Alabama Megathread: Bombshell allegations

[Alabama_Indy10]

Uuuggghhh. I hope this doesn't help him. He needs to go. I hope the voters still remember the shady circumstances of the appointment.
#NeverStrange

The fact that Strange is outspending Moore 15 to 1 and his "best" poll is still showing him trailing Moore by 2 should tell you all you need to know about his supposed "electability" in the general election.

If Strange isn't electable in a GE in Alabama, then Moore isn't either.

What?!? Moore's approval ratings are MUCH better than Strange's.. Moore is just as electable if not more than Strange.

[Alabama_Indy10]

To hell with the potential ad bait. The DSCC and DNC need to go all-in on fueling Jones and burying Moore.

Democrats are not winning this seat. Frankly, the only way to stop Moore is to prop Strange.

I think we're seriously underestimating how much Alabamans hate Roy Moore. He's a chronic general election loser for a reason.

Umm.. A recent poll had Moore's approval rating at like +15, the only candidate with a positive rating. And he was elected Chief Justice twice and lost to an incumbent governor in the primary in 2006. He did finish 4th in the 2010 governors race.. So not exactly hated or a chronic loser.

[Alabama_Indy10]

This view is only something that can get you elected if you are in West Virginia or Mississippi.

I, I don't even know what the hell to say to this.

http://ava.prri.org/#lgbt/2016/States/lgbt_ssm/3

A majority of residents in those 2 states think same sex marriage should be illegal.
In all the other states, that is not the case.

That's not what Wikipedia says

[Alabama_Indy10]

Not a word has been said about this on any local news station tonight.

[Alabama_Indy10]

Not a word has been said about this on any local news station tonight.

I would actually like to see audio of it.  I wonder if this site has an agenda and is mis-representing something or changing the context (since we don't actually see him ever mention execution in the OP).

Most sane people wouldn't reply "I don't know" if asked if they believe gay people should be executed, but y'know.

Moore is disgusting, but you all are completely misreading the line.

"Well I don’t, you know", which is the same as saying, "As you know, I don't... (support executing gay people)".

That is different from saying, "well I don't know", which is what you guys are reading it as.

But seriously, why let a little thing like grammar get in the way of a good crusade of righteous outrage.

Wow.

Now I feel stupid for not reading that correctly.

Apology?

[Alabama_Indy10]

Luther Strange will not run as a write-in candidate. Period. He's a yes man and will support the nominee.

[Alabama_Indy10]

I wouldn't say this is necessarily a bad thing for Moore. The people hosting the debate have ties to the Senate Leadership Fund that has been dropping big bucks against Moore.

[Alabama_Indy10]

The problem for Moore is that while amping up the alt-right, neo-nazi, ultra-conservative sector might get him a narrow runoff victory, it also gives plenty of ammunition to Jones for the general. Jones meanwhile has no clear gaffes yet and doesn't have significant baggage.

Jones also lacks a clear message besides just being the D candidate

[Alabama_Indy10]

The problem for Moore is that while amping up the alt-right, neo-nazi, ultra-conservative sector might get him a narrow runoff victory, it also gives plenty of ammunition to Jones for the general. Jones meanwhile has no clear gaffes yet and doesn't have significant baggage.

Jones also lacks a clear message besides just being the D candidate

"I'm not Roy Moore" has a lot going for it.

Not in Alabama it doesn't.

[Alabama_Indy10]

The problem for Moore is that while amping up the alt-right, neo-nazi, ultra-conservative sector might get him a narrow runoff victory, it also gives plenty of ammunition to Jones for the general. Jones meanwhile has no clear gaffes yet and doesn't have significant baggage.

Not for Alabama, if anything that's a pro for Moore. Also prosecuting and jailing KKK members in Alabama is probably baggage in such a backwards state.

Come on now.. that's stretching it

[Alabama_Indy10]

The problem for Moore is that while amping up the alt-right, neo-nazi, ultra-conservative sector might get him a narrow runoff victory, it also gives plenty of ammunition to Jones for the general. Jones meanwhile has no clear gaffes yet and doesn't have significant baggage.

Do you know what the alt-right is?  Alt-right people are largely atheist, pro-abortion (for eugenics reasons), and indifferent to liberal on issues of sexuality.  That doesn't sound like the Moore base at all.  The Moore base is probably more similar to the Cruz base, especially if Trump wasn't on the ballot.

He's using terms like "alt-right" and "neo-Nazi" to try to make his argument sound big and bad. And because he was no clue about Moore's supporters.

[Alabama_Indy10]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/909191177810915328

Pres. Trump is holding a rally with Luther Strange next Saturday in Huntsville

[Alabama_Indy10]

Does anyone familiar with Moore know what people like about him so much? He doesn't strike me as a Trumpist. He's much more (no pun intended) ideological than Trump as well as clearly more religious. What confounds me is that Alabama went all in for Trump during the presidential primary, but appears to be poised to elect Roy Moore. Is it that Moore, like Trump, is more of a "personality" candidate?

you're implying that Trump is about anything other than white identity and white rage politics. He's not. Roy Moore is much the same.

LOLOLOL

[Alabama_Indy10]

Does anyone familiar with Moore know what people like about him so much? He doesn't strike me as a Trumpist. He's much more (no pun intended) ideological than Trump as well as clearly more religious. What confounds me is that Alabama went all in for Trump during the presidential primary, but appears to be poised to elect Roy Moore. Is it that Moore, like Trump, is more of a "personality" candidate?

Not at all an expert on Alabama politics but from what I've gathered it comes down to 3 things.

1.) Moore is a strong social conservative: Infamously removed twice for placing a statue of the 10 commandments outside the state court, and then for refusing to allow same sex marriages. Not just his ideology; but I assume the fact that he's walked the walk on it would help.

2.) High Name ID: He's been around in the state for at least a decade, and has ran in statewide races since 2000. Combined with the above; I guess he's well liked by republican primary voters.

3.) He's playing the anti-establishment card: Strange had his own issues as he was appointed to the seat by the Governor he was suppose to be investigating, combined with the amount of heavy backing from McConnell helps Moore run as the outsider.

There's probably a lot of republican primary voters who love Trump, supported him in 2016 and will continue to support him- but simply won't vote for Strange

That's pretty spot on.

[Alabama_Indy10]

Moore refers to Native Americans and Asians as "reds and yellows"

He did not refer to them as that. He used lyrics from a gospel song. Heard it in church for years

[Alabama_Indy10]

Pence is also going to Alabama on Monday to campaign for Strange: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/18/mike-pence-luther-strange-campaign-alabama-242852

The fact Trump, Pence, and McConnell want Strange to win only makes me want Moore to win

Why? The polling gives Strange a stronger chance of being Coakleyed.

Because I'm enjoying this Republican schadenfreude as total idiots descend upon their party: Kelli, Moore, Kid Rock...it's one bozo after another

You probably said that about Trump too

[Alabama_Indy10]

Pence is also going to Alabama on Monday to campaign for Strange: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/18/mike-pence-luther-strange-campaign-alabama-242852

The fact Trump, Pence, and McConnell want Strange to win only makes me want Moore to win

Why? The polling gives Strange a stronger chance of being Coakleyed.

Because I'm enjoying this Republican schadenfreude as total idiots descend upon their party: Kelli, Moore, Kid Rock...it's one bozo after another

You probably said that about Trump too

Yes and I'm fine with him taking winning over the party

[Alabama_Indy10]

I think Jones will pull this out; Coakley led Brown by over 20 points a few months before the MA Special election.

Keep telling yourself that.. Massachusetts will at least elect certain Republicans ie. Charlie Baker and Mitt Romney. Alabama has not elected a statewide Democrat in a while

[Alabama_Indy10]

Roy Moore video from 2005: "Homosexual conduct should be illegal."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/politics/kfile-roy-moore-homosexuality-illegal/index.html

While not a majority, many people in Alabama would agree with this.

[Alabama_Indy10]

Debate isn't on any local news channel.

[Alabama_Indy10]

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/09/roy_moore_vs_luther_strange_wa.html#incart_river_index

Recap of the debate. Sounds like Luther Strange did not do very well

[Alabama_Indy10]

Trump did say he might have made a mistake in endorsing Strange, at the rally, so...

Trump is such an embarrassment to mankind. The very definition of cringe.

You feeling bad for Big Luther?

[Alabama_Indy10]

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I mean, he ain't wrong.

[Alabama_Indy10]

I've been wondering whether, assuming Moore wins tonight, the GOP establishment might try to subtly sabotage him in the general election.  If he wins in December, he'll likely stay in the Senate and be a thorn in their side for years.  But if he loses the general, the seat goes D for probably only one year, and Jones would be replaced by a less crazy Republican than Moore.  Short term loss, long term gain for the GOP.

Whoever wins the general serves the rest of Sessions's old term, which does not end until Jan. 2021.  Thus, in 2018, the senate becomes slightly less safe for Rs. Currently, dems have to hold all their seats and sweep the vulnerable R seats (AZ, NV, UT) to get the senate. But if AL is suddenly a D seat, Dems can afford one mistake along their path, which is a significant benefit as it allows them to lose Missouri (which is virtually certain) and still get the senate as long as they don't mess up elsewhere. It's an unnecessary risk for Rs.

I don't see Moore losing either. He's more popular than Strange and does better than Strange against Jones. Plus turnout was up at my precinct this morning, which is good for Moore.

[Alabama_Indy10]

I've been wondering whether, assuming Moore wins tonight, the GOP establishment might try to subtly sabotage him in the general election. 

How would they do that?

The NRSC, SLF, etc. could refuse to run ads promoting his candidacy, refuse to hold fundraisers for his candidacy, etc. They could also release a statement outright saying that Moore does not deserve election to the senate, with or without an explicit endorsement of Jones. McConnell could also release a statement saying Moore won't get his preferred committee assignments should he be elected.

Better question, Why would they do that?