Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa & ABA Democracy Task Force conversation event

Email re Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa & ABA Democracy Task Force conversation event
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: lane.mclelland@ua.edu <lane.mclelland@ua.edu>
Cc: wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; jos.smith@ua.edu <jos.smith@ua.edu>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>; alex.house@ua.edu <alex.house@ua.edu>; knorred@wvua23.com <knorred@wvua23.com>; jmccain@maynardcooper.com <jmccain@maynardcooper.com>; pfoster@algop.org <pfoster@algop.org>; contact@aldemocrats.org <contact@aldemocrats.org>; "bill.ide@akerman.com" <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 11:50:16 AM CST
Subject: Dec. GOP presidential debate in Tuscaloosa; American Bar Association Task Force for Democracy
Dear Ms. McLelland,
I am unsure who is most appropriate at the University of Alabama for sending this email. I am addressing it to you as the Executive Director of the Crossroads Civic Engagement Center at the university, and I am copying this email to several others at the university as indicated below.
In announcing that UA is under consideration as the place where the December GOP presidential debate will take place, UA spokesperson Alex House said. “As a public institution, UA promotes free speech and facilitates numerous opportunities for civil discourse and presentation of diverse ideas. If this event is later confirmed, our campus would be pleased to serve as a neutral site for the debate, and hosting the event would not be an endorsement of any candidate or political party.” https://www.al.com/politics/2023/11/alabama-to-host-fourth-gop-presidential-debate-candidates-to-spar-in-tuscaloosa-report-states.html
Regardless of whether the GOP presidential debate in Tuscaloosa is at UA or somewhere else, I wish to call to your attention the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy and its mission statement that is set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/
The mission statement says that the Task Force "will host public conversations with a broad spectrum of Americans to hear their concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law."
In August I undertook to urge the Alabama State Bar to undertake supportive activity in Alabama that follows along that which is laid out in the the ABA Task Force's Mission Statement, appropriately limited to and tailored for Alabama. I further emailed Dean Brewbaker suggesting that the University of Alabama law school undertake supportive activities. I have also had occasion to contact Dr. Brian S. Butler, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences. https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/08/american-bar-association-task-force-for.html
I think the occasion of the December GOP presidential debate in Tuscaloosa presents an excellent opportunity for the University of Alabama to hold one or more conversation events for the expression of "concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law" as the ABA Task Force seeks to learn about.
I hope you and others in the UA community will consider the holding of such a conversational event or events.
In furtherance of the foregoing, I have copied on this email Dean Brewbaker; Dr. Joseph Smith, chair of the political science department; Dr. Butler; Alex House; and Kay Norred, news director at WVUA23. Because they could be useful participants in a conversation event, I have also copied on this email the Birmingham chapter of the Federalist Society, the Alabama Republican Party and the Alabama Democratic Party. Finally, I have copied the Vice Chair of the ABA Task Force; the Task Force's two reporters; and Terri Lovell of the Alabama State Bar.
I very much hope that something comes of this.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Email to Terri Lovell, Alabama State Bar
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Cc: bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 06:58:23 PM CST
Subject: Will Alabama State Bar be supportive of a Tuscaloosa conversation event?
Terri,
Please advise me whether the Alabama State Bar is willing to be supportive of the holding of a conversation event in Tuscaloosa next month in connection with the GOP presidential debate, such event to be for the expression of "concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law," as the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy is seeking to learn about. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/ and https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.
Thank you, Terri.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Email urging Morning Joe to come to Tuscaloosa
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: jvance@law.ua.edu <jvance@law.ua.edu>
Cc: Susana Schuler <susana.schuler@hearst.com>; lane.mclelland@ua.edu <lane.mclelland@ua.edu>; wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; jos.smith@ua.edu <jos.smith@ua.edu>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>; alex.house@ua.edu <alex.house@ua.edu>; knorred@wvua23.com <knorred@wvua23.com>; jmccain@maynardcooper.com <jmccain@maynardcooper.com>; pfoster@algop.org <pfoster@algop.org>; contact@aldemocrats.org <contact@aldemocrats.org>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 09:50:08 AM CST
Subject: Suggest to Morning Joe he come to Tuscaloosa in connection with GOP Presidential debate
Dear Joyce,
The American Bar Association has a year long Task Force for American Democracy that is at work to carry out the mission set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
On Tuesday I sent an email to Ms. Lane McLelland, the Executive Director of the University of Alabama's Crossroads Civic Engagement Center, urging that next month's GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa presents an excellent opportunity for the university to hold one or more conversation events for the expression of "concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law" as the ABA Task Force is seeking to learn about. You can read my email at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.
I think you should suggest to Morning Joe that he come to Tuscaloosa in connection with the debate and join with the ABA Task Force and the University of Alabama to hold such a conversation event as being suggested, perhaps on the day before the debate.
I hope you think this is an interesting idea and will put it forth to Morning Joe.
Because WVTM is an NBC affiliate, I am copying on this email WVTM's president and general manager Ms. Susana Schuler.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Email to UAB, Samford and Auburn contacts
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Cathleen Erwin <coe0001@auburn.edu>; Amcewan@samford.edu <amcewan@samford.edu>; "amcewan@samford.edu" <amcewan@samford.edu>; mwithers@samford.edu <mwithers@samford.edu>; jcobia@samford.edu <jcobia@samford.edu>; dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>; Christopher Jones <jonesc1@uab.edu>
Cc: bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2023 at 06:50:53 PM CST
Subject: Coupling ABA Task Force conversation events with GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa
I have previously contacted you about the holding of conversation events at UAB, Samford and Auburn related to the American Bar Association's "Task Force for American Democracy" and its Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
As indicated at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html, I am trying to use next month's GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa to bring about the holding of such a conversation event at the University of Alabama.
Needless to say, I think conversation events also being held at UAB, Samford and Auburn in the lead up to the December 6th date of the debate would be very good.
I hope UAB, Samford and Auburn will act on this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Letter to the editor of The Crimson White newspaper
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: letters@thecrimsonwhite.com <letters@thecrimsonwhite.com>
Cc: newsdesk@thecrimsonwhite.com <newsdesk@thecrimsonwhite.com>; news@theplainsman.com <news@theplainsman.com>; emmaowen@uab.edu <emmaowen@uab.edu>; Crimson@samford.edu <crimson@samford.edu>
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 04:03:09 PM CST
Subject: "NewsNation to host fourth Republican primary debate at Moody Music Building"
Re: Rachel Seale's above article at https://thecrimsonwhite.com/111770/top-stories/newsnation-to-host-fourth-republican-primary-debate-at-moody-music-building/
Dear Mr. Hagan:
The American Bar Association has a year long Task Force for American Democracy that is at work to carry out the mission set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
Last Tuesday I sent an email to Ms. Lane McLelland, the Executive Director of the University of Alabama's Crossroads Civic Engagement Center, urging that, in connection with next month's GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa, the university hold one or more conversation events for the expression of "concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law" as the ABA Task Force is seeking to learn about. My email can be found at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.
I hope The Crimson White will publicize this by publishing this letter.
Thank you.
Robert D. Shattuck Jr.
3812 Spring Valley Circle
Mountain Brook, AL 35223
rdshatt@aol.com
205-967-5586
Retired; not a UA graduate or employee
Email to TuscaloosaDems
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: tuscaloosadems@gmail.com <tuscaloosadems@gmail.com>
Cc: mtnbrookdems@gmail.com <mtnbrookdems@gmail.com>; hooverdemocrats@gmail.com <hooverdemocrats@gmail.com>; montgomerycountydemocrats@gmail.com <montgomerycountydemocrats@gmail.com>; info@madisoncountydemocrats.com <info@madisoncountydemocrats.com>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2023 at 07:46:34 AM CST
Subject: Will TuscaloosaDems push for ABA Democracy Task Force conversation event re GOP debate?
Dear TuscaloosaDems:
The American Bar Association has a year long Task Force for American Democracy that is at work to carry out the mission set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
Last Tuesday I sent an email to Ms. Lane McLelland, the Executive Director of the University of Alabama's Crossroads Civic Engagement Center, urging that, in connection with next month's GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa, the university hold one or more conversation events for the expression of "concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law" as the ABA Task Force is seeking to learn about. My email can be found at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.
I hope you will do what you can to push for the holding of such a conversation event at the university or elsewhere in Tuscaloosa.
Thank you for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook Email re election coverage organized around "stakes"
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: jr3@nyu.edu <jr3@nyu.edu>
Cc: Susana Schuler <susana.schuler@hearst.com>; lane.mclelland@ua.edu <lane.mclelland@ua.edu>; wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; jos.smith@ua.edu <jos.smith@ua.edu>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>; alex.house@ua.edu <alex.house@ua.edu>; knorred@wvua23.com <knorred@wvua23.com>; jmccain@maynardcooper.com <jmccain@maynardcooper.com>; pfoster@algop.org <pfoster@algop.org>; contact@aldemocrats.org <contact@aldemocrats.org>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; jvance@law.ua.edu <jvance@law.ua.edu>; Cathleen Erwin <coe0001@auburn.edu>; "amcewan@samford.edu" <amcewan@samford.edu>; mwithers@samford.edu <mwithers@samford.edu>; jcobia@samford.edu <jcobia@samford.edu>; dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>; Christopher Jones <jonesc1@uab.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 09:09:39 AM CST
Subject: Alabama journalism and election coverage organized around "stakes"
Dear Professor Rosen:
In your tweet at https://twitter.com/jayrosen_nyu/status/1724101311673541100, you say:
"when I say 'not the odds, but the stakes' I mean election coverage should actually be organized around the stakes, not the latest odds. Many things can be part of it. Consequences for democracy should be the heart of it."
In Alabama, I am trying to push what you say in connection with next month's GOP presidential debate at the University of Alabama.
In particular, I am trying to conjoin with the debate the holding of conversation events regarding the American Bar Association's year long Task Force for American Democracy that has the mission set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/. (For information about what I am doing, please read https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.)
A component of the foregoing is for Alabama TV stations to report on such conversation events and, better, be involved in the holding of such events.
I am very limited in what I can do to cause such conversation events to be held.
To advance the foregoing, I am borrowing your academic standing in journalism and your views, by sending you this email and copying parties I have previously contacted who are in a position to influence holding the conversation events in question. You can learn better who those parties are by reviewing the previously given link.
Thank you very much for your indulgence here, Professor Rosen.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook, AL Email for serious practitioners of political news journalism in Alabama
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: blyman@alabamareflector.com <blyman@alabamareflector.com>
Cc: hkoplowitz@al.com <hkoplowitz@al.com>; bbritt@alreporter.com <bbritt@alreporter.com>; jmoon@alreporter.com <jmoon@alreporter.com>; todd@aldailynews.com <todd@aldailynews.com>; andrew@wbhm.org <andrew@wbhm.org>; jsharp@al.com <jsharp@al.com>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2023 at 11:43:32 AM CST
Subject: What journalism will Alabama Reflector do re Dec. 6th GOP presidential debate?
Dear Brian,
This email follows up on Alabama Reflector's tweet at https://twitter.com/ALReflector/status/1724487988313268326, soliciting support for its ad-free, independent Alabama journalism, and my reply at https://twitter.com/RobShattuckAL06/status/1725533851483525315, asking what journalism Alabama Reflector will do regarding the upcoming Dec. 6th GOP presidential debate, and my offering to help on that front, with a link to https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.
There are two weeks to go until the national attention on Alabama and the GOP presidential debate in Tuscaloosa.
What is Alabama Reflector doing to avail of this to bolster its journalistic presence in Alabama and and be better in prosecuting its journalistic mission?
There are political persons and entities who will work the next two weeks hard to advance their political purposes, and who will likely, to the detriment of the Alabama public, overwhelm the journalistic work that the Alabama Reflector would like to do in connection with the GOP Presidential debate.
That being said, I don't think the Alabama Reflector wants to throw up its hands in the face of its daunting task during the coming two weeks.
I offer for the Alabama Reflector to pick up on what I am trying to do, as described in the preceding link.
If the Alabama Reflector has better ideas about what to do, and is willing to tell me what they are, please do, and I will help out.
Other serious practitioners of political news journalism in Alabama (such as APT, WBHM, AL.com, Alabama Political Reporter, and Alabama Daily News) are also threatened to be squashed during the next two weeks in the rush of the aforesaid political persons and entities hard at work to be as noisy as they can to advance their political purposes in connection with the Presidential debate. I am copying on this email some of those practitioners of political news journalism in Alabama to encourage them not to throw in the towel and to work harder at their journalism during the next two weeks and better fulfill their journalistic obligations to the Alabama public.
Alabama local TV stations will likely be tools of the aforesaid political persons and parties working hard to use the GOP presidential debate for their political purposes. (https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/10/can-retired-alabama-tv-news-personages.html) Alabama Reflector and other serious practitioners of political news journalism in Alabama should hound the TV stations to do a better job.
More power to you, Brian, during the next two weeks, and to other serious practitioners of political news journalism in Alabama.
Sincerely
Rob Shattuck

Email to Todd Stacy of Alabama Public Television Capitol Journal
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: todd@aldailynews.com <todd@aldailynews.com>
Cc: Bryan Taylor for Chief Justice <bryan@bryantaylor.com>; Sarahstewartforchiefjustice Info <info@sarahstewartforchiefjustice.com>; hkoplowitz@al.com <hkoplowitz@al.com>; bbritt@alreporter.com <bbritt@alreporter.com>; jmoon@alreporter.com <jmoon@alreporter.com>; andrew@wbhm.org <andrew@wbhm.org>; "jsharp@al.com" <jsharp@al.com>; Susana Schuler <susana.schuler@hearst.com>; lane.mclelland@ua.edu <lane.mclelland@ua.edu>; wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; jos.smith@ua.edu <jos.smith@ua.edu>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>; alex.house@ua.edu <alex.house@ua.edu>; knorred@wvua23.com <knorred@wvua23.com>; jmccain@maynardcooper.com <jmccain@maynardcooper.com>; pfoster@algop.org <pfoster@algop.org>; contact@aldemocrats.org <contact@aldemocrats.org>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; jvance@law.ua.edu <jvance@law.ua.edu>; Cathleen Erwin <coe0001@auburn.edu>; amcewan@samford.edu <amcewan@samford.edu>; mwithers@samford.edu <mwithers@samford.edu>; jcobia@samford.edu <jcobia@samford.edu>; dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>; Christopher Jones <jonesc1@uab.edu>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 06:32:07 PM CST
Subject: Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice candidate Bryan Taylor has expressed interest
Dear Todd,
Per the below email interchange, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice candidate Bryan Taylor has expressed interest in a public conversation event concerning the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy, as per https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/10/uab-critical-conversations-and-american.html.
I replied to Bryan that I didn't have anything definite set up yet, and I
was trying to add impetus for the holding of conversation events by connecting such events with the GOP presidential debate in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 6th, per https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.
I told Bryan I thought a great forum for him would be a Capitol Journal show, and I would email you to suggest you have Bryan and Sarah Stewart on a show to discuss the subject in question.
Thus this email to you, on which I am copying Bryan, Sarah Stewart, and parties I have been importuning to hold these conversation events, time now running out before the Dec. 6th debate.
I hope you will decide to have Bryan and Sarah Stewart on Capitol Journal and other parties will have conversation events in connection with the Dec. 6th debate.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
-------------------
From: Bryan Taylor <bryan@bryantaylor.com>
To: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2023 at 11:08:12 PM CST
Subject: Re: Taylor picks up endorsements from veteran GOP prosecutors
Dear Mr. Shattuck,
We wanted to follow up on this message from you earlier this month. Has a specific date been set for this event?
Best regards
Team Taylor
-------------
On November 4, 2023 at 8:21:22 AM, Rob Shattuck (rdshatt@aol.com) wrote:
Dear Bryan,
I have solicited UAB, Samford and Auburn to host public conversation events concerning the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy, the mission of which is set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/. (For more information on what I am doing, see https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/10/uab-critical-conversations-and-american.html.)
If such a conversation event was held, would you be willing to participate? Would you be willing to suggest to the veteran GOP prosecutors David Barber, Brandon Falls, and Randall Houston, who have endorsed you, that they participate in such conversation events? Would you challenge your opponent Sarah Stewart to join with you in participating in such a conversation event?
I am copying on this email your opponent Sarah Stewart; the persons I have contacted at UAB, Samford and Auburn; the Vice Chair of the Task Force and its Task Force's reporters; and Terri Lovell of the Alabama State Bar.
Thanks for your attention to this email.
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook Email to WAAY TV general manager Mike Wright
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>
Cc: nick.jones@uah.edu <nick.jones@uah.edu>; kristina.hendrix@uah.edu <kristina.hendrix@uah.edu>; director@huntsvillebar.org <director@huntsvillebar.org>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 08:47:01 AM CST
Subject: Re: WAAY Question - Dec. 6th GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa
Hello Mike.
The upcoming Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa prompts me to send you this email following our email correspondence of earlier this year.
This email is for the purpose of calling to your attention efforts I am making to conjoin with the Tuscaloosa GOP Presidential debate the holding of conversation events regarding the American Bar Association's year long Task Force for American Democracy that has the mission set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
What I am doing is set out at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html
I know it is late in the game to try to get a conversation event set up at UAH or elsewhere in Huntsville.
What do you think?
In September I sent the below email to the Huntsville Bar Association, but did not get a reply.
Please let me know if you think there is any possibility here.
For what it's worth, I am copying on this email Dr. Nicholaos Jones, UAH DEPARTMENT CHAIR OF PHILOSOPHY & POLITICAL SCIENCE and Ms. Kristina Hendrix, UAH VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, as well as the Huntsville Bar Association.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
[referenced September email to Huntsville Bar Association can be found at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/08/american-bar-association-task-force-for.html]
Email to Sharon Tinsley, President, Alabama Broadcasters Association
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Sharon Tinsley <stinsley@al-ba.com>
Cc: bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 07:14:00 AM CST
Subject: Ten days to GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa
Dear Sharon,
You have previously indicated that the Alabama Broadcasters Association does not have a purpose for, or a role in, Alabama broadcasters improving, or trying to improve, in the performance of their journalistic obligations to the public (which obligations are set out at https://www.rtdna.org/ethics), and that, if I desired to press upon the broadcasters to do a better job, I should contact the broadcasters directly.
I think the GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 6th will be a great test for Alabama broadcasters as regards performing their journalistic obligations.
During the next ten days, I will use my link at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html to push Alabama broadcasters to focus on the debate, to decide what they will do in their news reporting, interviewing and editorializing relative to the debate, and to implement the decisions in the course of the next ten day days.
Alabama broadcasters are undoubtedly engaged in doing the foregoing to some extent, but also I undoubtedly think the broadcasters should be pushed to apply themselves harder regarding the same.
After I send this email, I will post the email on my foregoing link as part of my trying to push Alabama broadcasters relative to the Dec. 6th debate.
Thank you for your indulgence here.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Email re UA faculty available to discuss topics re GOP debate
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Sharon Tinsley <stinsley@al-ba.com>
Cc: jtbailey@ua.edu <jtbailey@ua.edu>; kbissell@ua.edu <kbissell@ua.edu>; mdbruce@ua.edu <mdbruce@ua.edu>; wevans@ua.edu <wevans@ua.edu>; djgriffin1@ua.edu <djgriffin1@ua.edu>; sahartley1@ua.edu <sahartley1@ua.edu>; dmwaymer@ua.edu <dmwaymer@ua.edu>; laurie.wright@ua.edu <laurie.wright@ua.edu>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>; ajbauer2@ua.edu <ajbauer2@ua.edu>; Alex House <alex.house@ua.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2023 at 06:36:33 PM CST
Subject: "UA Experts Available to Discuss Topics Around GOP Debate"
Sharon:
A week ago the University of Alabama posted the webpage https://news.ua.edu/2023/11/ua-experts-available-to-discuss-topics-around-gop-debate/, which currently lists eight UA faculty members who are "available to discuss aspects of the debate and political landscape."
You know better than I whether Alabama broadcasters have an interest in, or capability to avail of, the foregoing resource in order to better perform their journalistic obligations for the benefit of the Alabama public regarding the debate.
I will add this email to https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html in my efforts to get Alabama broadcasters to do a better job.
Thank you again for your indulgence here.
Rob Shattuck

Email to "UA Experts Available to Discuss Topics Around GOP Debate"
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: jbramlett@ua.edu <jbramlett@ua.edu>; cpeacock@ua.edu <cpeacock@ua.edu>; jjohl@ua.edu <jjohl@ua.edu>; jlmaddox@ua.edu <jlmaddox@ua.edu>; rcfording@as.ua.edu <rcfording@as.ua.edu>; rlwagner1@ua.edu <rlwagner1@ua.edu>; aelinken@ua.edu <aelinken@ua.edu>
Cc: lane.mclelland@ua.edu <lane.mclelland@ua.edu>; alex.house@ua.edu <alex.house@ua.edu>; stinsley@al-ba.com <stinsley@al-ba.com>; bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>; terri.lovell@alabar.org <terri.lovell@alabar.org>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 10:21:59 AM CST
Subject: For addressee "UA Experts Available to Discuss Topics Around GOP Debate"
Dear Professors Bramlett, Peacock, Ohl, Maddox, Fording, Wagner and Linken:
The webpage https://news.ua.edu/2023/11/ua-experts-available-to-discuss-topics-around-gop-debate/ identifies you as University of Alabama experts available to discuss topics around next week's GOP Presidential debate in Tuscaloosa.
I greatly wish for your expert knowledge relative to next week's GOP Presidential debate and the political landscape to be communicated to the Alabama public.
Earlier this month, I solicited Ms. Lane McLelland, the Executive Director of the University of Alabama's Crossroads Civic Engagement Center, that the Dec. 6th GOP debate should be availed of for the holding of public conversation events that would wrap together the debate and its political landscape with the American Bar Association's Task Force for American Democracy mission statement that is set out. at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/ (For more information about this solicitation, please read https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html.)
I thought, in the words of the mission statement, the conversation events would be for the expression of "concerns, experiences, and suggestions for restoring and preserving our democracy rule of law." Further I think your aforesaid advertised knowledge would make you excellent contributors in such conversation events if they were held.
Another way for your expert knowledge to be communicated to the Alabama public is through the medium of Alabama television and radio broadcasters. I have called this to the attention of the Alabama Broadcasters Association per the below email I sent to its President Ms. Sharon Tinsley.
Time is running out for Alabamians to benefit from your expert knowledge being communicated to them in connection with GOP debate next Wednesday.
As to Alabama television and radio broadcasters, previously Ms. Tinsley has declined to forward to her Association's broadcaster members communications that I have sent to her. I have directly contacted some of the Alabama TV stations about the public conversations I am trying to promote. I expect to contact more of them during the next few days.
While I have endeavored to draw in the Alabama State Bar to undertake supportive activities in Alabama relative to the ABA's Task Force for American Democracy, including in connection with the debate, I am not aware of the Alabama State Bar doing anything. For what it is worth, I am copying on this email my contact at the Alabama State Bar if this may prompt anything on the Bar's part.
Thank you for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
[referenced email "sent to its President Ms. Sharon Tinsley" is the immediately above email]
Email to WVTM13, CBS42, WBRC, ABC3340 and WVUA inquiring about debate programming
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: comments@abc3340.com <comments@abc3340.com>; programming@abc3340.com <programming@abc3340.com>; newstip@abc3340.com <newstip@abc3340.com>; Susana.Schuler@hearst.com <susana.schuler@hearst.com>; wcromwell@cbs42.com <wcromwell@cbs42.com>; rmartin@cbs42.com <rmartin@cbs42.com>; jason.mathews@gray.tv <jason.mathews@gray.tv>; knorred@wvua23.com <knorred@wvua23.com>; shannon.isbell@wbrc.com <shannon.isbell@wbrc.com>
Cc: newsdesk@thecrimsonwhite.com <newsdesk@thecrimsonwhite.com>; news@theplainsman.com <news@theplainsman.com>; emmaowen@uab.edu <emmaowen@uab.edu>; Crimson@samford.edu <crimson@samford.edu>; hkoplowitz@al.com <hkoplowitz@al.com>; bbritt@alreporter.com <bbritt@alreporter.com>; jmoon@alreporter.com <jmoon@alreporter.com>; todd@aldailynews.com <todd@aldailynews.com>; andrew@wbhm.org <andrew@wbhm.org>; jsharp@al.com <jsharp@al.com>; blyman@alabamareflector.com <blyman@alabamareflector.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 04:21:30 PM CST
Subject: "NewsNation announces Republican presidential primary debate programming in Alabama"
Next week NewsNation will be in Tuscaloosa for three days doing special programming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/newsnation-announces-republican-presidential-primary-debate-programming-in-alabama/ar-AA1kGenG
What special debate programming will WVTM13, CBS42, WBRC, ABC3340 and WVUA do? https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/11/presidential-debate-in-tuscaloosa-aba.html
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Sunday, November 5, 2023

Bird-dogging the AL 2nd Cong'l district election

Email to Caroleene Dobson
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: cdobson@maynardnexsen.com <cdobson@maynardnexsen.com>
Cc: Christopher Jones <jonesc1@uab.edu>; amcewan@samford.edu <amcewan@samford.edu>; mwithers@samford.edu <mwithers@samford.edu>; jcobia@samford.edu <jcobia@samford.edu>; dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>; Cathleen Erwin <coe0001@auburn.edu>; bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>; emyang@wstrongllc.com <emyang@wstrongllc.com>; marty@mitchellmeadows.com <marty@mitchellmeadows.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 08:22:59 AM CST
Subject: Your Cong'l candidacy; ABA Task Force for American Democracy; endorsing Trump or not
Dear Caroleene,
You are a lawyer at Maynard Nexsen, who has announced that you are running as a Republican in the Alabama 2nd Congressional district election.
As you may know, the American Bar Association has created a Task Force for American Democracy, having a mission statement that is set out at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/
I hope you will read the entirety of the mission statement.
I selectively call to your attention the below from the mission statement:
"Clearly, our American democracy is not as strong as we once thought and there are those who seem determined to push it to the breaking point."
"ways to maximize voter confidence and participation in our democratic process;"
"ways to dis-incentivize irresponsible and extremist rhetoric and positions among elected officials and candidates for elective office;"
"ways for ensuring the integrity and the safety of state election officials and workers across the country;"
"The report will explain why democracy is foundational to American society and the welfare of the American people, provide an analysis of the root causes for today's threats to our democracy and rule of law, and recommend actions to be taken to restore, protect, and preserve our democracy and the rule of law."
In my opinion Donald Trump is "determined to push [American democracy] to the breaking point" and is the paramount "threat to our democracy and rule of law" as the unquestioned leader of "those who seem determined to push [American democracy] to the breaking point."
Further I think any candidate, such as yourself, who endorses Donald Trump is contributing to "push[ing] [American democracy] to the breaking point;" and is part of the "threat to our democracy and rule of law."
You, of course, will decide for yourself whether you agree with my foregoing characterizations of Donald Trump and of candidates who endorse Donald Trump, and whether you will endorse Donald Trump or not.
Regardless, I call to your attention that I have solicited UAB, Samford and Auburn to host public conversation events relative to the ABA's Task Force for American Democracy, per what is set out at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/10/uab-critical-conversations-and-american.html. I hope, if such a conversation event is held, you would be willing to participate in the same.
For your information, the persons copied on this email are professors I have contacted at UAB, Samford and Auburn; the Vice Chair of the ABA Task Force and the Task Force's two reporters; and Terri Lovell of the Alabama State Bar.
Thank you for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
5/19/24- Open letter to Shomari Figures regarding Second Amendment
Dear Mr. Figures:
For many years the Republicans in Washington and Montgomery have been preventing the passage of stricter gun laws that are needed to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in the country and Alabama.
The United States Supreme Court has held that, under the Second Amendment, there is a right of citizens to possess and keep firearms at home for self-defense and also to carry a handgun in public for self-defense.
In the view of the Republicans, the Second Amendment is not limited to the protection of guns for self-defense purposes, but rather the government cannot regulate guns in order to protect the public and protect law enforcement from gun violence, even though the regulation does not impair the rights of individuals to own and carry guns for self-defense purposes. This is because the Republicans believe the Second Amendment protects a right of citizens to possess and keep firearms for use to resist governmental tyranny, and any governmental regulation that impinges on that is unconstitutional.
Under the foregoing expansive view of the Second Amendment, for example, a ban on assault weapons, which are not needed by individuals for self-defense purposes, would be unconstitutional because citizens would be deprived of assault weapons for potential use against the government to resist governmental tyranny.
There are many ways that guns can be regulated to protect public safety and to protect law enforcement, without impairing right of individuals to own and carry guns in public for self-defense purposes. 
There is much such regulation that should be highly welcomed by the public and by law enforcement.
The Republicans, however, stand opposed to guns being regulated for the protection of the public and the protection of law enforcement, even though the rights of individuals to own and carry guns in public for self-defense purposes are not impaired.
You should strenuously campaign against your opponent Caroleene Dobson about her opposing guns being regulated for the protection of the public and the protection of law enforcement even though the rights of individuals to own and carry guns in public for self-defense purposes are not impaired.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Email to WSFA 12's Jonathan Grass re asking Caroleene Dobson hard questions
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: jonathan.grass@wsfa.com <jonathan.grass@wsfa.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 04:04:01 PM CDT
Subject: Asking Caroleeene Dobson hard questions
Jonathan,
You are shown as the author of Figures, Dobson win nominations for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District (wsfa.com).
Will WSFA12 have a reporter at Jan's Beach House Grill at 6 pm today to ask Caroleene Dobson questions? Central AL GOP Club on X: "Come join us tonight at 6 pm to hear from @DobsonForAL and Joan Reynolds with the Mighty Alabama Strike force. #alpolitics https://t.co/FTM4F82Dzi" / X.
Does WSFA 12 expect to ask Caroleene Dobson any hard questions in the course of the 2nd Congressional district election? What does WSFA 12 think are hard questions that Caroleene Dobson should be asked?
Thanks.
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
(for filing in Be An Alabama Rootstriker* with Rob Shattuck: Bird-dogging the AL 2nd Cong'l district election) (al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com)

6/19 email to WSFA's Jonathan Grass in case he missed 1819 News
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: jonathan.grass@wsfa.com <jonathan.grass@wsfa.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 04:26:55 PM CDT
Subject: Bird-dogging Caroleene Dobson -- in case you missed 1819 News today
Caroleene Dobson pledges to seek ‘federal remedies’ for violent crime plaguing cities within district (1819news.com)
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