Speak Out ... Alabama GOP
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On June 20, Alabama Republican leaders nullified the vote of the people of Calhoun and Cleburne counties for circuit judge. They did this behind closed doors, without the knowledge of local county Republican leaders, and without giving the people's choice — Ray Bryan — a chance to respond. The decision was based on their biased interpretation of a rule regarding the filing of campaign financial reports. Here's an important question: Did the timing of the report filing influence the election outcome? If this were a clear-cut case of not filing a report, this would be irrelevant. But when the situation requires common sense and good judgment, this is an important question to consider. And the answer is no. Nobody believes that the public was eagerly waiting for the campaign finance reports to post to determine whom to vote for. I dare say that the only people interested would have been those who were part of the other candidate's campaign. They certainly would not have been interested from the standpoint of trying to decide whom to vote for. Additionally, this was a financial-disclosure report, and, according to The Star, there were "tiny amounts spent by Bryan, Bankson." In other words, this election was less influenced by finances than most elections. Furthermore, Bryan raised half of what his opponent raised, which demonstrates that finances were not a factor in his victory. It's incredulous to think that something that had no influence on the outcome of an election could nullify the results of the election. It's more incredulous to think that party leaders who do not live in our county could determine the outcome of an election voted in only by members of our county. Jonathan Tompkins Compromising liberty"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." That's the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Independence Day is today, the 4th of July. Again Americans will go through the motions of celebrating a commitment to liberty first voiced in 1776. Yet, as the fireworks displays go on and the people fill their ample stomachs, the liberty bought so dearly for them by others is under attack by the very legislators sworn to uphold the Constitution. Recently, the FISA wiretap bill passed both Houses of Congress, giving the telecommunications giants immunity from prosecution for crimes against the American people. Also, the bill gives the president the right to wiretap any American without probable cause or a warrant, effectively gutting the Fourth Amendment. Needless to say, Calhoun County's RepubliCONs in Washington (Rep. Mike Rogers and Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby) voted against the interests of the American people and in the interests of big money and a tyrannical unitary executive embodying all three branches of government in one man. We've come full circle, exchanging the tyranny of one George for another. Wise Americans would do well to contemplate these words from Benjamin Franklin: "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Dan Hayes Bryan is lackingRay Bryan did not get the required reports in and now he is crying about it. He's suing the state GOP for something he did not do. Bryan must know that rules and laws are in force, and that one is held to a high standard. He needs to rethink his life goal of wanting to be a judge. It's pretty clear that laws and rules don't apply to him. I wish Bryan the best of luck in his effort to rewrite the rules this late in the game. The U.S. Postal Service may be slow sometimes, but did he not get that memo? It was sent by mail. Preparing required paperwork takes planning ahead to get one's stuff in on time. There's a word Bryan should look up — responsibility. Todd Walker |
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