WASHINGTON – Last month, former Rep. Sonny Callahan announced that he would be campaign chairman for Greenville businessman Tim James’ 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
That likely means Rep. Jo Bonner won’t be throwing his name in the hat for a run at the governorship. Bonner had said he did not have any interest in the position earlier this year.
Bonner, who served as Callahan’s press secretary, was said to be Callahan’s handpicked successor when he stepped down in 2003, making it seem unlikely Callahan would support one of Bonner’s opponents.
Tim James is the son of former two-term Alabama governor Fob James and was unsuccessful in his bid for the Alabama governorship against present Gov. Bob Riley in 2002.
The GOP field is expected to be crowded in 2010 because Riley is unable to run again and many Republicans are speculated to be interested in the governor’s mansion.
Siegelman: Rove exposure ‘Worth every day in prison and every penny I’ve spent’
Another former Alabama governor, Don Siegelman – who was released from a federal prison camp in Oakdale, La. in March pending the appeal of his 2006 conviction – is showing signs he’s sipping the vast right-wing conspiratorial Kool-Aid.
Siegelman told the left-of-center “Air America” (not available in the Mobile area) host Thom Hartman taking down former Bush administration Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has become a key objective.
“Rove’s fingerprints, from start to finish are on this case,” Siegelman said on April 30. “It’s been a very expensive and costly ordeal for me and my family and, you know – we’re not whining. If serving nine months in prison and spending every dollar I’ve got will lead to the exposure of Karl Rove’s involvement – it will be worth every day in prison and every penny I’ve spent.”
There have been various aspects of Rove’s involvement that have been criticized and his involvement all hinges on the word of Jill Simpson, who has been designated a “GOP operative” by the national media watching this.
It’s looking more and more likely the House will subpoena Rove to testify before the Judiciary Committee to testify about the Siegelman case, even though Rove has repeatedly denied any involvement with it.
Sessions isn’t buying oil industry line
Are gas prices eating up your wallet? It could be worse. Mobile is on the low end compared to what is going on nationally. As of May 1, AAA reports the average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline in the local market is $3.56, up nearly 25 percent from a year ago. The national price is up a few pennies more at $3.62 and in the nation’s capital, where yours truly is located – it is $3.68 a gallon.
One of the reasons stated for the high prices has been that oil companies lack the refining capacity to increase the supply of gasoline and thus make the prices more affordable. It is thought they lack refining capacity because government regulatory authorities haven’t allowed a new refinery to be built in the United States in 30 years. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions doesn’t think that’s necessarily the case.
“We tried to pass one bill that would allow them to build refineries on military bases, but frankly I’m not sure that it’s ‘not in my backyard’ is the only problem,” Sessions said. “I’m not sure that oil companies are interested in expanding oil refineries as they should. It could well be that helps create bottlenecks and shortages that can make prices go up.”
Diesel, which is running at $4.13 a gallon locally and $4.25 a gallon nationally, is another concern because as the cost of diesel fuel increase, the cost of goods will increase, since almost every consumer product is transported by a vehicle powered by diesel fuel.
“Now I am particularly concerned about diesel fuel,” Sessions said. “I don’t see how that can be higher priced than regular gasoline. I’ve asked a number of questions of Department of Energy people about that and I’m going to continue to address that.”
There might be some light at the end of the tunnel according to Alabama’s junior senator. Sessions, playing the role of economist, suspected eventually this oil bubble may deflate and make fuel more affordable.
“Oil has been – as anybody who has looked at the history – a boom or bust situation,” Sessions said. “Right now it is booming for the oil companies. I think it is possible we can see in the not-immediate future, but sometime out there, a decline in these prices. Many people predict with growing worldwide demand, we might not see that decline that we have in the past.”
The Northrop Grumman/Boeing ad blitz
Rest assured Mobilians, Northrop Grumman has been fighting hard to make sure Congress doesn’t interfere with the successful Northrop Grumman/EADS refueling tanker bid that will be located at Brookley Field.
Many of the papers inside the beltway – specifically The Washington Post, The Hill and the print edition of Politico – have had full-page ads by both Boeing and Northrop Grumman lobbying their position in the already-settled tanker competition.
Northrop Grumman CEO Northrop Grumman Ronald Sugar sent out a press release thanking a long list of Alabama politicos on May 1.
“We are grateful for the leadership and vision shown by Gov. Riley, Lt.
Gov. Jim Folsom, Speaker Seth Hammett, Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Jeff
Sessions, Rep. Jo Bonner, Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, and all federal, state and local elected officials in Alabama who have enthusiastically supported the KC-45,” Sugar said.
EADS has played a less active role in the publicity campaign. One might suspect they want to keep a lower profile to avoid the protectionist spotlight many in Washington are casting after the Air Force’s decision.
Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.
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