“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” – Matthew 25:13 Alabama’s primary election day is fast approaching. Maybe faster than you realize. Getting a handle on when Alabama holds its primary election is bit like skeet shooting. The target is always on the move. Traditionally, Alabama held its primary… Read more

“Messy, messy, messy!” – Professor Hinkle, the antagonist magician from the “Frosty the Snowman” Christmas special When it comes to elections, nothing much is straightforward. But there are two areas that always end up being the stickiest of wickets. One is tracking and regulating campaign contributions and advertising. The other is drawing political district boundaries… Read more

“A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” – Yogi Berra A few days ago my coworker was telling me how she made a purchase at a fast-food restaurant and was owed $1.03 in change. She got the dollar but was left in want of the three pennies. After regaining the attention of the cashier who… Read more

“Cave canem.” The Alabama Legislature passes a whole bunch of bills every year. But for all the legislation that passes, there will be more bills that fail. Getting a bill all the way through the process from introduction to the governor’s signature is often a tough row to hoe. It is common for a bill… Read more

Note from Brandon: like every other semi-literate person known to peruse a Dollar Tree for some unneeded something, I’ll find myself clicking on a Sean of the South article from time to time. This somehow led me to the silly idea of writing a story of my own in the style of the venerable Sean… Read more

“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