Of Goats Governors

Few states have as colorful a political history as Alabama, especially in the post-World War II era. During the past six decades, the state played a central role in the civil rights movement, largely moved away from its earlier farm-based economy and culture, and transitioned from a relatively moderate-progressive Democratic Party politics to today's hard-core conservative Republican Party domination. Moving onto and off Alabama's electoral stage during all these transformations have been some of the most interesting figures in 20th-century American government and politics. Swirling around these elected officials in the Heart of Dixie are stories, legends, and jokes that are told and retold by political insiders, journalists, and scholars who follow the goings-on in Washington and Montgomery. In Alabama, it seems, politics is not only a blood sport but high entertainment. There could be no better guide to this colorful history than political columnist and commentator Steve Flowers.

I think this will make Watergate look like childs play. Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, on Karl Roves alleged involvement in his prosecution Was Don Siegelman the victim of a Republican conspiracy led by Karl Rove, or was he perhaps the most corrupt governor in Alabama history? On February 24, 2008, 60 Minutes delivered a bombshell claims that President Bushs political advisor Karl Rove had assigned an Alabama woman to tail Governor Don Siegelman and take photos of him having extramarital sex. The piece also presented an open and shut case that powerful Republicansincluding Rove and Bob Riley, Siegelmans successor as Alabamas governorhad somehow ordered the Justice Department to prosecute Siegelman. In this book, Eddie Curranthe investigative reporter whose stories initiated the criminal investigationdelivers a far different portrait of the one-time golden boy of Alabama Democratic politics. Curran leads readers on a first-person account of his discoveries, including Siegelmans use of his office to collect more than $1.3 million in legal fees while governor; the sale of his home through a straw man for twice its value; and a host of scandals involving the likes of Waste Management Inc., and Richard Scrushy, the deeply corrupt HealthSouth Corp. chairman prosecuted along with Siegelman. The Governor of Goat Hill is both a scathing portrayal of a New South governor gone bad and an indictment of some of the top names in American journalism, who bought into a bogus conspiracy for no reason other than it led to Karl Rove. This is a book you will either love or hate. One thing you definitely wont find it to be is boring. If you believe Don Siegelman got shafted by over-zealous, intensely partisan prosecutors you will find the case presented against him in great detail, making it easier for you to contradict with opposing evidence. I consider Don Siegelman a personal friend and this book has not changed my mind. He is a man of great ability and it will be up to the reader to decide if he abused the trust that was placed in himor was the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated at the highest levels of American government. Bill Stewart, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Alabama

Few states have as colorful a political history as Alabama, especially in the post-World War II era. During the past six decades, the state played a central role in the civil rights movement, largely moved away from its earlier farm-based economy and culture, and transitioned from a relatively moderate-progressive Democratic Party politics to today's hard-core conservative Republican Party domination. Moving onto and off Alabama's electoral stage during all these transformations have been some of the most interesting figures in 20th-century American government and politics. Swirling around these elected officials in the Heart of Dixie are stories, legends, and jokes that are told and retold by political insiders, journalists, and scholars who follow the goings-on in Washington and Montgomery. In Alabama, it seems, politics is not only a blood sport but high entertainment. There could be no better guide to this colorful history than political columnist and commentator Steve Flowers.