Category: ‘War on Dumb’


SUBSCRIBE TO THIS SECTION WITH RSS

Posted on November 4th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

The aftermath of Larry Langford 

The aftermath of Larry Langford 

Last week’s verdict established Larry Langford’s guilt, but it will be a long time before we’re done settling all his unanswered questions. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on October 20th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

High stakes and cheapskates

High stakes and cheapskates

The cost of corruption when politicians come cheap

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on October 14th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

The Life and Crimes of Larry Langford

The Life and Crimes of Larry Langford

When you watch Langford, one question arises: But for his character flaws, would he have ever been successful?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on October 7th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Birmingham City Council runoff rundown

Birmingham City Council runoff rundown

Council President Carole Smitherman wins (for now). Richard Arrington loses big.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on September 24th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Birmingham admits deficit

Birmingham admits deficit

The Birmingham Finance Department had claimed a $13 million surplus. It was off by only $41 million.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on September 16th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Jefferson County’s solution to financial crisis is more debt? 

Jefferson County’s solution to financial crisis is more debt? 

Just a few years ago this scenario was all too common. A man walks into [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on September 10th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

JeffCo’s New Coalition is old again

JeffCo’s New Coalition is old again

Birmingham needs a new generation of political action, but the ‘New’ Coalition stopped short of radical change.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on September 4th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Birmingham 2010 budget violates city’s policy

Birmingham 2010 budget violates city’s policy

City continues to spend millions from savings.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on August 26th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Council election yields mixed bag of nuts 

Council election yields mixed bag of nuts 

After they’d taped all the returns to the City Hall walls Tuesday night, not much [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on August 20th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Bill Blount calls it quits

Bill Blount calls it quits

There are costs and benefits to smoking beyond what it does to your health. A [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on August 12th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Taxation with representation just legislation without imagination

Taxation with representation just legislation without imagination

As I write this, the Alabama Legislature is busying trying to fix what’s wrong with [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on August 6th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Leapin’ Larry counts it down

Leapin’ Larry counts it down

Last Thursday Al LaPierre stood in the eighth floor courtroom at the federal courthouse downtown to utter [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on July 31st, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Leapin’ Larry goes for broke

Leapin’ Larry goes for broke

What he didn’t put into slot machines, he spent on clothes and cars. And when he spent all he had, he took more money from friends — friends who happened to be connected to the bond business.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on July 23rd, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Politician-Assisted Suicide

Politician-Assisted Suicide

How a decade of blunders back-stabs left Jefferson County broke

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on July 15th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Jefferson County gives Birmingham a glimpse of its future

Jefferson County gives Birmingham a glimpse of its future

There’s a question in my mind: Can corruption, incompetence and ego kill a government?
Sure, these [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on July 9th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Birmingham council sees red over Langford budget

Birmingham council sees red over Langford budget

 
According to the city’s own accounting system, Birmingham is running a $17 million deficit for [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Katopodis trial exposes political favors among friends

Katopodis trial exposes political favors among friends

“Everybody they put on the stand knew what he was doing,” defense attorney Jim Parkman [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on June 26th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Jefferson’s Most Wanted: Accounting for Political Corruption in Alabama

Jefferson’s Most Wanted:  Accounting for Political Corruption in Alabama

There’s a problem affecting our political culture here, and recent events have given us a [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on June 18th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Twitter is the revolution

Twitter is the revolution

In the waning days of the Bush Administration, rumors ran rampant that the White House [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on June 4th, 2009 by Kyle Whitmire

Leapin’ Larry gets his fix

Leapin’ Larry gets his fix

Q: Is he a friend of yours, Mr. Milton McGregor?
A: Oh, I know him. Yes, [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

WEEKLY PICKS: do more now

Weekly Tweets

  • @blakebritton Patrick Cooper's twitter appears to be @PatCoop but he hasn't tweeted since June. #bham 1 day ago
  • Patrick Cooper is running for Mayor of Birmingham, has a three-point plan. Not "Let's Do Something." http://bit.ly/42EgLb 1 day ago
  • Story and Video: Smitherman terminates Langford chief of staff http://bit.ly/3VoUQS 1 day ago
  • Smitherman names Kevin Moore interim chief of staff. #bham 2 days ago
  • Presser over. 2 days ago
  • Says he's committed to the city. Ready to work hard, etc. Smitherman talking. Paepcke asks if any charges pressed against Bowie. No. #bham 2 days ago
  • But seriously folks, Mr. Moore last worked in Parks and Rec. He seems calm. Says this is a very important time for the city. #bham 2 days ago
  • He last worked in the Parks and Rec. dept, possibly under Leslie Knope. If you don't get it, google it. #bham 2 days ago
  • Moore has been associated with city hall in #bham for 14 years. Says there's a lot of work to be done. Going to work with budget and finance 2 days ago
  • Smitherman hopes to have proposals on how to fix the budget shortfall by Tuesday, says Moore is working through the weekend. #bham 2 days ago
  • Everyone is subject to review, smitherman says. #bham 2 days ago
  • Smitherman says she's been interviewing the Mayor's staff individually to find out who knew what about budget. #bham 2 days ago
  • More updates...

War on Dumb

The aftermath of Larry Langford 

The aftermath of Larry Langford 

Last week’s verdict established Larry Langford’s guilt, but it will be a long time before we’re done settling all his unanswered questions. 

Upon Further Review

Dear (New) Mayor, Let’s talk sports…

Dear (New) Mayor, Let’s talk sports…

Whoever emerges from the special election in December holding my city’s mantle of leadership inherits a sports scene that is in the direst of straits.

Column

The Ballad of Federal Gaol

The Ballad of Federal Gaol

A poem about an ex-mayor & a prisoner-to-be.

Film

Paranormal Activity yields big scares

Paranormal Activity yields big scares

Paranormal Activity builds scares out of shadows, loud noises and anticipation.

Small World Cartoons

Not My President

Not My President

When “your man” didn’t become President, what did you say?

Suburban Legends

Batdance

Batdance

Some thoughts on the end of society