaker I talked to showed any sign of contrition. Not one has offered an apology. Not one remotely stated that they would work hard to pay close attention in the future. All of the ones I talked to should have just said, "I don't give a damn." I wonder who of those that represent Millbrook will at least offer an apology or publish a statement admitting to their failure.

The good news is that the Republicans have at least one member, one person in authority, who is not totally lazy, cares enough, and is on the ball. That is the Governor, who refused to sign this outrageous resolution. Congratulations Governor Bentley.

About a week ago I read where Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange referred to an ABC Board decision as foolish and inconsequential. The matter dealt with the Alabama Beverage Control agency's decision regarding Victoryland and its request for a broader liquor license than the one it has held since the mid-80s. I'm sure you recall the circus at the ABC Board on January 23. It was a hearing caused by the Attorney General – the AG was trying to have the ABC Board refuse Victoryland's liquor license request on the basis that Victoryland Bingo machines were illegal.

The Attorney General was trying to get anyone to declare Victoryland machines illegal but as of Friday the ABC Board would not play along with the AG. Between the hearing and the decision, Strange tried to get search warrants from a circuit court and the appeals court, but both refused. He apparently was tired of waiting on the ABC Board so he pulled a rabbit out of his hat and got the Alabama Supreme Court to order the circuit court to give him a warrant.

Strange used the warrant to raid and shut down Victoryland. The raid happened while the ABC Board was still deliberating the issue before them. Now that Victoryland is shut down the AG doesn't need the ABC Board anymore, so whatever they decide is "foolish and inconsequential," according to Strange.

I'm sure that Strange would never have used those words had the ABC Board agreed with him before he raided Victoryland. My question of Strange is simple: why do you continue to waste the time and money of taxpayers? If you were going to pursue other actions why did you get the ABC Board involved and create such a ruckus that cost us money? I guess if you ask enough people the same question you will eventually hear what you want to hear. It's just too bad that our AG throws our money away in trying to prove he is "right."

Another question now surfaces. The AG has sued the Poarch Creek Indian Casino operations wanting them to shut down claiming they are operating illegally. I'm not going to discuss the federal laws regarding Indian gaming operations but I would like to know why the Indians can operate illegal machines and sell booze with an Alabama liquor license. Strange claims the Indians are using the same machines as Victoryland. It only stands to reason that if the machines are illegal at the Indian casino then they should not possess a liquor license. Perhaps it is too much for me to think that our AG would be "fair" and do something about the Indians liquor license.

Perhaps there is $100,000 worth of reasons why Strange doesn't go after the Indians liquor license. In the meantime, bingo machines are running wild over in Greene County. The AG has yet to do a thing about that location. Why?

The AG claims he is determined to stamp out all illegal gambling in Alabama, but it seems that the only operations he wants to stamp out belong to Milton McGregor. It's the same old song and dance. It all goes back to Bob Riley, who holds a personal vendetta over McGregor. Our AG is nothing more than one of many Republican soldiers loyal to the former governor, and that accounts for his actions.