Steve Flowers
Columnist
Steve is a writer for The Observer
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OPINION — In my 2015 book, Of Goats and Governors: Six Decades of Colorful Alabama Political Stories, I have a chapter entitled “Alabama’s Three Greatest Senators.” I chronicle the lives and accomplishments of Richard Shelby, Lister Hill and John...
Lister Hill, a great Alabama senator OPINION— We had a very dist-inguished congressional delegation from Alabama during the 30-year span of 1934-1964. The congressmen from the Heart of Dixie appeared to be born to serve in congress. Their pedigrees...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION— In recent years, candidates for political office have lambasted, run against and proclaimed that they were not career politicians. Every television ad for someone who has never held office has proudly stated that they are...
60th anniversary of JFK assassination BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION— The assassination of President John F. Kennedy happened 60 years ago this week. It occurred to me that a good many of you may be too young to remember that horribly sad day of Nov. 22,...
Negative Ads Work BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION— Over the years, many of you have lamented to me and said, “I am so tired of seeing all negative ads with candidates lambasting each other in political campaigns. Why don’t candidates say what they are...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION—Folks, don’t look now, but our 2024 election year is upon us. Next year is a major year in politics nationwide. Not only does the nation elect a president, most states also elect their governors and legislators for four...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION — In recent years, healthcare has eclipsed agriculture as Dothan’s major industry. Dothan is the medical mecca for the entire Wiregrass, as well as rural northwest Florida and southwest Georgia. It has premier medical...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION — In the past two to three years we have had some very generous benefactors make some very magnanimous contributions to their university alma maters in Alabama.One of those philanthropist is Alabama businessman Jim...
OPINION —Alabama has had its share of what I call “run for the fun of it” candidates. The most colorful of all these perennial “also ran” candidates was Ralph “Shorty” Price. He ran for governor every time. His slogan was “Smoke Tampa Nugget...
OPINION —The year 1963 was an historic and turbulent year for Alabama. The race issue was the prevalent and commanding issue in southern politics. White southerners were determined to hold onto segregation and Jim Crow laws, as was the entire...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION —It’s official and final, Alabama will elect our seven member congressional delegation under new lines next year. The federal court has spoken. The special master drawing the lines has acted and the final omnipotent power,...
OPINION —Roads and bridges have been vital to Alabama since its creation. This is probably true of most states; however, it has been especially true for Alabama for several reasons. First of all, we are a large state, geographically. Most...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION —In early April, I wrote that “Democrats give Trump a lifeline.” It was at that time that a Democratic district attorney in an overwhelmingly Democratic New York venue had indicted Trump in a political ploy to disarm in...
BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION —In my July 19, 2023, column my prediction was that Democratic President Joe Biden would keep the heralded space command headquarters in Colorado, rather than allow it to be moved to Alabama. Biden made the Colorado...
OPINION —Being elected to Congress is like having a guaranteed job for as long as you want. They serve two year terms and the reelection rate is 96%. All you have to do is vote the party line and not commit murder and you are there for life. The...
Summer Political Happenings OPINION — As the long hot summer ends and Labor Day approaches, let’s take a look back at what occurred over the last three summer months, politically. First of all, it was one of the hottest summers on record....
Big Jim: “Just spell my name right!” OPINION — Alabama has never had a more colorful governor than Big Jim Folsom. He also was a brilliant politician who understood the importance of name identification. My ninth-grade civics teacher was Miss Mary...
Big Jim’s Run for Congress OPINION — We will continue this week with the saga of Alabama’s most colorful governor, the legendary Big Jim Folsom. Jim Folsom Jr. shared a story about his father’s early political life. Big Jim always knew that...
Friends and Lawyers OPINION — We continue this week with our series of stories about Alabama’s most colorful governor, the legendary Big Jim Folsom. Big Jim was a true politician, and he was not above straddling the fence, but at least he was...
Siegelman Meets Big Jim OPINION — We are continuing this week with our summer series on Big Jim Folsom — Alabama’s most colorful governor. Those of us who grew up in and around Alabama politics have coined a descriptive term for a person who is...