Picking Cotton ::

Driving home this afternoon I saw the first field being picked. I have spent some time in the past photographing agricultural activities and I hope to do the same this year and will share some pictures if they are interesting.

Richard Shelby On The $700B Bailout ::

I've gotta say that I am happy about Shelby's position in opposing the financial industries run on us, the taxpayers, and our treasury. I'm happy to see at least a modicum of integrity and honor from our senator!

Bud Cramer On The Bailout ::

Bud seems to be silent on the issue and if he has anything up on his web site it is deeply hidden. I have sent him a couple of e-mails in the past 2 days expressing my opposition to a taxpayer funded $700B (which I feel is a low estimate of the final cost). Today I am hearing that some representatives are calling for a suspension of the capital gains tax. If a company is realizing capital gains then why would it need a government infusion of money?

I can see my comments to Bud getting stronger as each day passes and I must say that I'm heartened by Shelby's approach to this government theft!

Bicycle Riding In Around Huntsville ::

I just rode my bike a short way up the road-a rural road with relatively sane traffic.

We have, unfortunately, just lost a rider to an accident last week. When I first moved to Huntsville I had a pretty nice, although aged, Peugeot road bike, but I quickly realized that biking around here is extremely hazardous so I got rid of the bike. I now have a relatively inexpensive mountain bike which I can ride through the fields around home, but I often come across large groups of bikers on Hobbs Island Road and I cringe every time I see them. I find this road to be extremely dangerous in a car and I would not conceive of riding a bicycle on this route between Huntsville and New Hope.

When I lived in south Huntsville I enjoyed the Aldridge Creek Greenway and often rode it down to Ditto Landing. I would really like to see bike lanes on local roads such I saw in Belgium lo those many years ago when I visited that country.

I make a conscious and concerted effort to protect bicycle riders when I see them on the road and I urge everyone to do the same.

The Huntsville Times Embarrassment ::

Leave it to The Times to make a screw-up of this magnitude as posted earlier on al.com:



I can't find this up on al.com now, but the screenshot was grabbed over at Doc's Political Parlor. I would love for this to get back to both Wayne Parker and The Shooter!

"Impeach Bush" Signs In Huntsville ::

I lost the larger versions of these, but the WHNT web site has these smaller images up:



This one was on the overpass at Triana Blvd and I-565.



The above banner was hung on the rock wall adjacent to Maple Hill Cemetery at California and McClung. Too bad these were not in the path of Cheney as he motored through Huntsville!

35803-Decisive In The Huntsville Mayoral Race?

From today's Huntsville Times:

with the candidates separated by a few hundred votes, the runoff election Oct. 7 could come down to a dead heat among the 5,000 voters in ZIP code 35803.

Unlike other areas, no favorite has emerged in the neighborhoods closest to the Tennessee River. Battle won some boxes. Spencer won others. Technically, neither one crossed the 50 percent mark there.

I hope that the Times follows up on this story after the election with zip code specific numbers 'cause I am very curious about how they came to the conclusion that this area could well decide who the next mayor of Huntsville will be. I lived in 35803 for 8 or 9 years and I just don't understand why it would be different from any other area of town.

New Hope-September 14, 2008

People in New Hope, especially the downtown area, seem to love yard signs and I noticed that a very large number of yards had Deborah Bell Paseur signs out. Hopefully that is a good omen!

Madison County Democratic Headquarters ::

I went by late yesterday afternoon about an hour before closing to pick up some election goodies and those manning the office were still busy with people dropping in. I talked to Sherry for a few minutes and she said that the grand opening had been wildly successful and many people had volunteered to help. As I was leaving at around 3:30pm there were still people pulling into the parking lot. All in all a very gratifying grand opening!

Some photographs are up at Left In Alabama.

Madison County Democratic Headquarters ::

The grand opening is today. Here is the e-mail I got from Sherry Walker, volunteer coordinator, a couple of days ago:

I hope you can attend the Grand Opening of the 2008 Madison County Democratic Headquarters this Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10 am. Many of our Democratic candidates will be there to meet you and ask for your vote and support in the upcoming election. We will have music, coffee, cold beverages and snacks for your enjoyment plus balloons for the young and young at heart. The Obama-Biden bumper stickers, buttons and t-shirts have already arrived and we have high hopes that at least a few of the yard signs will be delivered tomorrow and available Saturday.

Headquarters is located at 2227 Drake Ave., Suite 26. From Memorial Parkway, go West on Drake past the Senior Center. Turn left across from the American Legion building into the Brahan Spring Professional Center and drive straight back. Democratic Headquarters will be toward your right.

If you haven't already filled out a Volunteer Form or been contacted about the type of volunteer work you are willing to do and any special talents you may have, please reply to this message and let me know. We have a recurring need for people to perform the following tasks:

General office staff
Host an event (house party, candidate reception, etc.)
Write a letter to the editor
Voter registration
Phone bank
Sign assembly
Sign distribution
Door to door canvassing
Legal expertise
Mailing assembly
ELECTION DAY Poll Watcher
ELECTION DAY Driver
ELECTION DAY Office staff

Thank you so much for your willingness to give of your precious time and energy to support the Democratic cause in this important election year. You are much appreciated.

Sincerely,
Sherry Walker
Volunteer Coordinator
534-1776

Madison County Democratic Headquarters
Open Weekdays 10 am to 8 pm, Saturday 9 am to 4 pm

I will be stopping by, but I'm afraid it will be later this afternoon. Come out and make your presence known!

Lipstick On A Pig!

I just couldn't resist!

More Of The Redneck Survey ::

This past weekend I was in South Carolina and North Carolina and saw no McCain bumper stickers, but I did see 3 from the Obama campaign. Also, near my brother's place in rural (very rural) S.C. I saw an Obama yard sign.

I had lunch Sunday in Atlanta's East Village with John and Lester (smoked trout dip along with a spinach salad). Here's John, looking sufficiently stern, and he's proudly wearing an Obama button:



[update] I forgot to add that I do have a delusional neighbor here in New Hope with a McCain yard sign!

Sue Schmitz On Trial ::

So, we wind up with a hung jury! I was hoping for a complete acquittal and we'll have to wait and see if she will be prosecuted again.

I'm very concerned about what will happen to the justice department under any new administration and I'm afraid that the politicos are just too firmly entrenched to be rooted out. Seems like a difficult task to me!