#ALpolitics Inauguration Day 2015: Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss

Oh! The Irony!

Every quadrennium, January 19 commemorates a special event in Alabama. It is Inauguration Day, when a new Governor takes the Oath of Office, and a new administration of state government begins. Second, this year, January 19, 2015 is unique because it marks the simultaneous and concurrent celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Ironically, Alabama commemorates the birthday of Robert E. Lee, General of the Confederacy, in conjunction with MLK Day.

Commemorative marker, Jefferson Davis Confederate Presidency Oath, Alabama State Capitol Building, Montgomery

So, today marked a triple peculiarity; 1.) a re-elected governor sworn in on; 2.) the day the state and nation celebrate the life and Civil Rights accomplishments of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and; 3.) the state celebrates the birthday of the General of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee.

There could hardly be any greater irony.

Freedom and equal rights under Constitutional law is simultaneously celebrated with the memory of a rebellious, oppressive regime which had a vested interest in indentured servitude… more often known as “slavery.” Patterson Hood, founder of the alt-rock Southern Rock group Drive-By Truckers, has described it as “the duality of the Southern thing.”

It reminds me of a hit song in the late 1970’s by a Christian Rock duet named DeGarmo & Key entitled “God Good, Devil Bad” which partial lyrics were:
“I met a man in the Nassau hotel,
“A stranger to my eyes.
“He had a tattoo on his arm of Jesus
“And the Devil side by side.
“I found the nerve so I said “Hey buddy!
“Just whats the matter with you?
“Don’t you know that you can’t serve two masters
“A real man’s gotta choose!”

“I said…
“Who do you love?
“Who do you serve?
“Who do you love? (Are you stupid?)
“There’s four simple words
“You better learn –
“‘God Good – Devil Bad’
“It’s an elementary truth,
“its the law of the land
“‘God Good – Devil Bad.’
“Every child on earth got to understand –
“God Good.”

Today, in his re-Inaugural Address, Alabama Governor Bentley said in part that, “I am the governor of all of Alabama — Democrat, Republican and independent, young and old, black and white, rich and poor. My job is to make all of our lives better together. I am particularly honored to be inaugurated on a day celebrating the life of one of our country’s most influential leaders. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached about facing challenge and adversity not far from where we stand today.

“Dr. King once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“I believe these words continue to ring true. I know these are challenging times for many of our citizens. I’ve looked into the eyes of those who’ve lost jobs and can’t feed their families. I’ve talked to people who have lost their homes. What I am trying to say is that I know times are tough. I’ve seen the challenges.

“But as I’ve traveled all across Alabama, I’ve also been reminded of the strength and determination of our resilient people.

“I want to take a moment to encourage you to do what I’ve done. Travel this state — take time to enjoy the beauty of Alabama. Visit the mountains of north Alabama, enjoy our clear lakes and streams, stroll the main streets of our small towns in rural Alabama, and spend some good, quality time on the beautiful, clean beaches of Gulf Shores.

“I believe, if you do this, you will learn what many of us have known all our lives: We are fortunate to live in a remarkable state.

“They’re tired of partisan politics and the federal government. They want action, not arguments. Americans are looking to their own state governments to provide leadership. And we’re going to do that in Alabama.

“We live in a great country, and we will work with the federal government when we can, but they will not dictate our every move.

“As elected representatives, we answer to you, the people of Alabama, not to politicians in Washington.”

Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley, MD (retired), a Republican, seen on RIGHT, is sworn in for a second and by law, final gubernatorial term Monday, January 19, 2015 in front of the State Capitol Building in Montgomery by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) on LEFT, as Bentley’s wife Diana holds the Bible.The Governor has said the state faces tough fiscal times, though he steadfastly refuses to raise taxes, most notably property taxes on Multi-National timber interests which own vast swathes of land, and pay a fractional pittance of the value in Property Taxes upon their holdings.
Also under fire is the state’s well-known, and highly publicized regressive Personal Income Taxin which the impoverished pay amuch higher percentage rate than do the wealthy.The governor’s speech may be read here.
Photo by Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com 

 

It was a throwback to the “Bad Old Days” when segregation was the law of the land, and enshrined in Alabama Politics.

It should be remembered, that in his re-Inaugural Address, Alabama Governor, Dr. Robert Bentley, MD (retired) said in part, that, “I know these are challenging times for many of our citizens. I’ve looked into the eyes of those who’ve lost jobs and can’t feed their families. I’ve talked to people who have lost their homes. What I am trying to say is… I know times are tough. I’ve seen the challenges.”

The disturbing part of his remedy was to “…do what I’ve done. Travel this state — take time to enjoy the beauty of Alabama. Visit the mountains of north Alabama, enjoy the clear lakes and streams, stroll the main streets of our small towns in rural Alabama, and spend some good, quality time down on the beautiful, clean beaches at Gulf Shores. I believe, if you do this, you will learn what many of us already know in our lives, that we are fortunate to live in a remarkable state.”

Just to make certain I understand this… you’re out of a job, homeless, no food for your, or your families’ bellies, no healthcare, and the governor wants you to go on a vacation?

Could there be any more out-of-touch-with reality tomfoolery?

Such is a hallmark characteristic of Dissociative Disorder, a mental health illness in which there exists “a dissociation from or interruption of a person’s fundamental aspects of waking consciousness (such as one’s personal identity, one’s personal history, etc.),” and is exhibited as “the person with a dissociative disorder experiences a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity.” The malady is frequently associated with trauma, and “thought to be a coping mechanism.”

If you were a fan of the made-for-television drama “Breaking Bad,” you may recall an episode in which the central character & protagonist Walter White, the High School Chemistry Teacher-turned Meth Lord, pretended to exhibit a dissociative fugue in order to masquerade one his more nefarious escapades and escape from death at the hands of a local cartel competitor in the desert Southwest.

Governor Bentley further remarked that, “…it is time that we — the men and women elected by you — remember this: We all work for the citizens of this state. We have 4.5 million bosses.”

Anecdotally, the complement to that remark is “too many Chiefs, and not enough Indians.”

Among other inane things Governor Bentley mentioned in a rambling and poorly delivered 16 minute speech, he spent an inordinate amount of time fawning over his immediate political predecessor, Bob Riley, whom he mentioned at least three times.

Mention of Riley is peculiar on at least two counts: 1.) The re-elected Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard faces 23 counts of felony indictments of “the new ethics laws proposed and signed by Gov. Riley,” and; 2.) the reference to a “smooth transition between the end of his administration and the beginning of ours,” because it was four years ago.

Has Governor Bentley been asleep at the wheel that long?

See?

It must the Dissociative Disorder speaking.

Partial Lyric Excerpt from “God Good, Devil Bad” by
DE GARMO, EDWARD ALLEN; 44719280; ASCAP
KEY, DANA JAMES; 44767854; ASCAP
ASCAP Work ID: 370254001
ISWC: T0700690727

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