“Rumors and Rumblings” is a weekly feature that runs each Wednesday. It includes short nuggets of information that we glean from conversations throughout the week. Have a tip? Send it here.
1. According to two Yellowhammer sources, ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead has asked several donors to find out whether or not he would have a shot at landing an appointment to the PSC if Twinkle Cavanaugh wins her race for PSC President. A Cavanaugh win would leave her current PSC seat vacant, and Governor Bentley would make the appointment to fill it. Rep. Jeremy Oden has long been the odds-on favorite for the appointment.
“There is just no way Armistead gets that appointment,” said one Montgomery insider. “But the question that hasn’t been asked yet is, ‘how wide is the gulf between Armistead and Bentley at this point? Governors always send signals as to who they want to be Party Chairman. Armistead became chairman in large part due to the perception that Bentley was supporting him — at least tacitly. Let’s just say that a lot has changed in the last two years.”
2. Team Bentley is gearing up behind-the-scenes for a big push to rally support for Amendment 2 which is on the ballot in November. Their strategy is coming together and folks should expect the Governor to get out in front on this one. “The Bentley political shop has a lot of momentum after Amendment 1 and I’d expect that to carry over into this effort,” one Montgomery insider emailed Yellowhammer. “I expect [the amendment] to pass with relative ease. It has broad support.”
3. The House Republican caucus is holding their Fall fundraiser on Oct. 29. Price levels are $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000. Kate Anderson, LCC is handling the fundraising duties again.
4. Recent polling in the race for PSC President shows Twinkle Cavanaugh with a lead outside the margin of error over Lucy Baxley. Polls are consistently showing Baxley running under 40% and Alabama’s last remaining statewide-elected Democrat is clearly on the ropes.
5. The race for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court is heating up as Vance is out with a significant ad buy in all of the state’s major markets. The ad has gotten solid reviews from armchair quarterbacks across the state — but Judge Vance is still running into a serious math problem. Consider the following…
In most recent, credible polls, 65% of Alabama voters identify themselves as conservatives. With that in mind, Vance must get all the liberals (10%), all the moderates (25%), and then somehow peel off 25% of self-identified conservatives to get to 51%. Further complicating things, Moore is currently getting the support of over 20% of the black vote, many of whom identify with Moore’s religious leanings and social conservatism. He will likely only get around 10% of the black vote on election day, but any support for Moore among the black community only makes Vance even more of a long-shot.
6. House District 34 candidate David Standridge and House District 30 candidate Mack Butler both raised right at $20,000 at their respective fundraisers last week, further solidifying their frontrunner status going into the special election.
Didn’t Armistead recently use donor money, without donor knowledge, to buy a new ALGOP headquarters building? Didn’t Armistead recently make this real estate deal without first letting the ALGOP Executive Committee know what he was up to? Didn’t Armistead use a family member as the real estate agent and commissions were paid to his family member? Only after Armistead was exposed on the Leland Live radio show back in August did he reveal his secret agenda to the Executive Committee. While the rest of us ALGOP donors are knocking on doors, making phone calls and sending in our money Armistead somehow has the time to be on a shopping spree with our money. This is the most critical election in our nation’s history and Armistead, instead of using donor money to support candidates, is spending our money on a lavish new headquarters building. I thought the days of back room deals, family kick backs, non transparency and wasting taxpayer money were on the way out. Looks like Armistead, in his out of date attire, still believes in the old ideals that have nearly destroyed our country. I am a conservative and a Republican but I can no longer support the ALGOP with this kind of incompetent leadership.
I just got around to reading your blog and I would like to comment on your comments about Bill Armistead. Your comments remind me of, “United we stand, divided we fall” and I was wondering if you were trying to upset the party by suggesting that your “anonymous” comments came from a source in the Republican party? I believe that Bill Armistead is an honorabl man. I believe that he has done an incredible job for Alabama and for the Republicans in our state. You must also, othewise you would not give him bad publicity.
ohhhhlettt
Would someone hand me the popcorn…
Look everybody I found a nut!
BTW, I call Clif Ol’Buddy because we seem to be positive and friendly acquaintances. On a personal level, I really like Clif.
Ol’ Buddy, just consider that YH has now posted several UNFOUNDED rumors on Chairman Armistead, to the point that the YH discussions on the Chairman are now laughable.
i’d say the track record for YH is pretty darn good ol buddy! This website stated that armistead’s relative profited off the sale of the new party headquarters…and it was true!!! Didn’t see that anywhere else. Guess it’s only not right when it’s not in YOUR favor.
Clif, ol’ buddy, I do look at your track record.
You have posted stories on Chairman Armistead that are total rubbish!
You posted that John McMillan is supporting a Democrat for office, when John McMillan has campaigned all over the state for the GOP ticket.
Whom should the public believe? Unnamed sources who can’t be “burned”, or named and primary sources who are willing to make their point.
You have obviously trusted these sources who have given you false information.
At this point, the misinformation is laid at YOUR feet for publishing, as rumor, information that is blatantly false
Cliff, unnamed sources are not verifiable. I could make crazy claims about you or anyone in the name of unnamed sources.
You have made unverifiable charges against the Chairman. In essence, you are calling him a liar, based on sources who will not give their names. You know better than this
A few weeks ago, you did the same on Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan. Yet, you stood by sources who will not stand by you by allowing their names to be used for this misinformation.
Cliff, this is not right and I urge you to erase these unfounded charges from your, otherwise, good website
Rev., I understand where you’re coming from with unnamed sources. However, basically every source on this site asks to remain anonymous, and I honor their request and never burn them. That’s why I get information no one else does.
I would just encourage people to look at my track record and decide for themselves…
YH said Paul Ryan was coming to Alabama, several weeks later it was announced. Same with Romney. YH said Cooper Shattuck was leaving the Gov’s office, turned out to be true. YH said Rep. Galliher would leave his house seat to take a job in the Gov’s cabinet, he did. YH said Sen. Fielding would switch parties, he did. The list could go on and on…there are countless examples of stories I posted with sources who requested anonymity and time and time again they’ve proven to be true.
There are also times I don’t release information I have… I knew months before it was announced that Airbus was coming to Mobile. But I was asked not to release it, and I didn’t.
Point is, the day I start burning sources is the day I quit getting information. And if I post things that aren’t true, people stop coming to read. But I think YH’s track record speaks for itself at this point.
Btw, let’s grab lunch soon.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Cliff, remember when we talked a couple of weeks ago? I told you that you were printing information about me that was totally untrue and your “sources” have absolutely no credibility. And, you are damaging your reputation when you print “rumors” that have not even a shred of truth in them whatsoever. Well, you have done it again. Your recent reference to my being interested in an appointment to the PSC is so far off base that you should know better. Or, are you that far out of touch with political reality? For the record, I have never had an interest in this position at the PSC and have never even discussed with anyone the possibility of being appointed to the PSC should a vacancy occur. And, if I had an interest I would never ask a donor if I had a “shot” at getting the appointment. How do your “sources” dream up such stuff? I simply don’t operate that way. If I have an interest in the Governor doing something I go directly to the Governor. The Governor and I have a very close relationship and the idea that there is a “gulf” between the Governor and me is pure nonsense. By printing these “fictitious” rumors on your blog, all that you and your “sources” are trying to do is divide the Party. But, Cliff, that is not going to work. Our Republicans are smarter than that. All you are doing is making yourself look ridiculous.
Thanks for posting your thoughts, Mr. Chairman. I stand by my sources and the countless times my posts have been proven correct have built Yellowhammer’s credibility beyond any doubt. I’m humbled to count you among the thousands of Alabamians who read this site each week and appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Just to clarify, Yellowhammer has no credibility, yet the Chairman of the Republican Party is reduced to responding in the COMMENT SECTION? Makes perfect sense.
I’m sorry but this is hilarious.
If you’re the Chairman of a State Party and feel the need to go into the comment section of a website and defend yourself, you:
1. Need to resign.
2. Need a real job.
3. Need thicker skin.
4. Definitely “doth protest too much” and are most likely full of crap.
GOP, if I knew who you were, I am sure I could compliment you, as well.
Bill is running for re-election as Chairman. He has no desire to be PSC member. However, between now and Nov 6, any desire to be re-elected Chairman is on hold as he is working day and night to promote the Republican ticket.
Now, I like the editor of Yellowhammer, but this rumor is akin to the rumor about John McMillan and the PSC that floated sometime back—-these rumors are unfounded
John, you are a good man. Perhaps Armistead has changed his mind about wantiing PSC but he has been agressively putting out feelers for the position. That is a fact. He has, himself, expressed a desire for that appointment to several people. That is also a fact. If he told you he didn’t want it, then he has changed his mind in the last few days because he has been actively letting people know that he has an interest in that appointment.
Clif, you can do better than this!
“two Yellowhammer sources”? I will give you one bird in the hand better than your two in the bush.
Chairman Armistead is not seeking an appointment to the PSC or to any other public office and has no interest in ever running again.
I am the source and I talked with the Chairman today!
Republicans continuing their pay for play garbage with yet another fundraiser. Hey Cliff, how much of that money are you getting?
This is nothing but neocon propaganda for the Alabama christian right. This state is NOT 65% conservative. The white male establishment wants everyone to think that so there’s no suspicion when they rig elections for Republicans.
Rightttttt. Don’t forget to put you tinfoil hat on after showering
Any idea who might throw their name in the hat and run for chairman?
Hopefully Kay Ivey!
That would be exciting but I doubt that’s a realistic hope. Who are other members of the Republican party committee who could step up and run?
And what is amendment 2?
Why do you say that is unrealistic?
It’s hard to say what other committee members there are that would be capable of being chair. All the ALGOP needs is someone who can raise money and hire the right people to put together and execute a good game plan – two things which the current chairman has proven to be inept.
When could Armistead be replaced as party chair?
The next election would be in February, I believe.
Armistead putting out feelers about an appointment to the PSC is the best indication yet that he himself does not think that he has a chance to win a second term as chairman. That is saying a lot since no one has announced their intention to run against him to this point.
This is exactly right. And I don’t want a Republican chairman looking for patronage. When is the next election for chairman?
I’ve seen skewed polling, I’ve conducted skewed polling and you sir are definitely presenting skewed polling.
No numbers to back up your “outside the margin of error” assertion in the Twinkle v Lucy race?
Why present numbers on conservatives, librulz and blacks but not an actual number on that race?
Doesn’t pass the smell test.
As for Cavanaugh/Baxley, I’ve seen the polling but can only post what my sources agree to.
As for Moore/Vance, I don’t even need polling from that specific race to do what I did – which is simply show how hard it’s going to be for Vance to win based strictly on the self-ID’d voter #s from all the other statewide polls I’ve seen.
Best line of this though is “I’ve conducted skewed polling…” …That definitely boosted your credibility.
That’s the best explanation I’ve seen of why Vance has no legitimate chance to win chief justice. GO JUDGE MOORE!
As the montgomery insider said, how wide IS the gap between bentley and armistead?
How wide is the Pacific Ocean? The Sea of Tranquility? How far is it from the Earth to Mars? The Sun to Pluto? Everyone in the capitol (and algop hq) knows that relationship was severed long ago.