Steve Flowers on the 4th of July
Otto Whittaker wrote the following essay, "I am the Nation," in 1955 as a public relations advertisement for the Norfolk and Western Railway company magazine. The message found in Mr. Whittaker's essay...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Helen Hunt
Guy Hunt became the first Republican Governor of Alabama in 1986. He had a wife that was the most beautiful, sweetest lady you've ever seen in your life. If you put the word humble in a dictionary, her...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Little Jim Folson
Steve Flowers gives a few thoughts on "Little" Jim Folson's carrer in politics and his connection to Mercedez-Benz coming to Alabama...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Colonel Mann
Alabama certainly has had its share of colorful characters - governors, lawmakers, civil rights leaders and even law enforcement officers. This week, APR's political commentator Steve Flowers remembers...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Paul Hubbert Part 1
APR commentator Steve Flowers often talks about Alabama governors, U.S. senators and other political heavy hitters, but not every person who wields influence sits in the governor's mansion, the...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Paul Hubbert Part 2
Not everyone garnering political power in Alabama sits in the governor's mansion, the state legislature or in congress. Last week, APR political commentator Steve Flowers told us about Education Chief...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Pual Hubbert 3
Folks, Dr. Paul Hubbert was king of Goat Hill for 42 years. He built the AEA into the most powerful lobbying group in the state...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Decibels
The late U.S. House speaker Tip O'Neill once said that "all politics is local." It can be argued that in a scarcely populated and rural state like Alabama, that saying especially applies. Along with...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Labor Day
So, how do you plan to spend your Labor Day? Visitng with family and backyard cookouts are expected to fill a lot of that time, unless you're in politics. APR's political commentator Steve Flowers says...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Mule Days
When campaign season comes. there are certain things politicians do to win over the voters - handing out buttons and kissing babies come to mind. But, according to APR political commentator Steve...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on the Free State
If you're a fan of actor Matthew McConaughey, you may have seen his movie "Free State of Jones." It's about a county in Mississippi that rose up against the Confederacy during the Civil War. That's...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Frank Johnson Jr.
APR political commentator Steve Flowers introduced us to Frank Johnson last week. The Winston County man went onto to become a federal judge and a high profile champion of the Civil Rights movement....
View ArticleSteve Flowers on a Memorable Governor's Race
It’s barely a month to go before Alabama voters pick their next governor. Future historians may look back on the race between Democrat Walt Maddox and Republican Kay Ivey in certain ways. It may focus...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Shorty Price and How Football and Politics Intertwine
The Alabama Crimson Tide heads to Tennessee this weekend to play the Vols. Alabama is a state where football intertwines with just about everything, including politics. One colorful character...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Trade Days
Today is Halloween and that conjures up images of kids going door to door for trick or treating. In the world of politics, going from voter to voter to get into political office can be as...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on the Political Bandwagon
The dust is settling on the national mid-term elections. You might think that winning political office would include things like shaking hands, handing out buttons, and kissing babies. But, APR...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Probate Judges
The midterm elections have come and gone. And, whether you’re a native Alabamian or not, there are certain public offices that sound familiar. That list would include jobs like governor, attorney...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Monroeville
Last week, APR commentator Steve Flowers managed a unique feat - he was able to pair state politics with the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. This...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Shelby County
The late U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neil is famous for having said “all politics is local.” Along those lines, the late writer Kathryn Tucker Windham also coined the phrase that Alabama was just "one big...
View ArticleSteve Flowers on Senator Lister Hill
It’s not every day that someone in Alabama has a whole town named after them. However, the Colbert County community of Listerhill is the result of such of honor. The town, the story goes, is named for...
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