Friday, March 29, 2024

Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections

Email to Susana Schuler and Brendan Kirby
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Susana Schuler <susana.schuler@hearst.com>; brendan.kirby@fox10tv.com <brendan.kirby@fox10tv.com>
Cc: Sharon Tinsley <stinsley@al-ba.com>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 06:26:18 PM CDT
Subject: Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections
Dear Susana and Brendan:
I cannot shake wanting to press Alabama TV stations to do better in how they perform their journalistic obligations to their viewing public, particularly during the next seven months of the 2024 elections. Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com)
The two of you have previously replied to me, and I am sending this email to you to see whether you (or an associate of yours in Alabama TV news broadcasting) is willing to make a response to what I say in my blog entry Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Can retired AL TV news personages help improve AL TV news journalism? (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com). (For the record, I have not received any reaction or response to what I say in the preceding blog entry. Further, Ms. Sharon Tinsley, President of the Alabama Broadcasters Association, sometime ago advised me that the Association is not a venue for my trying to discuss how well Alabama TV stations are performing their journalistic obligations to their viewing public.)
Maybe I will give up on this after the 2024 elections are over. In the meantime, I almost consider it my civic duty to press Alabama TV stations on their journalistic obligations during the next seven months. I am not sure what I will do next, but, knowing me, I believe I will find ways to persist on this.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Email to WAFF general manager Jama Killingsworth
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: jama.killingsworth@waff.com <jama.killingsworth@waff.com>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 06:46:42 PM CDT
Subject: All of us Alabamians doing better in our civic obligations
Dear Jama:
Please pardon another email from me.
Below is an email l sent yesterday to Susana Schuler and Brendan Kirby, regarding "Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections".
That email said I did not know what I would do "next" in the seven months remaining in the 2024 elections.
This is my "next," which I am directing to you because you are on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Broadcasters Association.
Please consider WAFF pursuing an undertaking that is initiated by an on-air statement by WAFF to its viewers in the vein of:
WAFF believes that we are living in a time during which there has been a collective failure of civic responsibility, and this has been having deleterious consequences in our national politics. WAFF believes this failure has occurred at the levels of institutions and leadership in Alabama and also at the citizen level. The failure includes us at WAFF. To try to mitigate the deleterious consequences for our 2024 elections, WAFF will include in our news programming in the coming months numerous segments (2 to 5 minutes long) in which WAFF will make commentary and have appropriate outside parties make commentary, motivated by civic responsibility, to improve the politics of our 2024 elections.
I hope the foregoing suggestion inspires soaring aspirational thoughts on your part.
I would love to talk to you about this.
Regardless, thank you for reading this.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Email to Mike Wright and Kay Norred
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>; Kay Norred <knorred@wvua23.com>
Cc: csmith@al.com <csmith@al.com>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 07:12:30 PM CDT
Subject: All of us Alabamians doing better in our civic obligations
Dear Mike and Kay,
I have not heard from you in a while.
Please read the emails I have sent to Susana Schuler, Brendan Kirby and Jama Killingsworth that i have posted at Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com).
Then please read the below email I sent to Cameron Smith related to his opinion column at Cameron Smith: Bipartisan fears of civil war stoked in human soup - al.com.
Then, I hope the emails inspire soaring aspirational thoughts on your part regarding your TV stations.
Sincerely,
Rob
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: csmith@al.com <csmith@al.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 06:54:51 PM CDT
Subject: Bipartisan fears of civil war stoked in human soup
Dear Cameron:
Please consider the following questions that are prompted by your opinion column Cameron Smith: Bipartisan fears of civil war stoked in human soup - al.com.
Let me use three things you say.
First, you say with regard to January 6th, "Those who committed crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Further you say, "America’s genius is a society that agrees to solve our conflicts without bloodshed."
In connection with the foregoing, you say, "If the polling is to be believed, Trump has convinced two thirds of the GOP that he was the rightful winner. Yet he left office, and we haven’t had a war. Either Republicans don’t really believe Trump, or they’re solidly dedicated to the civil resolution of political conflict."
Here are my questions:
1. Do you think a major contributing factor in the problem is the extent to which the extremes on the two sides, with the complicity of their political leaders, control our politics and political discourse, and that a significant majority in the center is sidelined and cannot bring about compromise solutions? Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Can the two sides talk? (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com).
2. Do you think Alabama's institutions and leaders are failing in their civic responsibility that go along with their standing in Alabama and are failing to talk to Alabamians about what is going on? Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: A time for AL institutional respect and trust (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com). I particularly call your attention to the Alabama legal profession in this regard. Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Interim Alabama report to ABA Task Force for American Democracy (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com).
3. Do you consider the criminal cases being prosecuted against Trump to be proper and appropriate under what you say that, "Those who committed crimes [related to January 6th] should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."?
Thanks, Cameron, for whatever attention you can give to my questions.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Email to Alabama Reporter's Bill Britt, Josh Moon and Susan Britt
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: bbritt@alreporter.com <bbritt@alreporter.com>; jmoon@alreporter.com <jmoon@alreporter.com>; sbritt@alreporter.com <sbritt@alreporter.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 09:07:59 AM CDT
Subject: All of us Alabamians doing better in our civic obligations
Might I have a conversation with you about what I am trying to bring about during the next six months, per Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com).
Thanks Bill, Josh and Susan.
Rob Shattuck Email to Business Council of Alabama
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: cfranklin@bcatoday.org <cfranklin@bcatoday.org>; khope@bcatoday.org <khope@bcatoday.org>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2024 at 06:47:12 PM CDT
Subject: All of us Alabamians doing better in our civic obligations
Dear Ms. Franklin and Ms. Hope,
I solicit the Business Council of Alabama to participate in the endeavor set out at Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com) for Alabamians, at all levels ("institutions"; political, business, academic, and community leaders; and citizens), to exhibit augmented civic responsibility during the coming months in the 2024 elections.
I hope the BCA will seriously consider what it can do.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook Email re Alabama economics professors and civic responsibility
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: clshook@uab.edu <clshook@uab.edu>; kmpalan@ua.edu <kmpalan@ua.edu>; nlz0003@auburn.edu <nlz0003@auburn.edu>; stjones@samford.edu <stjones@samford.edu>; cgarrity@montevallo.edu <cgarrity@montevallo.edu>
Cc: cfranklin@bcatoday.org <cfranklin@bcatoday.org>; khope@bcatoday.org <khope@bcatoday.org>; Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 06:40:51 PM CDT
Subject: Alabama economics professors and civic responsibility
Dear UAB Collat School of Business Dean Shook; UA Culverhouse College of Business Dean Palan; Auburn University Economics Department Chair Ziebarth; Samford University Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis, Chair Jones; and University of Montevallo Stephens College of Business Interim Chair Garrity:
This email is in furtherance of my endeavor that is set out at Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Getting AL TV stations to do better in 2024 elections (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com), for Alabamians, at all levels ("institutions"; political, business, academic, and community leaders; and citizens), to undertake augmented civic responsibility during the coming months in the 2024 elections.
I am developing a proposal for how I think Alabama economics professors can participate in, and contribute to the objective of, the foregoing endeavor, and I will follow up with you in due course.
Thank you very much for reading this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
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Tuesday, March 26, 2024

So, here we Alabamians are in the 2024 elections

Email re Secretary Allen failing re election integrity concerns
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Kay Norred <knorred@wvua23.com>; wes.allen@sos.alabama.gov <wes.allen@sos.alabama.gov>
Cc: Brannon Buck <bbuck@badhambuck.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>; Jennifer Buettner <jbuettner@birminghambar.org>; mckinney@watsonmckinney.com <mckinney@watsonmckinney.com>; suzanneduffey@mc-ala.org <suzanneduffey@mc-ala.org>; flatta@burr.com <flatta@burr.com>; hduncan@bcatoday.org <hduncan@bcatoday.org>; sammons@birminghambusinessalliance.com <sammons@birminghambusinessalliance.com>; srose@montgomerychamber.com <srose@montgomerychamber.com>; nhewston@mobilechamber.com <nhewston@mobilechamber.com>; director@homewoodchamber.org <director@homewoodchamber.org>; chamber@vestaviahills.org <chamber@vestaviahills.org>; pelhamchamberofcommerce@gmail.com <pelhamchamberofcommerce@gmail.com>; sandra@leedsareachamber.com <sandra@leedsareachamber.com>; mike@alarise.org <mike@alarise.org>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2024 at 09:06:14 AM CDT
Subject: IVEY SIGNS ABSENTEE BALLOT LAW
To Kay (WVUA23 news director) and Secretary of State Allen:
The WVUA23 article Ivey signs absentee ballot law - WVUA 23 says:
Allen did not address whether he has seen any red flags indicating concerns, issues, or voter fraud due to absentee ballot voting and applications. But he did say voters expressed concern to him about election integrity and security.
Concerns about election integrity are huge because for four years Donald Trump has been charging that the 2020 elections were rigged, and tens of millions of Americans believe him.
Secretary of State Allen has not done and is not doing things he should do to help allay such huge concerns about election integrity because such things would not be approved of by Donald Trump, and Secretary Allen covers himself by doing insignificant things in the name of improving election integrity that will not bother Donald Trump, such as supporting the ballot harvesting bill.
As I lay out in Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: What should Americans do about election integrity? (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com), Secretary Allen should, through the auspices of the National Association of Secretaries of State, be working with other Secretaries of State, Republican and Democratic, to reach an agreed assessment of Trump's charges that the 2020 election was rigged, or not, and publicize to Alabamians what that agreed assessment is. Insofar as the Secretaries agree that particular things happened in the 2020 elections that provide a plausible basis for any questioning the results of the 2020 election, those things should be specified publicly and the Secretaries of State should work jointly on behalf of such changes being made.
The truth of the matter is, I think, that Secretary Allen knows the 2020 elections were not rigged as Donald Trump has been charging for four years, and that Secretary Allen also knows that Donald Trump would not approve if Secretary Allen publicized to Alabamians that it was his opinion of that the 2020 elections were not rigged as Donald Trump has been charging for four years.
If Secretary Allen believes the 2020 elections were rigged as Donald Trump has been charging, let Secretary Allen explain why he believes that, and to answer questions regarding such belief.
For six months I have been trying, directly or indirectly, to press Secretary Allen about this and to get him to respond. I have tried to enlist the aid of the Alabama legal community to press Secretary Allen on this, and with the legal community not being willing I have tried to enlist the aid of business chambers of commerce, and nothing has been forthcoming from them. (For the record regarding the foregoing, I refer you to Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Interim Alabama report to ABA Task Force for American Democracy (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com) and links therein.)
So, here we are with: Federal Judge Ominously Warns That Trump Won’t Accept Defeat In 2024 | HuffPost Latest News, and with increasing dire things being said about what is going to happen in connection with the 2020 elections, fueled by Trump's relentless campaigning that the 2020 election was rigged, and the January 6th participants were great patriots who are hostages whom Trump will pardon if he is elected President.
And further here we are, with parties in Alabama, such as Alabama's legal profession and business chambers of commerce, lacking the civic responsibility to use their community standing to raise with Secretary Allen whether he is failing to do what he should do to lessen the huge concerns about election integrity caused by four years of Donald Trump charging that the 2020 elections were rigged, and tens of millions of Americans believing him.
(Using their community standing, there are more things that various parties in Alabama should, as a matter of civic responsibility, do related to matters discussed in this email. I will continue on pressing such various parties.)
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Email "Presidents of Alabama universities and civic responsibility"
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: president@ua.edu <president@ua.edu>; president@uab.edu <president@uab.edu>; president@auburn.edu <president@auburn.edu>; president@samford.edu <president@samford.edu>; presidentsoffice@montevallo.edu <presidentsoffice@montevallo.edu>
Cc: wes.allen@sos.alabama.gov <wes.allen@sos.alabama.gov>; Kay Norred <knorred@wvua23.com>; shannon.isbell@wbrc.com <shannon.isbell@wbrc.com>; Baylor Long <blong@hearst.com>; pamhuff@sbgtv.com <pamhuff@sbgtv.com>; Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>; Jon Anderson <janderson@starnesmedia.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 07:00:05 PM CDT
Subject: Presidents of Alabama universities and civic responsibility
Dear University of Alabama President Bell, UAB President Watts, Auburn University President Roberts, Samford University President Taylor and University of Montevallo President Stewart:
In the below email I sent to WVUA23 news director Kay Norred and to Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, I discuss Alabama's legal profession and Alabama's business chambers of commerce lacking civic responsibility to use their community standing to raise with Secretary Allen whether he is failing to do what he should do to lessen the huge concerns about election integrity caused by four years of Donald Trump charging that the 2020 elections were rigged and the adverse consequences of tens of millions of Americans believing him.
I appeal to you as Presidents of the University of Alabama, UAB, Auburn University, Samford University and the University of Montevallo to exhibit civic responsibility and use your esteemed positions in Alabama to raise with Secretary Allen whether he is failing to do what he should do to lessen the huge concerns about election integrity caused by four years of Donald Trump charging that the 2020 elections were rigged, and the adverse consequences of tens of millions of Americans believing him.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
For filing in Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: So, here we Alabamians are in the 2024 elections (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com).
[referenced "below email I sent" is first email above]

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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Campaigning for Elizabeth Anderson

I have been against Gary Palmer for years. I will continue against him at this time by campaigning for Elizabeth Anderson, the Democratic candidate in the 6th Congressional district. My campaigning for her related to specific issues will be where there is reasonable alignment between Elizabeth Anderson's views and my views in opposition to Gary Palmer's views.

Elizabeth's campaign website is Elizabeth Anderson | Official Campaign Website (eaforcongress.com). Her Facebook page is at Facebook. Elizabeth's listed "Key Issues" are 

Reproductive Rights
Poverty Alleviation
Climate Crisis
Investment in Education
Affordable Healthcare
Economic Justice

Campaign note: There is a special election in the 10th Alabama House District on Tuesday, March 26th. https://256today.com/district-10-five-questions-with-marilyn-lands/; HD10 Democrat hopeful Lands: Banning sale of so-called 'assault weapons' is 'so important' (1819news.com).

Email to Elizabeth Anderson campaign re TV stations
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 07:57:47 AM CDT
Subject: Campaigning things re Elizabeth - the TV stations
Good morning, ___.
Let me get some things piecemeal to you.
I have been accusing Alabama TV stations of failing in their journalistic obligations to the Alabama public in connection with the stations' coverages of elections. See Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Can retired AL TV news personages help improve AL TV news journalism? (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com).
I am doing this to try to get the TV stations to do better, including doing better in asking hard questions of candidates (such as Gary Palmer), or at least trying to ask the candidates hard questions.
I am currently alone in making this effort with the TV stations.
If there are ways for Elizabeth's campaign to press the Birmingham TV stations about this in order to help Elizabeth, let's have a conversation about the same.
If not, that's ok.
Rob

Email to Elizabeth Anderson campaign re campaign leaflets
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To:
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 09:09:58 AM CDT
Subject: Next Elizabeth Anderson campaigning thing- leaflet handouts
Good morning, ____.
If and when Elizabeth should focus on leaflets for supporters to hand out, I think it would be good if Elizabeth would post the same on her campaign website.
If that is done, in soliciting people to support Elizabeth, I would give them a link to consider the same and whether they want to hand out leaflets somewhere.
Rob
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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Morning Joe as Biden's Vice Presidential candidate

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Monday, March 4, 2024

Campaigning to enforce Section 3 against Trump

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National Governors Association "Disagree Better" initiative

Email to Samford suggesting Disagree Better event
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: "amcewan@samford.edu" <amcewan@samford.edu>; mwithers@samford.edu <mwithers@samford.edu>; jcobia@samford.edu <jcobia@samford.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 05:18:48 PM CST
Subject: Samford should have a National Governors Association "Disagree Better" event
Dear Dr. Ewan, Dr. Witherspoon, and Dr. Cobia:
The National Governors Association is pursuing a "Disagree Better" initiative per Disagree Better - National Governors Association (nga.org). The predicate of the initiative is that:
"Americans are deeply concerned and exhausted by the hyperpartisanship and polarization in our country, and rightly so. We’ve forgotten how to persuade without hating each other. But our nation’s history shows there’s a better way, and we all need to re-learn how to Disagree Better."
At a Colorado event in November, Disagree Better speakers explored the question of: "What Do Universities Owe Democracy? " Disagree Better Speakers Explore the Question: What Do Universities Owe Democracy? - National Governors Association (nga.org)
There was a Disagree Better event at Millsaps College last month. Disagree Better with AF Southeast , Millsaps College, Jackson, 27 February 2024 (stayhappening.com)
Samford should consider having a Disagree Better event as part of Samford's "Listening, Speaking and Teaching" series.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Email to WVUA seeking suggestions for University of Alabama event
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Kay Norred <knorred@wvua23.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 06:35:11 PM CST
Subject: Suggestions for National Governors Association "Disagree Better" event?
Hello Kay.
I only yesterday learned of the Disagree Better - National Governors Association (nga.org) initiative.
I am very impressed with this NGA initiative, and I would like to see if there can be a Disagree Better event in Alabama.
Do you have any suggestions for contacting the University of Alabama to urge the holding of such an event?
Thanks.
Rob Shattuck

Email to WAAY seeking suggestions for UAH event
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 06:41:29 PM CST
Subject: Suggestions for National Governors Association "Disagree Better" event?
Hello Mike.
I only yesterday learned of the Disagree Better - National Governors Association (nga.org) initiative.
I am very impressed with this NGA initiative, and I would like to see if there can be a Disagree Better event in Alabama.
Do you have any suggestions for contacting UAH to urge the holding of such an event?
Thanks.
Rob Shattuck Email to UAH re "Is Sen. Katie Britt turbocharging division in Alabama?"
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: nick.jones@uah.edu <nick.jones@uah.edu>; kristina.hendrix@uah.edu <kristina.hendrix@uah.edu>
Cc: Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>; dmccain@al.com <dmccain@al.com>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 at 04:48:10 PM CDT
Subject: Is Sen. Katie Britt turbocharging division in Alabama? - Have a Disagree Better event at UAH
Dear Dr. Jones and Ms. Hendrix:
Following on my emailing in November, I wish to call to your attention the Disagree Better initiative of the National Governors Association, website Disagree Better - National Governors Association (nga.org).
Per Disagree Better – Meetings and Events - National Governors Association (nga.org), there have been bipartisan Disagree Better events in Colorado and New Hampshire, plus one at Millsaps College last month (Disagree Better with AF Southeast , Millsaps College, Jackson, 27 February 2024 (stayhappening.com)).
The above subject line asks the question: Is Sen. Katie Britt turbocharging division in Alabama?
I think she is.
If that is true, perhaps it is the case Sen. Britt consciously desires to turbocharge division in Alabama.
If that is not her desire, Sen. Britt should, at this juncture, want to contribute to bridging the partisan divide, which she could do by participating in a Disagree Better event, such as at UAH.
Please consider pursuing the idea of a Disagree Better event at UAH and extending an invitation to Sen. Britt to participate.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
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