Alabama’s Joe Biden?

Opinion

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately, all swirling around a common theme. To be perfectly honest, I can’t give them a definitive answer. All I can do is speculate, based on what little information we have, some off the record remarks, and a few rumors. I’m not happy with that, but given the topic, it needs discussing.

People are concerned about Governor Ivey’s health. They’re concerned about her cognitive status, and her ability to carry out her role as Governor. Most importantly, they’re concerned about just who may actually be running the State, if Ivey is as bad off as some fear.

The Joe Biden AutoPen scandal has kicked rumors of Ivey's decline into high gear. It looks like many, if not most (or all) of the critical documents Biden “signed” were actually done by a machine. If it’s proven true—and supposedly there’s evidence to back it up—it raises the question of legitimacy for all kinds of things. Since we know the White House staff (and others) were actively covering up Biden’s severe impairment for years, it’s at least possible that Ivey’s staff is doing the same for her.

There are hints of that already. The Governor’s time is carefully husbanded, beyond what we’d normally expect. Yes, her time is a valuable commodity, and protecting it is just to be expected, but good luck getting an appointment after 3:30 in the afternoon on most days.

This didn’t really worry me until about the third time I was asked about Sundowning in dementia patients. Yes, it’s a thing. Is it a thing in Ivey’s case? I certainly don’t know, and without ten or fifteen minutes to talk to her I can’t do more than guess. Somehow, I don’t see myself being invited over for tea with Kay anytime soon.

Let’s look at what we know:  Kay Ivey is 80 years young, the oldest serving Governor. She’s a cancer survivor, and her small cell lung cancer was supposed to have been dealt with back in 2020, thankfully. She had a “spell” at a campaign rally last November that was due to “dehydration.” 

Don’t get me wrong, dehydration in the elderly is indeed a thing, but…I’ve played that game in the ER. If nothing else, why’d the staff let it happen? Nursing home staff know to keep an eye on things like that, and while Kay’s not ready for the nursing home (we certainly hope!), at her age….

As Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey said, “Time is a cruel thief to rob us of our former selves.”

At recent appearances, the Governor’s SUV pulls up. She’s escorted in, says her (short) peace, and is whisked away. Is that just because she’s busy? Or is it done to keep her out of the public eye as much as possible?

The Governor looked good at the State of the State address. It was blissfully short, which was almost certainly by design. The MeeMaw line was a great moment for her. However, I noticed that as it wound down, so did she. She wasn’t as pert or perky near the end as she was when she started. Was it just that last cup of coffee wearing off?

Joe Biden looked pretty good at his last State of the Union speech, too. As I said at the time, whoever juiced him up for that did a great job.

There’s no doubt the Governor’s office continues to wield impressive amounts of power. The rapid passage of SB67, drastically rearranging the State Board of Veterans Affairs and its Commissioner, is ample proof of that. There were a lot of behind the scenes arm-twisting going on, and more than a few shenanigans with a whiff of scandal attached to it. That the Governor wanted it—and Kay has the reputation for holding a grudge until it dies of old age, then having it stuffed and mounted—was a main reason it moved through the Legislature so quickly.

Legislators remember what happened to those who stood up against the gas tax a few years back. Don’t think they don’t.

So what? Alabama’s Governor is one of the most powerful in the country. What our Governors want, they usually get.

That’s why it’s so important that our Governor—the one we elected—is actually the one running the show.

If Kay Ivey stepped down right now, her legacy would be assured. She took over and “steadied the ship of State” in a horrible time. By and large, she’s done a good job, and people are generally pleased with her.

However, if it comes out that she and her staff were covering up a medical condition that affected her ability to govern, her legacy would be as tarnished as Joe Biden’s—and none of us want that.

I don’t think MeeMaw will be our Governor on January 17, 2027. It’s just a gut feeling based on how she’s looked the last few times I’ve seen her. She’s one fall away from a broken hip or worse, as tragic as that is to contemplate.

Ivey’s health also has significant implications for the next election. If Ivey steps down, Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth moves into the big chair. Being the incumbent would be a definite advantage when he runs for Governor in 2026. 

It’s no secret Ainsworth wants to be Governor. Coach Tuberville is thinking about it. There are a few other names waiting in the wings, and who’s in or out in the Governor’s race affects other races. Until the end of the session, everyone’s in standby mode, but when it ends there are a lot of tough decisions that will have to be made, and quickly.

Here’s one scenario:  Governor Ivey sees this session through and takes a victory lap. Then, in a few weeks, she gracefully steps aside and goes to the beach to enjoy her golden years.

That preserves and protects her legacy and place in the history books, even if a scandal or three comes out after she’s gone. Nobody’s going to want to come after an octogenarian enjoying her retirement.

Of course, there are powerful people and groups with a vested interest in keeping Ivey in her chair, even at the cost of it being a Weekend at MeeMaw’s situation. Will they allow Ivey to retire before her term is up? Or will they try to hang on for another nineteen months?

I’d like to think it’s a waste of time even thinking about things like this. Unfortunately, I’m afraid it’s a subject we need to consider.

Opinion pieces in ALPolitics.com solely represent the views of the author.