“In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” Anyone with service at the Daily Caller, Breitbart, and now the partly dark money-funded Alabama Policy Institute’s 1819 effort presumably knows plenty about how some political stories are planned up. Jeff Poor’s speculation on an ALGOP “that functions more as a social club than a boisterous advocate or opponent of public policy” seems somewhat shaky, however. But there’s this sentence: “Is an ideologically far-right state party too much for some?” To be at least nibbling at something seems like a possibility. I’ll get back to this later. Poor’s piece is in Lagniappe down in Mobile. Please consider subscribing. They’ve covered some stuff no other outlet here will get near. First, however, here’s Sneaky Spanky.

For the record, I’m not assuming there might’ve been a tip or whatever handed to Kyle Whitmire on this story about the ALGOP’s Chairman’s special ID. Seems perfectly reasonable to have tried to shake out that story. It wasn’t up there with his work on Nancy, rest in peace, on that too-short toilet or the ‘Luv Guv’ doing ‘Luv Guv’ stuff. But it was a real one. Wow! What was Wahl thinking?

Returning to Poor’s piece, I’m also not so sure that the ALGOP has gotten any more ‘conservative’ under Wahl. Some of the usual suspects put forward some humdinger reactionary and ridiculous resolutions. By the way, what’s up with Junior Hooper? And the recent one about Trump being persecuted when that search warrant was executed has none other than Republican National Committeeman Paul Reynolds presenting it. But I don’t really recall much coverage indicating John Wahl was advocating anything one way or the other. At this point, the leadership of several state parties and such is effectively Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, etc. More on that thesis to follow.

I also don’t know how those few county boards of registrars failing to update their precinct maps can be put on Wahl or the ALGOP. (Or Secretary of State John Merrill either from what I read.) Then again, possibly Jeff knows something we mere mortals don’t. If he or anyone else does, that’d be the kind of story I’d like to read.

Back to that one sentence now. “Is an ideologically far-right state party too much for some?” First, I don’t know if any ideological anything exists in today’s Republican Party. There’s not necessarily any ideology that seems especially clear to me. Then again, that’s been the case for much in ‘conservatism’ for decades now. Limbaughism and especially Trumpism have been difficult for me to get a handle on as to anything ideological. As to Jeff’s “boisterous advocate or opponent of public policy” role for his party, pay attention to the word ‘boisterous.’ Per the Google, I see clamorous, unrestrained, tumultuous … listed as synonyms. No, you probably don’t want a social club. But you don’t want boisterous either.

‘Far-right’ might work, however, in many instances as a descriptor for today’s GOP. There’s a reactionary, sort of at least fascist-adjacent, just ‘make the libs cry’ approach … in way, way, way too much of the modern Republican Party. And it was building well before Trump ever came down that escalator. It goes back at least into the years way back when of Limbaugh and Gingrich. Sarah Palin was sort of a John the Baptist figure. The situation now is where many Republican politicians seem to just make sure they’re able to parrot enough of whatever Hannity, Carlson, Ingraham, other media infotainers, and a smattering of preachers or performance artist types, a cadre of cosplay ‘conservatives,’ and of course Mango Mussolini have said so they can try to survive a primary challenge. Truly, things are jacked up inside and across the GOP.

And that jacked up status might be what mattered, IF ANYTHING, should any smart BIG MULE type(s) have decided to scheme up some sort of plan to try to ease Wahl out. And even if one or more might’ve, giving a news professional a mere tip is about all I could imagine. That’s routine right? Happens every day. I’ve surely done it. Have been told about others doing it. There are good, bad, and ugly reasons I suppose. Mine are, of course, always righteous.

Lord knows the heavy hitters desperately need to do something to get a handle on the abundant reactionary and ridiculous voices. There’s only so much they can count on by having friendly Dems like Daniels and Singleton around when the balance is so off. Sure, there’s campaign cash and savvy fixers, lobbyists, etc. Smart maneuvering can hinder or shape what happens up on Goat Hill and across the state. At the same time, it’s a pain to have to stay on high alert about what the whackadoodles, the Bircher types, the Trumpiest of the Trumpers … might get up to. Alabama keeps getting bad press because of the Bircher types, the reactionary and ridiculous Republicans, etc. This repeated pattern has to have plenty of powerful or just bourgeois interests aggravated.

And when both parties in this benighted state appear to be ate up from the ground up, with Joe Reed back in the saddle and the Libertarians on the march too, if I hear about the person in the top position in the dominant party printing up his own special inspector gadget ID with apparently the assistance of Jim Bleeping Zeigler then I might start thinking about a change. And it’s not necessarily that you want to get your guy or gal in place. You just don’t want a knucklehead. But sure, a generally friendly person able to tone down the Bircher bullshit and such might be nice. I know what this bumpkin might start thinking about doing. Or better yet, let Matrix or … handle it. Another chance to use Sneaky Spanky. It’s dated a decade or more ago. He’s probably working for Matrix now.

Next task on the list Big Mules, try to locate and then get some sensible, smart, sane old-school conservatives on the air and in the papers so as to start undoing the damage done by all the many ‘conservative’ voices currently effing things up even more. While these smart, sane, sensible old-school conservatives aren’t going to be easy to find, developing some younger talent might at least be an option. You all can easily cover the costs I expect just by redirecting what’s currently being spent on all the shit sites. Sure, there’s a good chance any sensible, smart, sane conservatives won’t carry your Big Mule water. Compared to the damage ‘an ideologically far-right state party’ can do, however, it’s an easy choice.

That’ll do. As always, serious comments or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks for reading. john

Edited some early on morning of 6 OCT 22. Threw together last night so …