And That Elusive Karl Rove
by Glynn Wilson
GULF SHORES, Ala., March 22 - Back in 1984, before George Orwell’s picture of the world had actually come true, I wrote a column in The Baldwin Times newspaper in Bay Minette, Alabama, calling for the emergence of a two-party system in the land of the George Wallace Party.
There were no Republicans in Alabama to speak of in 1984, only wolves in sheep’s clothing like Fob James and Charlie Graddick. You had your conservative, pro-business Democrats. We called them boll weevils, as opposed to yellow dogs.
But with Wallace practically on his death-bed half-way through his fifth and final term as Alabama’s fiery and then feeble governor, it looked like time for a change.
The closet Republicans in Baldwin County heeded the call and led the way in turning the state red over the next few years.
Unfortunately, it is now obvious that the pendulum has swung too hard, with the help of the big three conservative newspapers and the happy news broadcast media in the state.
The people will have to re-learn how to vote for Democrats even with the disasters of Guy Hunt, Fob James the second time, and George Bush now in his second awful term in Washington.
But maybe old yellow dogs can learn new tricks.
Is it time, then, to introduce a motion to get the pendulum swinging back again?
There a group of Democrats in Baldwin County who think so, and the planning is now underway.
There’s no need yet to name names or leak details. There’s more fresh, local shrimp to eat first, and a fair amount of suds to drink. That’s for the next trip.
Meanwhile, we found THE spot in Gulf Shores from where to blog with free Wi-Fi. Hidden away in a small, tasteful shopping development with palm trees and stone walls and shade, the old Coffee Merchants coffee shop, with a New Orleans feel - which started up in Gulf Shores just before I left in 1992 - has a new location and new ownership. And - hint, hint - the wireless router is NOT turned off after hours when the place closes down.
As the afternoon winds down, I’m looking at some interesting black bird photos, perhaps for publication, while sipping peach tea and munching on Apple chips in the soft breeze out of the Southeast, where it should be.
The ivory-billed woodpecker search will just have to wait as well, along with Karl Rove in his beach bungalow at Rosemary Beach.
But just for kicks, check out the latest news on those supposedly lost White House e-mails. Do you think they will ever turn up?
White House: Computer Hard Drives Tossed
Were Karl Rove’s Emails Destroyed?
