By Staff
Bob Ingram, Alabama Scene
MONTGOMERY–There's an old quote which holds to the truth that you should never get into an argument with somebody who buys ink by the barrel. And especially if you are a public official.
Marshall County Sheriff Mac Holcomb has found out the hard way the truth of that quotation. Some time ago Holcomb did some reminiscing on the county's web site about the good old days of the 1940s and 1950s and in his stroll down memory lane he forgot all about political correctness, especially as it relates to homosexuality.
Holcomb said on the web site that he longed for the days when "men were men, women were women and there was no mistaking which was which."
And he didn't stop there. He added that he fondly remembered when "homosexuality was very queer and a despicable act."
Needless to say his outspokenness provoked an editorial outcry from the Alabama press. Last week he reluctantly yielded to the pressure. He removed the letter from the county web site but added it to his personal web site.
But he then had to comment on the controversy when he would have been better served to keep his mouth shut. He issued a statement claiming that his constitutional rights of free speech had been taken from him. "Just because I was elected sheriff does not mean I lose my right to my own personal opinions or my right to free speech," he said.
All that statement did was inspire the editorial writers to hit him again. Like I said up front…try to avoid fights with folks who have a lot of ink at their disposal.
That seemed politically unrealistic to me and I said so. But the Republicans took one small step toward achieving that in a special election last week. A Republican was elected to a House seat in a district which has been historically Democratic. House District 65 is located in southwest Alabama and includes all of Washington County and parts of Clarke and Choctaw counties.
The House vacancy was caused by the death of incumbent Rep. Jeff Dolbare, a Democrat. Running to serve out his term was his wife, Gloria Dolbare, but she lost in the special election to Republican Nick Williams. Dolbare's candidacy was no doubt hurt by a write-in campaign conducted by another Democrat, Wayne Latham.
On the flip side, Republican Williams got all manner of support from the Republicans. Gov. Bob Riley taped a telephone message for him to use in the campaign, and there was even a mail-out in his behalf, which included an endorsement from none other than President Bush.
Only one of the five SPLC nominated documentaries has won the coveted statue. "A Time for Justice" won the best documentary award in 1995.
Fred Dessert, the owner of the Sahara Restaurant, an institution in Montgomery for more than 50 years, has filed for incorporation papers for Sahara at Somerset, which is in East Montgomery on Atlanta Highway.
The Sahara opened at its present location in December, 1952, and has been a favorite restaurant and "watering hole" for the political crowd for decades. Probably as many bills have been passed (or killed) at the Sahara as at the State House.
Sahara has suffered considerably in recent years because of the
dramatic population/demographic shifts in Montgomery. Rumors have abounded
that it would either close its doors or move east. Apparently it will be
the latter option, which is good news for anyone who has ever eaten their
West Indies salad and been served by their tuxedo-clad waiters