Friday, June 27, 2014

You can make a difference; DeMarco and Palmer won't

Do you think it will make a difference whether you vote for Paul DeMarco or Gary Palmer in the Alabama 6th Congressional district run off election?

I have tried to make the case that Congress is incapacitated. I have tried to give a diagnosis about what has caused this and to give an explanation of why Congress will not, of its own accord, fix itself.

The spokesperson who I think best articulates these matters is Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig. I have been urging voters in the Alabama 6th Congressional district to watch  this 18 minute video of Professor Lessig and/or read his short book Lesterland: The Corruption of Congress And How To End It.

To my knowledge, Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer have given no acknowledgement to any of the foregoing.

It can be expected that, whichever may be elected, Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer will only contribute to the continuation of the kaput condition of our Congress, and it makes no difference which of them you vote for.

If you want to make a difference, tell Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer they are clueless, and that you are making a contribution to Professor Lessig's  MaydayPAC to help reduce the influence of money in politics and fix our democracy.

As the MaydayPAC link indicates, there is a goal of $5,000,000 by July 4th.

Please contribute, and make a difference.

I have created a Mayday.Us Rob Shattuck's pledge page. You can make your pledge on that page or on the MaydayPAC general pledge page.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

GOP freshmen, big-bucks donors hobnob at resort

The below link is to a March 16, 2012 video and news report from CBS News. The thesis of my campaign is the doleful effects of these "big bucks" on the country's governance. My contention is that the result is a government in Washington DC which is not of, by and for the people, and a Congress which is incapacitated in doing its job for the American people. Senators Shelby and Sessions, Representative Bachus, the other candidates in the 6th Congressional district primary election, and the 6th district political commentator community have ignored this. In the candidate forums before June 3rd, and now in the run off debates, the topics have been important issues and problems confronting the country, and what to do about them. In my opinion, this has gone on detached from the reality that Congress is incapacitated, and the discussion and debate are ridiculous without attention being paid to this condition of Congressional incapacitation. I have said the voters in the 6th Congressional district should not accept this ignoring by Senators Shelby and Sessions, Representative Bachus, the candidates, and the political commentator community, and the voters should press as hard as they can on this all the way to November. See Manifesto for AL 6th Congressional district voters.



GOP freshmen, big-bucks donors hobnob at resort

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Open letter to Birmingham Business Alliance, BCA and U.S. Chamber

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 19, 2014 at 1:46 PM
Subject: Tonight's run off debate in AL 6th Cong'l district
To: Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>

To: U.S. Chamber of Commerce (c/o Wade Powers)
      Business Council of Alabama (c/o Nathan Lindsay)
      Birmingham Business Alliance (c/o Alison Howell)

I am continuing to press issues which I raised in my Congressional campaign leading up to the June 3rd primary election. 

Before June 3rd, I responded to your Chambers' questionnaires and, in addition, I wrote the two below emails to the Chambers.

My main contentions have been that there is not government of the people, by the people and for the people in Washington DC, and that the causes of that are also causes of Congress being kaput and not working for the American people.

In my two below emails to the Chambers, I inquired about two ideas or concepts which I believed were worthy of consideration for purposes of improving the governance of the country by Washington DC and improving Congressional performance.

In my campaign I was unable to get any of the other six candidates to discuss my main contentions, and, as part of that failing, I was barely able to make mention to the voters of the two ideas or concepts I wrote to the Chambers about.

I am sure all three Chambers have their particular concerns about the condition of the country's governance in Washington DC and about Congressional performance. 

I think just about everyone is very dissatisfied about these matters.

I think the other candidates in the AL 6th Congressional district primary election offered the voters little or nothing relative to this dissatisfaction of the voters. I doubt that Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer will offer anything new to the voters in the course of the run off election.

The political commentator community in the 6th Congressional district has also failed the voters.

I don't know whether any of the three Chambers can or will do anything to fill this void.

The occasion of there being a first run off debate tonight affords me an opportunity to remind the Chambers of the two emails I sent about the concepts of "open" Congressional offices and of a lawmaker's principle of balancing general societal interests on more than one side of an issue and disregarding "one sided special interests."

The three Chambers have much experience and understanding about what is right and what is wrong for the American people about the way Washington works and about how well Congress does for the American people.

I hope there is a way for the three Chambers (or any of them) to provide voters in the 6th Congressional district with the benefit of information and understanding that the Chambers have about these matters, as will aid the voters in asking questions of the run off candidates and ultimately making their voting decisions.

Thank you very much for your attention to this letter.

Following my practice of trying to provide as much as possible to voters via my campaign blog/website, I will post this as an "open letter" on my campaign blog/website.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 24, 2014 at 10:24 AM
Subject: AL06-- Candidate request for further Chamber feedback re American Lawmaker's Creed
To: Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, wpowers@uschamber.com
Cc:  [omitted]

Dear Alison, Nathan, and Wade,

I wish to expand the request for Chamber feedback that I sent you yesterday (yesterday's email is "forwarded" hereby).

As I think Alison and Nathan know, my campaign charges that there is something fundamentally wrong with Congress that critically needs addressing by the American people and Congress.

I have a diagnosis of what is wrong, and am putting forth ideas for fixing, or trying to fix, Congress. 

One of my ideas is the "open" Congressional offices idea that was the subject of yesterday's email.

A related idea grows out of my analytic of lawmakers being frequently confronted with a matter in which there are general societal interests on two or more sides of the matter, and a special, one sided interest of a small group.

I discussed this analytic in a speech I prepared for the May 12th "Birmingham's Future for Young Professionals" candidate forum, sponsored by Rotaract Club of Birmingham and the Birmingham Business Journal. Said prepared speech can be read at Birmingham's Future For Young Professionals. See also The GM faulty ignition recall and My American Lawmaker's Creed.

I think the American people and American business would be better off if lawmakers made their decisions based on balancing the general societal interests and largely ignoring a special, one sided interest of a small group.

Currently, there is a roadblock to this happening. The roadblock derives from the large costs of election campaigns, the continuous fundraising which must go on, and the need for campaign contributions from special, one sided interests (whose interests are limited to their respective small niches in the the domain of Federal law and Federal government actions).

Whether or not this roadblock can be overcome, my question to the Chambers is this: Do you think the American people and American business would be better off if it was possible to inculcate in lawmakers a widespread or universal practice that they make their decisions based on balancing the general societal interests and ignoring special, one sided interests of small groups?

My "open" Congressional offices idea is intended to provide support for such a practice becoming widespread.

I appreciate that the Chambers probably probably will not be able to provide any reaction or feedback before the June 3rd primary election day. Writing the Chambers, however, is a basis for helping me get these ideas in front of the voters in their consideration of the candidates, and, in that vein, I am taking the liberty of copying the other candidates and my local media and forum list on this email.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Candidate, AL 6th Congressional district

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 23, 2014 at 12:15 PM
Subject: AL06- Candidate request for "down and dirty" Chamber feedback re "open" Cong'l offices
To: Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, wpowers@uschamber.com


Dear Alison, Nathan, and Wade,

You are the contact persons from whom I, as one of the seven candidates in the Alabama 6th Congressional district race, have received the candidate questionnaires of the Birmingham Business Alliance, the Business Council of Alabama, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I have previously replied on the BBA and the BCA questionnaires, and the due time for the U.S. Chamber questionnaire, which I received yesterday, is next Wednesday.

I wish to make, if possible, a "down and dirty" inquiry of the Chambers about an idea I have put forth in my campaign. 

The idea is that of using data capture technology to create "open" Congressional offices, so that there are basically no private communications between a Congressional office and the outside world.

The extent of my written description of the idea is this campaign blog entry: Dear Anthony: re slow Friday afternoon.

Your Chambers have a lot of knowledge and experience of working with Congressional offices. 

My basic question is, could the Chambers live with this concept of "open" Congressional offices?

I think all I am looking for at the moment is a choice of "down and dirty" reactions, such as, "there is no way this idea of "open" Congressional offices could ever be workable and acceptable," or "it is an idea worth exploring," or "that idea has really good potential."

I know you may not be able to give me any quick "down and dirty" reaction at all, but it seemed at least worth asking.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck  

Monday, June 16, 2014

Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 4:18 AM
Subject: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, ccrawford@bizjournals.com, dixon@1070wapi.com, matt@100wapi.com, newstip@wbrc.com, newstip@abc3340.com, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, candaces@abc3340.com, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, info.rwsc@gmail.com, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, kwhitmire@al.com, jarchibald@al.com, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, jkennedy@bhamnews.com, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>



What do Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer think about this 18 minute video of Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig?


For evaluating your above sages:

JT
JTFrom: JT <JeffTyson2@clearchannel.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <JonLunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, "kwhitmire@al.com" <kwhitmire@al.com>, "jarchibald@al.com" <jarchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "jkennedy@bhamnews.com" <jkennedy@bhamnews.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
Rob Shattuck [rdshattuck@gmail.com]   please remove me from your email list
thanks
JT


Justin Love
From: Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Cc: "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, "kwhitmire@al.com" <kwhitmire@al.com>, "jarchibald@al.com" <jarchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "jkennedy@bhamnews.com" <jkennedy@bhamnews.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
Please remove all of us
JL
From: Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Subject: Re: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Just myself.
On Jun 16, 2014, at 12:05 PM, "Rob Shattuck" <rdshattuck@gmail.com<mailto:rdshattuck@gmail.com>> wrote:
Thank you, Buddy.  Please indicate which people you are talking about who want to be removed. Thanks. Rob Shattuck
On Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:32 AM, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com<mailto:Justin.Love@cumulus.com>> wrote:
Please remove all of us


Jim Noles
From: Noles, Jim <JNOLES@balch.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Cc: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, "kwhitmire@al.com" <kwhitmire@al.com>, "jarchibald@al.com" <jarchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "jkennedy@bhamnews.com" <jkennedy@bhamnews.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
Rob, you can do likewise for me, please. Thanks!  Jim


Newstip@abc3340.com
From: Todd Dewey <toddd@abc3340.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Rob,
Please remove newstip@abc3340.com from your email list.  Thank you.


Anthony Cook
From: Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Cc: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, Kyle Whitmire <KWhitmire@al.com>, John Archibald <JArchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, Joey Kennedy <JKennedy@al.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
And for me as well.
Anthony Cook
Director of Community News - Birmingham
Alabama Media Group


Joey Kennedy
From: Joey Kennedy <JKennedy@al.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Cc: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, Kyle Whitmire <KWhitmire@al.com>, John Archibald <JArchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
And for me, too, please.
Joey Kennedy
Community Engagement Specialist
Alabama Media Group


Dale Jackson
From: Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:59 AM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Joey Kennedy <JKennedy@al.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Cc: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, Kyle Whitmire <KWhitmire@al.com>, John Archibald <JArchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
If Joey Kennedy is out, count me out as well.
Dale Jackson


ABC 33/40
From: Jeff Houston <jeffh@abc3340.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 3:05 PM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Matt Murphy <matt.murphy@cumulus.com>, Richard Dixon <richard.dixon@cumulus.com>
Cc: Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, Joey Kennedy <JKennedy@al.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>, Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, ccrawford@bizjournals.com, dixon@1070wapi.com, matt@100wapi.com, newstip@wbrc.com, newstip@abc3340.com, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, candaces@abc3340.com, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, info.rwsc@gmail.com, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, Kyle Whitmire <KWhitmire@al.com>, John Archibald <JArchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, chad@drmathisforcongress.com, will@votewillforcongress.com, tomv@tomisforyou.com, pdemarco@pljpc.com, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, jon@palmerforalabama.com
How about we make this the last "reply all" to this email. Take up your
concerns\needs with the original sender and stop junking up inboxes with
this. Thanks.
Jeff Houston
Assistant News Director
ABC 33/40
Birmingham


Richard Dixon
From: Richard Dixon <richard.dixon@cumulus.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 12:22 PM
Subject: RE: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, Joey Kennedy <JKennedy@al.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>
Cc: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, Kyle Whitmire <KWhitmire@al.com>, John Archibald <JArchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
Not me, boy.  These e-mails are the joy of my existence!  If it wasn't for this little bright spot in my professional day, I don't know what I'd do.  I think your insight and brilliant, cogent questions keep me and other media types and politicians on their toes, and I, for one, think the world would be a poorer place without this kind of discourse.
Nah, just f*$#ing with you.  Take me off, too.
Richard Dixon
1070 WAPI


Matt Murphy
From: Matt Murphy <matt.murphy@cumulus.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer
To: Richard Dixon <richard.dixon@cumulus.com>
Cc: Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, Joey Kennedy <JKennedy@al.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>, Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>, "Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com" <Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com>, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, "ccrawford@bizjournals.com" <ccrawford@bizjournals.com>, "dixon@1070wapi.com" <dixon@1070wapi.com>, "matt@100wapi.com" <matt@100wapi.com>, "newstip@wbrc.com" <newstip@wbrc.com>, "newstip@abc3340.com" <newstip@abc3340.com>, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, "candaces@abc3340.com" <candaces@abc3340.com>, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, "info.rwsc@gmail.com" <info.rwsc@gmail.com>, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, Kyle Whitmire <KWhitmire@al.com>, John Archibald <JArchibald@al.com>, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>
keep em coming for me, Rob. They don’t bother me at all. It also gives me a chance to annoy people a second time here, by hitting “reply all”.
After all, If they had a such an issue with “reply all” - I wouldn’t be seeing their replies to YOU…now would I Rob?
Matt Murphy
Mornings 6-10
1070 WAPI




Saturday, June 14, 2014

Your Manifesto action kit

For those who are moved to action by Manifesto for AL 6th Congressional district voters, here is a Manifesto action kit.

I. This is up to you

For reasons indicated in my  entry "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore", during my campaign in the 6th Congressional district from February to June, I was entirely alone, and I was ignored for those four months because I was alone. I (this) will continue to be ignored unless others express themselves in various ways. Active Republicans and active Democrats are going to be slow to do that. A way must be found to get more "independent" thinking people to go first in expressing themselves. Then others may follow suit. It is entirely in your hands and what you do.



II. The case I have been trying to make, which has been ignored

If you are going to take action, you should want to know what you are taking action about. 

In briefest form, my case is that Congress and government have failed the American people because of the influence of money in politics.  A lot of this campaign website attempts to lay that case out. I think, however, rather than trying to sift through this campaign website, you should watch this 18 minute video of Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig and/or read his short book Lesterland: The Corruption of Congress And How To End It.


III. Back up for Manifesto assertions

If you are going to take action based on the assertions made in the Manifesto, here is some back up for you.




IV. Things you can do

I repeat. I was by myself for four months and I was ignored for four months. If I continue on about this by myself, I (this) will continue to be ignored.

Only if you express yourself is there a chance that this will not continue to be ignored, and the more of you who express yourselves, the better the chance of that.

Here are things you can do to express yourself:

1. Email Paul DeMarco at campaign@pauldemarco.org and Gary Palmer at jon@palmerforalabama.com, and say something like: 
I am a voter in the 6th Congressional district. My attention has been called to this Manifesto for AL 6th Congressional district voters. I would be interested in hearing your response to that Manifesto.  Thank you. Sincerely

2. Send tweets to  and to with a tweet message something like:

#al06 Cong'l district-- Would you please comment on the Manifesto for AL 6th Cong'l district voters, which is at this link: http://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2014/06/manifesto-for-al-6th-congressional.html

3. Email your friends and others saying something like:
I think you should take a look at this Manifesto for AL 6th Congressional district voters

4. Tweet your friends and others saying something like:
#al06 Cong'l district-- I think you should take a look at the Manifesto for AL 6th Cong'l district voters, which is at this link: http://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2014/06/manifesto-for-al-6th-congressional.html

Manifesto for AL 6th Congressional district voters

The recently concluded June 3rd Republican primary election in our Alabama 6th Congressional district has revealed the following:

1. Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus are ignorant or apathetic about whether there is government of, by and for the people in Washington, D.C., and about whether Congress is kaput and no longer works for the American people.

2. Candidates Paul DeMarco, Gary Palmer, Scott Beason, Will Brooke, Chad Mathis and Tom Vignuelle evidenced the same ignorance and/or apathy about whether there is government of, by and for the people in Washington, D.C., and about whether Congress is kaput and no longer works for the American people.

3. So also did the political commentator community within our 6th Congressional district demonstrate the same ignorance and/or apathy.

The voters in the Alabama 6th Congressional district find the foregoing ignorance and/or apathy unacceptable, and we intend to assert ourselves in the face of the same.

The run-off election between Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer will take place on July 15, 2014. Prior to July 15th, we voters shall impress upon Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer our adamant feelings and beliefs about these matters in a concerted effort to persuade these two run-off candidates to state views and provide campaign platform positions regarding the same. 

As we face the general election in November, we voters will proceed similarly with the Democratic candidate Avery Vise. 

If the Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress in the 6th Congressional district are not responsive to us voters on these matters prior to the general election in November, we voters may undertake a write in campaign for another person to be the Representative from the Alabama 6th Congressional district.

[If you are moved to take action by the foregoing Manifesto, please go to Your Manifesto action kit.]

Monday, June 9, 2014

DeMarco, Palmer, and our sucky Congress

When will the AL06 run off candidates Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer tell us what they are going to do about our sucky Congress?

Here are Dale Jackson and I, in a telephone radio interview on May 1, 2014, discussing our sucky Congress:



If you want to hear from Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer about our sucky Congress, it may help if you friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @RobShattuckAL06.

Update 6/11:    Was Eric Cantor too much part of a sucky Congress?

Update 6/12:   Since creating this entry on June 9th, I have sent out hundreds of tweets containing a link to this entry, and there have been 120 page views of this entry.

Update 6/14:  See Manifesto for AL 6th Congressional district voters.

Update 6/16:  See Question for Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer.

Update 6/17:   There have now been 360 page views of this entry. I think just about everyone agrees Congress really sucks.

Update 6/20:  See Open letter to the Birmingham Business Alliance, the Business Council of Alabama, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Dear Chad, Will, Tom and Scott

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 9:57 AM
Subject: I am continuing my efforts
To: "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>


Dear Chad, Will, Tom, and Scott,

I am continuing my efforts. 

I am trying to get DeMarco and Palmer to express themselves related to the issues I pressed in my campaign. See, e.g., Analyzing the run off issues #2

I invite you to continue in the conversation, if you wish.

If you want to send me an email setting out anything you would like to see included in the conversation I am trying to keep up and to put before the voters, I will be pleased to post your email on my campaign blog. I am pretty sure I will be willing to post, regardless of whether your email is aligned or not aligned with what I am saying.

Thanks.

Sincerely,
Rob

Lessig's latest statement of case

Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig has initiated an email newsletter. In the first newsletter, he advised that, in connection with the Mayday PAC, he has written a medium-length piece pulling the arguments together about the problem with the way political campaigns are funded in America today. Below I have reproduced his newsletter item about this, which includes a link to his new piece and also a link for subscribing to the newsletter.


A deep dive on Super PACs

I’ve written three books, gaggles of articles, gaggles^2 of essays, and a billion (or so) tweets about the problem with the way we fund campaigns in America today. But on the launch of our Mayday PAC, I was pushed by many to commit to writing a medium-length piece pulling the arguments together. I did. It is published, appropriately enough, on the cool new platform, Medium. You can read it here. (And if I were soliciting, it would be here I’d say something like “pledge if you can” but you see, I’m not doing that.)

That’s all for the week. If you’ve got stuff I should see, email it to ideas@lessig.org (if I use anything, I will always give credit where credit is due). And remember, you will only get this again if you subscribe here.


Analyzing the run off issues #2

When is something significant, and when should politicians be recognizing it?

There are elements on both the Left and the Right which are calling for constitutional amendments to fix a broken something or other in the country's governance.

On the Right, there is  the Convention of States Project, which is seeking to amend the Constitution to take away powers from the Federal government. On the Left there is the movement to amend the Constitution to overturn the the Citizens United case. Regarding the latter, yesterday I received an email from Rootstrikers reporting that Vermont has just become the first state to call for a constitutional convention to reverse Citizen's United. (The email is reproduced below.)

In my campaign, I thought these efforts and advocacy from both the Left and the Right were something significant, and I tried to call attention to the matter. The other six candidates would not address the matter expressly one way or the other. Regardless of how hard I tried to get them to comment, they would not say expressly either, yes, this is significant and worthy of discussion for the benefit of the voters, or, no, this is not of any significance and does not warrant discussion for the benefit of the voters.

Without more from the other candidates, one would have to conclude from their non-responsiveness that their view was that the efforts and advocacy being made on both the Left and the Right are of no significance related to the country's governance and don't even bear mentioning.

As I continue on my soapbox during the run off  election campaign period, we will see whether DeMarco or Palmer can be drawn out to comment.



From: Melanie Jones <info@rootstrikers.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2014 at 9:41 PM
Subject: Vermont wants a constitutional convention to overturn Citizen's United
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>


Vermont became the first state to call for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.
                   
Take Action!
Share on Facebook!
Dear Rob Shattuck,
Vermont just became the first state to call for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to reverse Citizen's United and get money out of politics.

Right now, a dozen more states are considering similar resolutions, and we need 34 of them to trigger a convention. Vermont's amazing victory will only have meaning if we can keep the ball rolling in the next states — but if we can, we can save the electoral process and bring back the days of free, equal votes!Please, join us in calling on California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Maryland, Colorado, Oregon and Montana to call for a convention too, and help overturn one of the Supreme Court's biggest mistakes!

PETITION TO STATE LEGISLATURES: We call on you to stop the flood of money corrupting politics and call for a convention to overturn the Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision.


Click here to sign -- it just takes a second.
Thanks,
The folks at Rootstrikers.org
P.S. If the other links aren't working for you, please go here to sign: http://vk.rootstrikers.org/petitions/133?n=1061932.jDWckh

Friday, June 6, 2014

"You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore"

On Tuesday, Richard Dixon offered candidates to call in and make a last pitch to his radio show listeners. I called in and said I wanted to discuss briefly the complete unresponsiveness to my candidacy that had taken place during the four months of the election campaign. I said there was a tyranny by the political class in Washington DC over the rest of the country. I said the political class was a duopoly of the Republicans and Democrats, with gunslinger lobbyists shifting back and forth. I said a prime tool of the Washington political class was to keep the electorate divided and polarized, so it would not ever unite to take needed action against the political class. In my impugning of the political class in Washington, that political class included Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus. I said there was top down control, and , at the lower level such as the one I was on, it was understandable that no one was going to open their mouth about what I was saying. I concluded by saying, I understand that, and I just wanted listeners to understand the same.

Nixon is alive and well and is going to hang around for awhile longer, as evidenced by the blog postings in Be An Alabama Rootstriker the past two days.

I had extremely limited reach in putting out my campaign message during the past four months. I am frankly surprised now how limited my message reach was.

Four months ago, I am sure Matt, Dale, Richard and others would have gladly told me, no matter what effort I put in, only a very small percentage of the voters would be aware of me, and even a smaller percentage would have any understanding of what my campaign was about, and that is why what I was doing was crazy.

But, heck, that was not what I wanted to hear, and all I wanted to do was bull my way ahead.

Well, I did that, and here I am, still here.

I have a neat little soapbox to stand on, which I did not have before, to make my pitch.

So, here's the deal now.

I want to continue pushing my message out. My immediate objective is to add Twitter followers and Facebook friends. I drummed up about zero support during the past four months. Let's see what kind of support I can get in the next five weeks, starting off with the little soapbox the preceding four months have given me.


Thursday, June 5, 2014

Analyzing the run off issues #1

Gary Palmer's issue of grassroots reform of government from the bottom up

In the AL.com candidate essay and online discussion event, the question to Gary Palmer was to explain why government needs grassroots reform from the bottom up, and how he'd work to achieve it.

Before the time for Gary's essay to be posted on April 30th, I wrote in my entry On to Palmer and Vignuelle about Gary's idea of grassroots reform of government from the bottom up. If you are interested in what I said, please go read that entry.

When I reported to Anthony Cook on May 6th that I could not find Gary's essay, Anthony said Gary did not submit an essay.

If I find out more regarding this issue of Gary's, I will update this entry.


Congress sucks

Here are Dale Jackson and I, in a telephone radio interview on May 1, 2014, discussing our sucky Congress:

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Maybe Avery Vise will ask and answer the right questions


Who wants Messrs. DeMarco and Palmer to answer the questions?









Who wants Messrs. DeMarco and Palmer to answer the questions?


Answer the questions, 6th district candidates




From Derek Cressman

From: Derek Cressman <derek@derekcressman.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 11:12 AM
Subject: Onward!
To: Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>

Robert --

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
I’m glad I took the step of running for Secretary of State and grateful for all the support that you and others gave the campaign.
While it would be easy to feel tired or discouraged at the end of a long endeavor, we don’t have that luxury – there’s too much work still to do. My campaign was part of a larger, pro-democracy movement that grows stronger with every passing day and which I believe is crucial for our country to move forward.
Our campaign received more small donations than any other candidate in the race.  I discovered, and was inspired by, a small army of activists within the California Democratic Party who are working every day to make California politics a little better.
Among the positive developments in the race:
  • We raised awareness about the Citizens United ruling and built momentum for overturning it.  Senator Ted Lieu introduced SB 1272 to allow every Californian the chance to vote in favor of a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court.  Alex Padilla co-authored that bill, which has passed the Senate.  Please call Assemblymember Paul Fong at (916) 319-2028 and urge him to schedule this bill for a hearing in the Assembly Elections Committee.
     
  • Both Alex Padilla and Pete Peterson are focused on the need to build a new voter registration database and implement Same Day Voter Registration.  This is important, bipartisan agreement on a key reform to boost voter participation in California.
  • We introduced the idea of a digital voters guide.  Tuesday’s results clearly indicate that voters need more information about all of the candidates, and we need a way to update that guide as events unfold in the campaign.  I’ll continue to look for opportunities to advance this idea in California and other states.
Rest assured that I’ll continue taking steps forward to further these issues.  I know you’ll be there with me, and I can’t tell you how thankful I’ll be.
Onward!
Derek

http://www.derekcressman.com/

The @RobShattuckAL06 endorsement

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 6:37 AM
Subject: The @RobShattuckAL06 endorsement
To: Jefftyson2@clearchannel.com, Madison Underwood <MUnderwood@al.com>, "Mountz, John" <JohnMountz@clearchannel.com>, "Lunceford, Jon" <jonlunceford@clearchannel.com>, David Sears <david.sears@cumulus.com>, Justin Love <Justin.Love@cumulus.com>, Thomas Allen <TAllenJr@wvtm.com>, news <news@insideuab.com>, news <news@theplainsman.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cw.ua.edu>, Ron Gholson <rong@otelco.net>, jwelker@bizjounals.com, ccrawford@bizjournals.com, dixon@1070wapi.com, matt@100wapi.com, newstip@wbrc.com, newstip@abc3340.com, "robert.thuston" <Robert.Thuston@energen.com>, Kirk Mancer <Kirk@shelbychamber.org>, chamber <chamber@vestaviahills.org>, "Noles, Jim" <JNOLES@balch.com>, Alison Howell <ahowell@birminghambusinessalliance.com>, Cheryl Mathews <cherylamathews@gmail.com>, Eunie Smith <alaeagle@charter.net>, Nathan Lindsay <nathanl@bcatoday.org>, Jim & Dolores Fort <jimanddolores@gmail.com>, candaces@abc3340.com, Brandon Moseley <bmoseley@alreporter.com>, mark <mark@weldbham.com>, Anthony Cook <ACook@al.com>, info.rwsc@gmail.com, Apryl Marie Fogel <amfogel@60plus.org>, Dale Jackson <Dale.Jackson@cumulus.com>, mayers <mayers@babc.com>, Edward Bowser <EBowser@al.com>, ndavis <ndavis@bsc.edu>, kwhitmire@al.com, jarchibald@al.com, Phillip Ohnemus <phillip.ohnemus@wiat.com>, Jim Stinson <JStinson@al.com>, "Powers, Wade" <wpowers@uschamber.com>, jkennedy@bhamnews.com, "gp1494@att.com" <gp1494@att.com>, "chad@drmathisforcongress.com" <chad@drmathisforcongress.com>, "will@votewillforcongress.com" <will@votewillforcongress.com>, "tomv@tomisforyou.com" <tomv@tomisforyou.com>, "pdemarco@pljpc.com" <pdemarco@pljpc.com>, "dean@drmathisforcongress.com" <dean@drmathisforcongress.com>, "billy@votewillforcongress.com" <billy@votewillforcongress.com>, "vic1baker@aol.com" <vic1baker@aol.com>, "jpudner@concentricgrasstops.com" <jpudner@concentricgrasstops.com>, "rjourney@rickjourney.com" <rjourney@rickjourney.com>, Scott Beason <senatorsbeason@gmail.com>, "jon@palmerforalabama.com" <jon@palmerforalabama.com>


Dale has made inquiry about who will get the @RobShattuckAL06 endorsement.

This will depend on Rep. Sewell and how she responds (or does not respond) to my letter to Representative Sewell.

Thanks for your continued interest in my campaign.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck