Bamacrats might get mad at me...but I actually LIKE this Republican!!

[Dob Bole]

Bob Riley, the Republican governor of Alabama, seems to be prety progressive as far as Alabama governors go. Maybe it's an illusion, but consider this:

1) Though it ultimately failed, Riley tried to pass fairer tax laws in Alabama, so that poor people didn't have to pay state taxes while higher-income earners experienced a slight increase. Redistribution of wealth. Riley took a big political risk in doing this.

2) Roy Moore. Bob Riley supported the court decision to make Roy Moore take his rock down.

3) Riley has introduced an amendment to the state constitution to remove the last vestiges of Jim Crow language and move the state onward. Who opposes the amendment? None other than Roy Moore, who might be challenging Riley for the Republican nomination, due to his vulnerability in the party on point 1.

Someone may not agree with my estimation on Riley, and that's fine...I'd like to know why. But this does raise a question that I have about Southern politics. 30 years ago, it was possible for progressive Democrats to be elected in the South. JFK's highest vote percentage besides his home state of Massachusetts was gained in Georgia. Now it seems that only DLC-types can be elected. Does the future of progressivism in the South lie in sneaking through the Republican ranks, or can the Democratic party still be revived? What do you suggest?

[Dhalgren]

1. Down here it is hard to tell Republicans from Democrats,

because Democrats have to be almost as far right as Republicans in order to appeal to their "constituents". You may have something, ther, about Republicans may be able to be more progressive simply because they are Republicans. Most Aabamians vote based on party and don't pay any attention at all to what the various candidates actually advocate.

[Dob Bole]

3. Maybe it is the 'default party' thing...

The Democratic Party was also the only party in the South 30 years ago, so progressives would be elected regardless.

These days, in Alabama and Mississippi at least (and probably S.C. too) the Republican party is the default party. So a progressive might have a better chance of being elected as a Republican.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. In the 1960's

Republicans in Alabama were frequently more progressive than some of their Dixiecrat opponents. It was not a high mountain to climb.

[noonwitch]

4. In the 60s, the republicans were a very different party than today

There were moderate and liberal republicans and they weren't the party's minority. Barry Goldwater (RIP-I always liked him for being honest) was considered a radical conservative-today, the GOP would be calling him a RINO.

[IrateCitizen]

5. I've heard that Riley takes his Christianity seriously...

Meaning that I heard that his faith was his primary impetus behind seeking a reform of the state income tax to help poor people. Don't get me wrong -- I probably wouldn't agree with a lot of his philosophy. But you have to admire his consistency and lack of hypocrisy on this.

[SouthALdem]

6. I agree and disagree...

Since becoming Governor, he has done some very surprising things. Most of all, promoting the tax bill which sadly failed. Very Un-Republican things. So I would say I almost like him.

However, for those of us who remember how he voted while in Congress, he still leaves a bad taste in your mouth. VERY conservative and tended to vote based on fundy X-ian thinking.

[Dob Bole]

7. Thanks..still not a lot of suggestions on my last question though..so KICK

[Dhalgren]

8. I don't think the Democratic Party in the South (in general)

and Alabama (in particular)can be revived. Dems are too much a part of the power structure down here. A lot of Dems, here, silently support Bush (there are more registered Democrats in Alabama than Republicans, yet the Republicans win every state-wide election). I think that the whole country is ready for a progressive party that reflects what most Americans consider "traditional values". The problem comes in with the welding of religion onto the political party system - traditional American values do not equate to fundamentalist Christian values. So that's the real problem as I see it.