“So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu. Adieu, adieu to you and you and you.” – Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II from “The Sound of Music” That’s a wrap. The Alabama Legislature has adjourned its 2026 regular session. Barring an unlikely special session being called, legislators are done for the year. It marks the end… Read more

“But they never mention me, I’m the black sheep of the family.” – from John Anderson’s song, “Black Sheep” In some ways political parties behave much like an extended family. Families form a bond from shared ancestors and shared experiences like family reunions or holiday get-togethers. Political parties form a strong bond over their members’… Read more

“Dan’s feet are sore; he’s yearnin’ for just one thing more than water … cool, clear water.” – from the song “Cool Water” by Bob Nolan Going as far back as the previous century, one might compare the competency of the Birmingham Water Works to that of the Legion of Doom, the bumbling opposition to… Read more

“I thus drew steadily nearer to that truth … that man is not truly one, but truly two” – Robert Louis Stevenson from his novel “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Deep within the chambers of each person’s heart, there lies a contrast. A yin and a yang. A lion and a lamb.… Read more

“You can get with this, or you can get with that.” – from “The Choice is Yours (Revisited)” by hip hop group Black Sheep The Alabama Legislature’s effort to overhaul the state’s Public Service Commission is one of the more unusual and winding legislative journeys in recent memory. Only a few weeks ago, the Legislature… Read more

“Half of official Washington is here to see democracy’s finest show, the filibuster. The right to talk your head off. The American privilege of free speech in its most dramatic form.” – H.V. Kaltenborn in the film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” You may have heard the word filibuster bandied about in the last few… Read more

“Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false.” – Gollum from the film “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” adapted from the J.R.R. Tolkein book, “The Two Towers” Y’all been noticing all these Democrats sneaking around, posing as Republicans, and getting elected to statewide offices? You know who I am talking about. There’s ummmm …… Read more

“What do you get when you guzzle down sweets? Eating as much as an elephant eats. What are you at getting terribly fat? What do you think will come of that? I don’t like the look of it.” – sung by the Oompa Loompas in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” As… Read more

“Are You Not Entertained?” – actor Russell Crowe as Maximus in the film “Gladiator” Getting to write about bills like Senate Bill 268 is the type of opportunity that makes my geeky little government-studying heart sing. The bill has a little bit of everything: elections, the role of government institutions versus the role of the… Read more

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” – George Orwell from his novel “Animal Farm” I feel like it should be noted as a major accomplishment to write a column on government for more than two years without breaking out this old chestnut from Mr. Orwell. The bottlecap had to… Read more