Politics

Speaking Engagement: CPAC 2010

Confirmation came yesterday that I will be speaking as part of the techRepublican panel at CPAC 2010 this year.

I will be presenting on a new Grassroots technology called Roots of Liberty.

If you are going to be attending CPAC this year (Feb. 17-20) let me know as I would love to get together and meet you.

Tim James Twitter Interview

I conducted today my interview with Gubernatorial Candidate Tim James. Below are the 10 questions and answers:

@TimJames2010 Q1: What are the three most important issues facing the state of Alabama?

@jvreeland Jobs and the economy, education and managing the state budget are the issues Alabamians are most concerned about right now.  (link)

@TimJames2010 Q2: What are the three most important issues facing the Nation?

@jvreeland Obama's tax hikes, obviously jobs and national security. The Democrats are killing our economic future. (link)

@TimJames2010 Q3: Is the Economic Recession over for the Nation?

No! The recession will continue as long as the Democrats continue to hike taxes, continue bailouts and out-of-control spending (link)

@TimJames2010 Q4: How is your campaign using Social Media to connect with voters?

@jvreeland Obviously through Twitter. We are now segmented into regions on Facebook as well as main FB page. Also Flickr and YouTube.  (link)

@TimJames2010 Q5: Last question before we get to user submitted questions, it is an easy one: Mac or PC?

@jvreeland A bit of both: I use a PC and a iPhone.  (link)

@TimJames2010 Q6: Via @Chandler_Harris: How does he plan on forcing college professors to give extra credit for the AL Reading Corps?

@jvreeland @Chandler_Harris By expanding the existing U of A program to other state-funded institutions.  (link)

@TimJames2010 Q7: @DanielleBlevins How Gov. Riley is handling the gambling issue, acceptable/unacceptable?

@jvreeland @DanielleBlevins Tough, tricky issue. I oppose casino gambling in AL and believe so-called bingo machines are slot machines.  (link)

@TimJames2010 Q8: Via @bradleyhankins: In one word, how would you describe yourself politically?

@jvreeland Conservative.  (link)

@TimJames2010 Q9: Via @walkerdl: How will you lure more jobs to AL?

 @jvreeland @walkerdl:Shift focus from econ devevelopment to helping small businesses stay afloat and expand, which over 75% of AL workers. (link)

@TimJames2010 Q10: Via @bradleyhankins: How will you add to more transparency within the state government?

@jvreeland @bradleyhankins Independent audits of all state offices and contracts, publish expenditures/reports online, review all contracts.  (link)

Thanks so much for Tim James for participating in our Twitter Interview for the Alabama 2010 Gubernatorial Campaign.

Birmingham Mayoral Elections = #Fail

On Tuesday of this week the city of Birmingham will be electing a new mayor to replace (convicted felon and) former Mayor Larry Langford. Unfortunately the three leading candidates (Patrick Cooper, Carol Smitherman, and William Bell) are all exactly what is NOT needed for Birmingham to move forward.

All three candidates are people who have been the inherent problem with the city of Birmingham or in the case of Patrick Cooper, the protege of the problem with Birmingham.

Unfortunately the remaining 11 candidates that will be on the ballot on Tuesday (including recently deceased candidate Ernie Dunn) bring no new vision, leadership, or lack of ego to help Birmingham move forward. To be quite honest some just embarrass the city (and state) even more.

I have always thought if I am going to complain about an issue then I need to provide a solution. Unfortunately it is not that simple, but instead i would recommend you do not vote for any of the 14 candidates on the ballot but instead write in your own name. Will it make a difference, probably not. But it will send a strong message that you are disgusted with your choice of candidates and with the overall lack of leadership to move the City of Birmingham forward.

As a sidenote, if you are looking for more information on the election check out WadeOnBirmingham.Com's Vote09 section.

Another Bad Idea for Birmingham Politics

Joey Kennedy has a column in the Birmingham News in which he complains that the people of Birmingham are lazy (less then 20% voted last week). Joey's entire point was that Birmingham City elections need to be moved to the same time the mayoral race is:

There is one idea that might help improve voter turnout in city elections. Since turnout for mayoral elections is generally 20 percent higher than in City Council elections, we could put the mayoral and City Council elections on the same cycle. Not only would more people vote, but that also would keep City Council members from chronically sabotaging a mayor's programs because three or four council members plan to run for mayor. If the elections were on the same cycle, a City Council member would have to give up his or her seat to run for the top spot.

What Mr. Kennedy misses in his recommednation is that nobody will vote for poor candidates. Until you have a candidate that can get everyone excited about change (does not matter the district), then election turnout will continue to be low.

When you continue to have candidates like Antwon Womak nobody is going to take Birmingham City politics all that serious.