By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
Will 2016 be the turning point for State government in Alabama?
That question hangs precipitously on the outcome of the Speaker Mike Hubbard trial on 23 counts of felony public corruption. If Hubbard is convicted on even one of the 23 felonies, he will be removed from office, and his personal reign of greed and corruption will come to an end. But, those who insured his power, and those who have profited from its misuse, could still have control of the mechanics of our government.
Currently, Alabama’s House of Representatives, much of the Senate, as well as many government agencies, are under the control of the shadow administration of former Gov. Bob Riley, Hubbard and BCA Chairman Billy Canary.
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh was once part of that hydra head of corruption, but has broken most of those ties as the sword of justice has come ever closer to Hubbard’s neck. However, Marsh continues to rely heavily on advisors, whose first loyalty remains with the Hubbard-Riley-Canary Cabal.
When this gang lost the Governor’s race in 2010, they made sure that agency heads, and departments had enough loyalists to not only grease the wheels for graft, but to also hinder the efforts of Gov. Robert Bentley. From the RSA, to the Department of Finance and beyond, subjects of the Cabal held sway. A fifth column of traitorously subversive sympathizers strategically act in concern with Hubbard, Riley and Canary to feed the machine they have created.
Even with Hubbard behind bars, Riley and Canary could still retain power to control.
In the House, there appears to be little resistance to Hubbard, and not an ounce toward Riley and Canary. So fast is this stranglehold that rebellious members can’t even find enough votes topple Hubbard’s leadership of the House.
In his book, The Tipping Point, Malcolm Glad, explains, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate.”
So it is in government.
The history of nations and states are a collection of such tipping points. They occur when a small band of committed individuals stand together to expose the old regime and demand better. This is the only way governments change.
As is stated in The Declaration of Independence: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation…it further states, “it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
As Jefferson wrote, it is a duty to throw off bad government. Yet far too many of our state’s leaders have chosen to not do the hard work of removing Hubbard or closing the door on the Cabal. No, in fact they welcome to them with open arms, or should I say open palms, waiting to be greased.
In a State that prides itself on patriotism, honor, service and duty, the courage can’t be found to cast off the shadow government of Hubbard, Riley and Canary.
Just perhaps, after Hubbard is convicted, enough true leaders will rise up to take back our State from these men.
There will be a small window of opportunity to change our State for the better, but it is not clear who will lead the charge.
I believe Governor Bentley is ready to take a stand, seeing as he has shown a willingness to take on the status quo.
In the House, there are a few, and in the Senate a few more, but the turning point will be challenged if any remnant of the Cabal are left in positions of power.
