How would absent Bridges have voted?

By Joe McAdory

Would DuWayne Bridges, R-Valley, voted for repealing the state tax on groceries or against it? His voting machine at the statehouse was one of four vacated machines used to vote for a bill to repeal the tax.

But he was in Korea.

Evidently, Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Meridianville, was spotted voting on vacated machines. There is no steadfast rule against voting on absent legislator machines. All that’s needed is permission. Did Hinshaw have Bridges’ permission? If so, then there should be no problem and any issues raised on the subject should be moot.

The tax vote needed 63 “yes” votes to pass. It received 63 votes, making Bridges’ absent vote highly important. My bet is he would have voted against it, as most Republicans did. This newspaper has been on the record suggesting the tax be repealed and the bill passed in the House and Senate. Alabama’s low-income families need a break and this would be a great way to deliver one. But it must be voted in the right way.

Friday, I attempted to reach Bridges, but he was still in Korea reportedly trying to lure industry into the area. He should be back Monday or Tuesday.

It will be interesting to see what Bridges has to say about the vote cast for him, with or without his permission. Perhaps the Legislature can solve these issues by creating measures where legislators cannot vote on other people’s machines, thus avoiding any confusion.

Round mound of city hall?

By Joe McAdory

Former Auburn basketball and NBA star Charles Barkley suggested he might jump into politics after all. Wednesday on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show,“ Barkley said he might be interested in running for mayor of Leeds, where he grew up.

“I know I can do better than the people that are doing stuff there now,“ Barkley told Leno. “We’ve got too many crooks on the city council. “Leeds, Alabama ... the greatest place in the world, but it needs to do better. And I’m the man for the job.“

In the past, Barkley has mentioned running for governor. But with no political experience, probably the best bet is to start with smaller aspirations. His basketball career began in Leeds, so the small town in St. Clair County figures to be a good launching pad for another career.

A chicken meal with a side order of weed

By Joe McAdory

Here’s an Associated Press story from Arkansas that caught my attention:

MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Police in Magnolia, Ark., say it wasn’t the fried chicken in Savalas Vantoli Stewart’s car that gave off a funky smell.

Instead, officers who pulled over Stewart on Friday night say they found a side dish of marijuana hidden in a recently purchased box of chicken.

Police say officers smelled marijuana coming from the car and found it after Stewart consented to a search. Officers say they also found several Ecstasy pills in Stewart’s pockets.

The 33-year-old Waldo resident faces a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge and felony drug possession charge.

A deputy at the Columbia County jail says Stewart was released Monday to await a court appearance. A telephone number for Stewart in Waldo could not be found.

Was this a combo meal? Did the restaurant erroneously give him pot instead of pot-atoes. I hope the officers let him eat his chicken before hauling him off to jail.

What’s in Cheney’s sunglasses?

By Joe McAdory

You may have seen it, and you may have not. But last week, questions were asked about the image that appeared in vice president Dick Cheney’s sunglasses in a photograph. Cheney was on a hunting/fishing trip in the northwest and the image showed Cheney grinning as if he thoroughly enjoyed what he was looking at.

The reflection in his sunglasses appeared to capture that of a naked woman. At least, that’s what some folks said.

People jumped on this bandwagon, whether the picture was legit or not.

The picture was released by the White House. Do you really think the White House would release a picture of the vice president in the company of naked women? Are White House photographers invited to attend outdoor hunting parties that include strippers? Please.

The image may look like a woman, but more than one person investigating the photo confirms it’s just his hand. This does not mean there wasn’t a naked woman prancing in front of Cheney or the White House photographer, but she wasn’t in his sunglasses.

Immelman on the mark

By Joe McAdory

I’m glad to say I had the opportunity to watch Trevor Immelman during Masters week. OK, so I watched him take a few chips and putts around the second green during Monday’s practice round. But still, I think it’s cool to say I got a glimpse and took a few pics of this year’s Masters winner before the event actually started.