Baxley 'prepared’ to be governor

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MONTGOMERY | Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley is looking to go from poor little country girl to governor.

It’s been almost 40 years since the election of Alabama’s only female governor, but Baxley says the odds don’t bother her.

The former two-term treasurer and one-term lieutenant governor likely will seek the governor’s office against former Gov. Don Siegelman in the Democratic Party primary. Gov. Bob Riley and former Chief Justice Roy Moore are likely to face off in the Republican primary.

This is a unique chance for Democrats to score a rare win in Alabama, given Riley's unpopularity and the rift between his wing of the party (mainline Christian fundamentalists) and Moore's wing (the Christian fascists). Democrats don't need a divisive primary.

Do you have Alabama roots? I wonder. Because you come in this room so often to belittle Democratic efforts here. I just wonder. You must be one of us. Are you?

Thanks for your honesty.

I have never belitted Democratic efforts in state government elections, races for Governor, Lt. Gov., etc. That's fine. What I do think is absurd is the notion that any Democratic presidential candidate could ever win in Alabama.

You used, I think, to be a Wes Clark fan. And for ages I thought that picture of Wes was you. My bad. I liked you then.

But ever since then it seems like you show up here in Alabama to tell us how stupid we are to even try to make things better. And I don't think that is healthy.

If your intentions are pure I thank you. But by observations, I don't think that is so.

I don't wish you harm though.

And given the way that state's tax system is structured, I can't see why I would want to. Of course, the voters of Alabama had the chance to change that a couple of years ago, and...Oh yeah, sore subject there.

I actually think the situation of Texas Democrats is in some way similar to that of Alabama Democrats. Not being a native Texan, I have nothing invested in the future of this state for me, so I am making plans to try and find employment in a swing state where my Democratic vote will be more valuable. I for one am fed up with having to vote for president in California (1996) and Texas (2000, 2004). My vote in those states was worthless.

Yes I am still a Wes Clark fan, but I don't think even he could carry the state.

Some parts of the country just need to be written off. I would not consign all of the south to that status (some here at DU would), but given the trend of the last 25 years, I feel no shame in ignoring Alabama's electoral votes in 2008.

But as I said, a Governor's race is a different ballgame, for the same reasons that Romney and Schwarzenegger were able to win in Massachusetts and California. So I think Baxley can win.

No sore subject with me. The tax-reform plan was by the Republican governor, Bob Riley. I voted enthusiastically for it. His own party was against it. I love Bob Riley. He put a damn progressive tax-reform plan on the table. But the (crooked) Christian Coalition downed it.

If it came between Riley and Siegelman, I might have to think a minute. And if it comes to Riley and Moore for the nomination, I'll vote in the Repub nomination,

That don't mean that we shouldn't spend our own party funds trying to change some minds.

And I support her all the way!

We need to hit it while we can!

Let's do some grassroots organizing!

That lady tells it like it is!


But the GOP is already hitting her for saying that she is pro-choice and voted for John Kerry. That kind of crap right there could easily do her in. :(