tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post8228434671168252155..comments2024-03-12T21:13:06.850-05:00Comments on Legal Schnauzer: With roundabout ties to an Ohio bribery scandal (on Alabama Power's behalf) and questions about possible misuse of public resources, John Merrill faces mounting pressure in aftermath of sex scandallegalschnauzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-29518378710756558762021-04-12T12:17:43.483-05:002021-04-12T12:17:43.483-05:00The John Merrill Problem (cont.)
They can’t.
So ...The John Merrill Problem (cont.)<br /><br />They can’t.<br /><br />So if we conservatives are serious about creating a more virtuous society, I’m here to tell you that the first order of business is taking out our own trash.<br /><br />And let us not feign ignorance. Alabama is a small state, and Montgomery is a fishbowl. The power-brokers who open and close the gates for candidates know them--warts and all--even better than you and I. They bear significant responsibility for lending support and legitimacy to those who lack the moral fiber to lead.<br /><br />On a spiritual level, John Merrill can receive forgiveness for his sins just like you and me. He can repent and turn from this lifestyle of dishonesty and adultery. We serve a merciful God who forgives when we repent. He can experience restoration in his relationship with God and maybe even with his family.<br /><br />But Alabamians don’t owe him the honor of our trust again.<br /><br />In this world, trust--once broken--is often impossible to regain. Even when we forgive, we don’t automatically resume trust. That would be unwise, both for the person who stumbled and for us. (The Bible doesn’t tell us to “forgive and forget.” It just tells us to forgive.)<br /><br />We are living through a moment of extreme skittishness about election integrity. Who in the world has time for a Secretary of State with a whopping integrity problem?<br /><br />Better men and women are willing to serve. Don’t believe for a second that this is the best we can do. There are still folks out there who are faithful, who tell the truth, and who would lead with integrity. Most of them are too dang busy working and serving their families to have time for this level of extracurricular stupidity.<br /><br />But the burden lies with us, ultimately. We must become an electorate that desires leaders of integrity more than spin. When we demand better, we’ll get better. And not a minute sooner.<br /><br />Dana Hall McCain writes about faith, culture, and politics for AL.com. Follow her on Twitter @dhmccain.<br /><br />legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-53157264695612499432021-04-12T12:14:40.307-05:002021-04-12T12:14:40.307-05:00Al.com has an interesting article on Me44ill's...Al.com has an interesting article on Me44ill's moral failings:<br /><br />The John Merrill problem<br /><br />By Dana Hall McCain<br /><br />This is an opinion column.<br /><br />I take no pleasure in adding to the volume of words written about the implosion of John Merrill’s political career this week. The details of his personal failings are distasteful, and my heart breaks for his wife and children.<br /><br />But we can’t pretend that this cringe-inducing episode just snuck up on us out of nowhere, either. For years now, Alabama voters have elected Merrill to office despite the rumors of his recurrent moral failings. To win the votes, all he had to do was toss out a few biblical platitudes and drop phrases like “families first,” all while putting his family last.<br /><br />All he had to do was rail against the sexual sins of others while personally indulging in a circus of licentiousness.<br /><br />Here’s the thing, friends: unvirtuous people can’t lead the charge for a more virtuous society. But we keep pretending at the ballot box that as long as they espouse the correct policy positions, they can.<br /><br />It’s pure foolishness.<br /><br />Leadership requires so much more than keeping to a set of talking points, or even crafting policy in a way that keeps your scorecard intact with the partisan watchdogs. A lack of personal morality will eventually corrupt how you do your job--or compromise your ability to do your job at all--whether you’re a ditch-digger or the Secretary of State.<br /><br />A man who will lie to his wife will lie to me. He’ll lie to the IRS. He’ll lie to his boss. He’ll lie to his constituents. He’ll lie to the press. He’ll cheat at cards and golf.<br /><br />Liars lie. They lie because they lack the personal courage to do the right things. They lie to cover for their lack of self-discipline. I am sick to death of people who lack the guts to properly govern themselves, having the nerve to ask to govern me.<br /><br />But my party--the party of family values?--has gotten increasingly comfortable with electing standard-bearers who fail the virtue test—cheaters like Donald Trump and hedonistic clowns like Matt Gaetz. I harbor no naive delusions that the left has any fewer moral zeros. But at least they’re not wrapping their losers in biblical rhetoric and selling them to America as if they are the answer to our cultural ills.<br /><br />We act as if people who have no experience with virtue can understand it well enough to guard and promote it. We act as if people who don’t practice personal virtue can be trusted to interpret these ideas in the public square for the greater good.<br />legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-56752169871200111452021-04-12T12:09:18.919-05:002021-04-12T12:09:18.919-05:00It should be obvious by now tha5 John Merrill can&...It should be obvious by now tha5 John Merrill can't handle the responsibili5ies that come with holding public office. The man needs help, not more power.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-83240604040136823832021-04-12T11:47:15.506-05:002021-04-12T11:47:15.506-05:00I don't think there is any doubt. It's why...I don't think there is any doubt. It's why he's not s5epping down as SOS. He 5hinks he can weather the storm. And Alabama voters probably will fall for the rehab scheme if he invokes the Almighty, "family values," and the Second Amendmen5 enough.legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-26027442674562907522021-04-12T11:42:44.969-05:002021-04-12T11:42:44.969-05:00I bet Merrill already has a political rehab plan i...I bet Merrill already has a political rehab plan in place. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-46551163021387755652021-04-12T11:41:37.726-05:002021-04-12T11:41:37.726-05:00I didn't know Merrill was an Alabama Power man...I didn't know Merrill was an Alabama Power man. They support notoriously corrupt politicians.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-64930320424029403502021-04-12T11:21:15.973-05:002021-04-12T11:21:15.973-05:00It seems to be almost a reflexive action in Alabam...It seems to be almost a reflexive action in Alabama to attack anyone who voices concern about the environment. legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-13125284836620690612021-04-12T11:19:06.564-05:002021-04-12T11:19:06.564-05:00Alabama politicians seem to haul off and write a l...Alabama politicians seem to haul off and write a letter on almost anything, especially involving the environment, if someone like Alabama Power or Drummond asks them to. Maybe they should pause before they write.legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.com