Taking Care of the Alabama GOP is NOT the Speaker's Priority
In fact, it probably shouldn’t be in the Top 5 on his list
Rumors have been circulating since last Thursday afternoon about a closed-door meeting of the Alabama House Republican caucus. Words like “emergency” and “total meltdown” have been bandied about, without any concrete proof.
What we know (officially) is that at the end of the meeting, Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) was replaced — ostensibly because of the possibility of a conflict of interest while he is actively seeking the ALGOP Chairmanship — and Representative Chip Brown (R-) was elevated to Interim Majority Leader.
It was rumored that Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) had said something to the effect that he didn’t give a [fecal material] about the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP).
Cue the obligatory pearl-clutching, gasping, hysteria and acute attacks of “the vapors.”
How dare he? After all, doesn’t he own his absolute allegiance, fealty and above all, his attention to the needs of The Party? Or so, the outraged voices muttered.
Actually, no; he doesn’t — but we’ll come back to that.
My initial reaction was, as it usually is, “that’s interesting. Do you have any proof? Someone who’s willing to go on the record?”
Of course they didn’t, but “I heard from so-and-so, who heard it from….”
Yeah, no. Not going to play that game. Until you’ve got something better, I have to consider it an interesting rumor — nothing more.
But then…
I started hearing whispers of a surreptitiously-filmed video of that meeting, à la James O’Keefe. And then on Saturday…
I received a short audio file, allegedly from that video.
Let me just say up front I have no way of knowing who is on this audio file. Nor do I have any way of proving it’s NOT a deep fake, or when and where it was recorded.
That being said, it certainly sounds like it could be Speaker Ledbetter to me, and the man on the tape is saying things that a Speaker might say (scatology aside) and using phrases which are consistent with the Speaker’s typical manner of speaking, as best as I can recall.
But, since this has apparently started making the rounds, in the interest of clarity and transparency, I decided to put the clip up, provide the best transcript I could…and then let people decide for themselves. And, after the transcript, I’ll be giving my own impression of the audio, and why I’m really not upset by it at all.
Transcript:
“My job's here. This is what y'all elected me to do, and I get up here most of the time before everybody else, I leave after everybody else, because that's my job, and I appreciate the opportunity. Some days, it ain't easy, though. I'll just tell you, this weekend’s been hell, but…
“Stay together as a family. We do not have to agree, you know, and I know somebody comes to me sometimes and you don't agree with me, and that's fine, but I'm going to tell you what I think. That's probably not good all the time, but that's just the way I am. I can’t help it, and you'll never have to worry about what I tell you, if anybody here says that I'd like them to come see me. My way is going to be straightforward.
“But, I have concerns right now too, I’m not gonna lie. My concern is you. We need to do what's best for this body, period. I could give a sh*t about the Republican Party.”
Here’s what Otter AI had to say about it:
“Speaker 1 expresses their commitment to their job, emphasizing their consistent presence and dedication, despite the challenges faced. They advocate for unity within the group, acknowledging that disagreements are inevitable but stressing the importance of mutual respect. Speaker 1 is straightforward and transparent, admitting to current concerns focused on the well-being of the collective body, indicating a priority on the group's best interests over personal matters.”
Yeah, pretty much. Whoever’s on that tape, it sounds to me like he’s herding cats — again, consistent with the job of the Speaker of the Alabama House — with a focus on his responsibilities to that body and his caucus.
If I had to speculate, I’d say a lot of the frustration of the person in the clip, if it is indeed Speaker Ledbetter, is due to the three bills of the Alabama Affordability Protection Plan. Those bills were abruptly pulled from the House’s calendar just before the beginning of the session Thursday morning. Specifically, HB392 — which would change the seats in the Public Service Commission (PSC) from elected to appointed — has generated just a wee bit of attention.
In other words: HB392 has provoked a complete, total and utter guanostorm across the State, and well and truly thrown the fecal material into the rotary air impeller. Some Representatives who were supporting the bill suddenly felt compelled to withdraw their support, and as always, that disturbed what many perceive as an obvious plan by certain Powers That Be to see those bills quickly passed.
That’s likely the “hell” to which the voice in the clip is referring to.
The guanostorm hasn’t been helped by a press release from ALGOP HQ on 2/6 saying “ALGOP Praises Utility Reform Package,” as ALPolitics.com has previously reported.
I’ve had my own disagreements with ALGOP HQ over the interpretation of that press release and the subsequent reactions to it by a number of Republicans at all levels of the Party — reactions I’m still hearing.
I suspect that press release has likely contributed to some of Speaker Ledbetter’s frustration these last few days — again, consistent with the contents of the audio tape.
But here’s my bottom line: if it is Speaker Ledbetter on the recording, so what if he said he didn’t give a sh*t about the Republican Party?
First of all, it’s a common turn of phrase. Period. You may not like it, but it is. Swoon on the fainting couch over the language if you must — just please go do it somewhere else.
More importantly, let’s look at what the Speaker's job really is about. Officially, he presides over the House, presumably for the benefit of the entire State of Alabama and its citizens.
That’s his Number One priority — or at least, it should be.
After that? He needs to be taking care of the House, then the members of his caucus. Then, he needs to be worrying about what the Governor wants or might be doing, ditto for the Senate — and depending on the circumstances, those move up or down the priority list. He’s supposed to take care of his constituents, too. He has to think about other State officials, and the State Departments, and all of their competing needs, wants and employees. Then there are the Big Mules, and the other special interests, and…and…and….
Does the Party even make his Top 10 list? Maybe, but it certainly isn’t in the Top 5 — or at least, it shouldn’t be.
Finally, if he has any time or attention left over, I’d say it’s okay for him to worry about the Party — which just happens to have a Chair, and staff, and Committees and Members whose jobs are to take care of the Party.
Not the Speaker’s job. Other people’s jobs — and if there’s a problem with the Party, it’s their job to fix it.
Isn’t it?
If this is Speaker Ledbetter on this clip, then I understand his sentiment. And, if what he said is what’s got you all upset, after the madness that’s been going on in this State and ALGOP in particular these last few days?
Take two Xanax and don’t call me in the morning.
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