The Way Forward in Post-Bentley Alabama
Alabama is still absorbing yesterday’s historic news, the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley after he became embroiled in scandal amid allegations he used state resources and intimidation to cover up an affair. But some state leaders are already looking ahead.
Republican state Rep. Jack Williams defended Bentley for a long time until, Williams says, “things really spiraled downhill. I felt like the way the governor handled things was presumptuous: ‘Hey, I’ve asked for forgiveness, now it’s on you to forgive me. And if you don’t, you’re the one that’s wrong.’ And my faith teaches me that forgiveness is a gift. And it’s given. It’s not taken.”
Bentley was booked into the Montgomery County Jail Monday afternoon and pled guilty to misdemeanor campaign finance charges. Even so, Williams was optimistic about the big picture, especially when it comes to economics.
“We live in a broken world,” he says. “And we’ve got folks running around here screaming, ‘This is going to kill us in economic development.’ Well, in the last 10 or 12 years, New Jersey and New York have gone through Governors resigning over similar scandals. Last time I was in New Jersey or New York, neither of those were withered up and dying.”
He says the whole affair has been a distraction that’ll soon fade.
And when it comes to state politics, Natalie Davis of Birmingham-Southern College doesn’t expect the Bentley ordeal to weaken the Republic Party’s hold on power:
“I think it’s going to take a while for the Republican Party to really get beat up, because there has to be a Democratic Party to do it. And right now, there isn’t one.”
On issues facing the state – prisons, health care, a lottery, budgets – Davis says there’s no telling where new Gov. Kay Ivey will stand. Part of that is because she’d been Lieutenant Governor.
“The role of the Lieutenant Governor is not to take sides,” says Davis. “You may be starting over. That stuff can either just fall by the wayside or continue.”
Davis and Williams say Ivey’s decades of political experience will help her in the Governor’s office. But Bentley had political experience too. He’d been a lawmaker who ironically, says Williams, gradually lost touch with lawmakers. So Williams hopes Ivey will “surround [herself] with good people, and work with the legislature.”
He adds, “The system works, because there was an issue that arose, and the issue is being dealt with.”
He and other lawmakers say they hope the storm has blown over so they can get back to business.
Memory loss: As AI gobbles up chips, prices for devices may rise
Demand for memory chips currently exceeds supply and there's very little chance of that changing any time soon. More chips for AI means less available for other products such as computers and phones and that could drive up those prices too.
Brigitte Bardot, sex goddess of cinema, has died
Legendary screen siren and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91. The alluring former model starred in numerous movies, often playing the highly sexualized love interest.
For Ukrainians, a nuclear missile museum is a bitter reminder of what the country gave up
The Museum of Strategic Missile Forces tells the story of how Ukraine dismantled its nuclear weapons arsenal after independence in 1991. Today many Ukrainians believe that decision to give up nukes was a mistake.
Jeffrey R. Holland, next in line to lead Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 85
Jeffrey R. Holland led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a key governing body. He was next in line to become the church's president.
Winter storm brings heavy snow and ice to busy holiday travel weekend
A powerful winter storm is impacting parts of the U.S. with major snowfall, ice, and below zero wind chills. The conditions are disrupting holiday travel and could last through next week.
Disability rights advocate Bob Kafka dead at 79
Bob Kafka was an organizer with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group which advocates for policy change to support people with disabilities.
