Former Governor John Patterson Discusses Threat of Corruption in Alabama

Posted on 04/13/2010 |

The legacy of our state is one of political corruption that has held our state back. And one of the worst episodes of this sad legacy was the lawlessness that pervaded Phenix City in 1954. Today, Alabama is locked in another chapter of this decades old conflict. But the current debate is really not about gambling; it is about whether or not the laws of the state of Alabama mean anything and whether our elected officials have the courage and integrity to uphold them.

I urge you to watch this two part interview of former Alabama Gov. John Patterson conducted by the Alabama Policy Institute. Gov. Patterson talks about the history of Phenix City, the assassination of his father, and the current threat of corruption in Alabama:

“You Don’t Want That in Your Town” – Former Governor John Patterson Recalls Gambling’s Consequences

Illegal Gambling: “It’s Not Encouraging to See It Come Back”

These videos were produced by Alabama Policy Institute New Media after being privileged to interview Governor Patterson and have access to many of the same materials others have used to tell his story. Alabama Policy Institute is a non-profit, research and educational institute dedicated to influencing public policy. We do this by identifying, developing and promoting innovative policy ideas, and by providing fact-based, objective analysis of key issues.

Chandler Harris, College Republican National Committee

Posted on 04/06/2010 |

I am writing to tell you how happy I am to give my personal endorsement to Mr. Luther Strange as our Republican candidate running for the office of Attorney General in the state of Alabama.  After proudly serving as your State Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Alabama for the last two years, I can tell you that I know Luther is truly a man of great character and moral aptitude. In addition to bringing over twenty years of legal experience to the table, he is a man we can trust to enforce the law in Alabama and serve us with great distinction.  Big Luther has big ideas for Alabama, and I would urge you to open your ears to them.

Chandler Harris
National Secretary
College Republican National Committee

Washington’s Insult to Alabama

Posted on 03/22/2010 |

Sunday’s healthcare vote was truly historic, but for all of the wrong reasons.  The close vote, that largely followed regional lines, showed once again the cultural, social and economic divide that currently runs so deep in this nation.

Generally, sweeping legislation that fundamentally alters the role of government in the life of the individual is adopted by a bipartisan majority.  In the case of yesterday’s takeover of 20 percent of our economy and our personal health choices by the federal government, no such agreement was present.  Instead, we witnessed the modern day version of the old smoke filled room – arm twisting, job promises, pay offs and threats to secure this narrow victory over the wishes of the American people.

Speaker Pelosi and President Obama can try all they want to liken this legislation to Social Security, Medicare or Civil Rights – but in every case, those pieces of legislation were passed by large bi-partisan majorities.  Our system of government was established to prevent what happened yesterday – a narrow, regional majority forcing its will on recalcitrant states and citizens.

We all should do everything in our power to dismantle this illegal monstrosity in its cradle.  As your Attorney General, I intend to join or initiate as many legal actions as possible to challenge the constitutionality of every conceivable aspect of this law.  And I will work with the legislature and governor to ensure that our State passes the appropriate laws to give these cases the greatest chance of success.

But today, I think we must reflect upon what yesterday’s action in the House means for our nation as a whole.  Starting with the stimulus bill, then the auto and financial bailouts and now healthcare nationalization, we have seen trillions added to our national debt with stunning speed.  A debt that threatens to turn our nation into a third world country begging for handouts from the IMF.  And for what purpose?

It would appear that the real purpose of these measures has been a massive transfer of wealth from the productive parts of the nation in the South, Midwest and Rocky Mountain states to the Northeast, Rust Belt and West Coast.  The beneficiaries (commonly called Blue State America) all share similar traits – high taxes, gigantic deficits, bloated public sector budgets, impossible pension obligations, over regulation of business and out of control unions.

Yesterday was one more step in destroying those states like Alabama that have a balanced budget and friendly business environment to prop up economically unviable states like California, Michigan, New York and New Jersey.  As businesses have left those states in droves for better operating environments, their tax revenues have declined.  Instead of responsibly cutting government and spending to respond, those states have borrowed massive amounts of money and have hired even more government workers in response.  Now, through the policies of this Administration and Congress, they seek to raid those states with free markets and low taxes by having the federal government redistribute our wealth and place a debt on us and our children that we did not seek, did not need nor wanted.

That is no Union.  It is the act of an empire.  And if we are to prevent further deepening divisions and resentments building between areas of the country, we must restore fiscal discipline to Washington, but most importantly assert our rights once again as states and be willing to vigorously defend those rights.

Our Constitution is very explicit about the specific rights and powers of the federal government.  Yet we hardly seem to take large swaths of the Constitution or the Bill of Rights seriously anymore where those limitations are addressed.  We ignore them at our peril because to do so undermines, in the minds of the people, the legitimacy of union.  That is not a healthy state of affairs and it cannot hold.

- Luther

Call to Action – Kill the Bill!

Posted on 03/19/2010 |

If elected to be Alabama’s Attorney General, I promise to be the first line of defense in protecting the people of Alabama from the massive power grab coming from Washington, DC. I will join with like minded AG’s from around the country to ensure that our rights to govern ourselves are protected from a federal government increasingly intent on dictating virtually every aspect of our lives. We must all be vigilant to protect our constitution and the rights guaranteed to our citizens there under, including the 10th Amendment. The pending healthcare vote is just one example of the federal government’s determination to centralize power in Washington, DC.

Rather than just “watching and waiting” on this issue as Troy King suggests, I urge everyone to push back while we still have hope for killing the health care monstrosity that Nancy Pelosi is trying to ram down our throats.  Both of Alabama’s Democratic Congressmen, Bobby Bright and Artur Davis, have indicated that they will vote against the healthcare bill this weekend – but they face relentless pressure from the Democratic machine.

Even if we don’t live in their districts, every one of us should call and email these two Alabama Congressmen to help them stand firm against the relentless pressure of their party bosses.  Both of them are in Washington DC this weekend.  Call, fax, email – tell them to stick to their guns and vote NO to government takeover of health care:

Congressman Bobby Bright
phone: 202-225-2901
fax: 202-225-8913
send a message (website): https://forms.house.gov/bright/contact-form.shtml

Congressman Davis
phone: 202-225-2665
fax: 202-226-9567
send a message (website):  http://arturdavis.house.gov/index.cfm?p=ContactCongressmanDavis

Make your voice heard!

- Luther

Luther’s SuperBowl Ad

Posted on 02/07/2010 |

Please share this video with your friends, tell them about my campaign, and ask them to sign up with my campaign to restore honesty, integrity & trust to the office of Alabama Attorney General.

Luther & Melissa Strange Talk About the Role of Alabama Attorney General

Posted on 01/22/2010 |

I invite you to watch this brief video and listen to me and Melissa share our personal story and how our experiences as a family have shaped my views on the role of Attorney General.  Thanks for your support!

Matt Murphy Interviews Luther on 1070 WAPI

Posted on 01/21/2010 |

Matt Murphy gave me the opportunity to speak with his audience this morning about why I’m running for Alabama Attorney General and how I hope to restore honesty, integrity and trust to the Attorney General’s office.

Matt Murphy on 1070 WAPI

You can click here to link to the WAPI 1070 web site and listen to the show.

Alabama College Republicans Endorse Luther

Posted on 01/15/2010 |

Luther applauds these young leaders who take the time to get involved on their campus and demonstrate their concern for the future of Alabama:

“The work of elected leaders has an effect on our quality education. It influences how much tuition we pay, it decides how our school is prepared for the future.”

–Steve A. Oliver, University of Alabama SGA President

“I know how Luther’s commitment to high ethical standards can make a difference in our state government, a difference that can reach right here to the Auburn plains. Luther is dedicated to helping Alabama’s next generation of leaders and workers reach their greatest achievements.”

–Jacob Watkins, Auburn University SGA President


“Thousands of college voters are standing up for Luther because he stands for the future of Alabama. We need an attorney general who puts the law and safety above politics. We need an attorney general with the honesty and experience to be the people’s lawyer. We need Luther Strange.”

-T. Bryant Whaley, Jacksonville State University SGA President

Sheriff Terry Surles, District Attorney Minor backing Luther Strange for Attorney General

Posted on 12/16/2009 |

The Leeds News, Friday, December 04, 2009

By: Michael Meel

— St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor announced on Monday that he and Sheriff Terry Surles will be pulling for Luther Strange in next year’s attorney general’s race.

Minor spoke to a small crowd gathered across the street from the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City on Monday and said, “Today I speak for myself, Sheriff Terry Surles and retired District Attorney Van Davis. As a career prosecutor, I have had the honor to serve the citizens of Alabama as a District Attorney, an Assistant District Attorney and as an Assistant Attorney General for both Jeff Sessions and Bill Pryor; both of whom had the character and integrity one must possess to serve as Attorney General. For that reason I stand before you today to endorse Luther Strange for Attorney General. Luther is dedicated to working with District Attorneys and Law Enforcement to serve and protect the public.”

Minor continued, “As a former prosecutor once said, ‘It’s a luxury of a lifetime to be able to pursue only those things that are right. You are unencumbered by the bad ideas of a client who is paying you money. You are only encumbered by your own desire to do the right thing and to make sure justice is done.’ I know Luther will do the right thing and make sure justice is done for all of Alabama. Its time to send someone with high moral values, the strongest ethical standards and foremost someone with a commitment to integrity.”

Sheriff Surles issued his own statement Tuesday, backing Strange for his strong commitment to law enforcement.

“I have been associated with the family of Luther Strange for approximately forty years. I truly feel when he is elected that he will be the people’s Attorney General and represent the State Of Alabama to the highest degree possible,” Surles said.

“I can’t tell you how honored I am to have this support,” Strange said. “DAs are the ones in the court room every day protecting the citizens of this state, taking care of victims, making Alabama the kind of place we want for the future. I look forward to restoring the close working relationship that Attorney General’s office has always enjoyed with the DAs.”

These endorsements signal growing law enforcement support for Strange. In October, Shelby County DA Robby Owens and Sheriff Chris Curry endorsed the campaign based on Strange’s experience practicing law and his commitment to working with officers of the law as Attorney General.

D.A. Minor and Sheriff Surles, both Republicans, have been in headlines over the last year in regards to the current handling of St. Clair’s card-verses-electronic bingo ordinance. Legal hurdles in Montgomery kept the electronic bingo issue on the backburner until recently.

In recent weeks, electronic bingo has again raised its presence in the greater Birmingham area and continues to be debated.

D.A. Minor said last week that after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Governor Bob Riley’s Task Force could conduct raids on electronic bingo hall that questions still remain in the bingo debate. He said that St. Clair County’s still-pending case could act as a guideline for electronic bingo across the state.

Minor said, “One issue that the White Hall [ruling] didn’t answer is whether under our amendment and those amendments with similar language must use only paper cards.”

The bingo battle drove a rift between many citizens in the county. The City of Ashville, American Legion Post 170 and Shooting Star Entertainment Group, LLC, asked Circuit Judge Charles Robinson for a declaratory judgment this past spring to see if they were in compliance with State Amendment 542, when the Ashville council passed an ordinance allowing for permits to be issued for electronic charity bingo in December of last year.

Robinson’s ruling a month later denied the motion put forth in April on behalf of Sherriff Surles and D.A. Minor, who are still waiting until the Alabama Supreme Court rules on the issue.

Traditional card bingo has been played at the American Legion Post 170 in Ashville since the 1970s and was officially allowed in 1989.
Electronic bingo was allowed at the American Legion Post 170 for about a week before it was shut down.

A video of the endorsements by Minor and Surles can be found by visiting www.LutherStrange.com.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

The Leeds News
http://www.theleedsnews.net/local/local_story_338092359.html/resources_printstory

Richard Minor, Terry Surles & Van Davis

Posted on 11/30/2009 |

“I speak for myself, Sheriff Terry Surles and retired District Attorney Van Davis. As a career prosecutor, I have had the honor to serve the citizens of Alabama as a District Attorney, an Assistant District Attorney and as an Assistant Attorney General for both Jeff Sessions and Bill Pryor; both of whom had the character and integrity one must possess to serve as Attorney General. For that reason I stand before you today to endorse Luther Strange for Attorney General. Luther is dedicated to working with District Attorneys and Law Enforcement to serve and protect the public.”

— Richard Minor, St Clair County District Attorney

Jeff Sessions

Posted on 10/21/2009 |

“Luther, we are proud of you. I know you have the integrity, the legal skills, the people skills, the political skills, and the good judgment to be a great Attorney General. I am just real proud of you and look forward to seeing that happen.”

— Senator Jeff Sessions

Richard Shelby

Posted on 10/21/2009 |

“Luther is a man of integrity. I believe he will make an excellent Attorney General of Alabama. We have a great opportunity to get a good Attorney General. So I support Luther. I am going to do what I can for him.”

– Senator Richard Shelby

Robby Owens

Posted on 10/20/2009 |

“I’ve become spoiled with the likes of Bill Pryor and Jeff Sessions as past attorneys general. They understood the ability to work together with law enforcement all across the state. We worked together as a team all those years, and for some reason, we can’t do that anymore. I endorse Luther because he understands how things work.”

— Shelby County District Attorney

Chris Curry

Posted on 10/20/2009 |

“He has an established rapport with state government individuals and with our legislators and I believe he can bring to the table real solutions to the real problems that law enforcement faces in this state.”

— Chris Curry, Shelby County Sheriff

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