Dear Richard Johnson

Dear Richard,

In your September 29th Facebook post, you say, "We have to bring the people in the middle together to stop this madness or the extremes will tear it [our country] apart."

Your Facebook post shows 66 likes and 26 comments.

My recent (and earlier) Blogging Eagle Facebook posts evidence that I deeply share your sentiment that "We have to bring the people in the middle together to stop this madness or the extremes will tear it [our country] apart." 

My Blogging Eagle Facebook posts have tried to indicate to those in Eagles Mere things I am trying to do "to bring the people in the middle together to stop this madness" My posts get about zero likes and comments.

I throw myself on your graces to consider the things I am trying to do and decide whether they are worthy of your support and whether  to urge those in Eagles Mere to think about things they can do "to bring the people in the middle together to stop this madness".

Here are things I've been doing:

In 2022, I made an appeal for there to be house meetups in Eagles Mere. See https://bloggingeagle1.blogspot.com/2022/07/appeal-for-house-meetups.html.

In this appeal I said,

My diagnosis is that the extremes on the two political sides are in control of United States politics and political discourse, and they basically will not agree on anything.

This results in a substantial majority in the middle, who would be amenable to many compromises and agreements that the extremes will not countenance and about which they will not even talk to each other, being disregarded by Congress.

In an August 14th Blogging Eagle Facebook post, I posted the American Bar Association's recently created "Task Force for American Democracy" and its Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/. My post gave a link to https://bloggingeagle1.blogspot.com/2023/08/american-bar-association-task-force-for.html, which indicates what I am doing to do in Alabama to defend democracy.

I learned from Jean Alley's Facebook of the article College Debates and Discourse Program partners with Denison – The Denisonian that quoted her son Luke (who is at Denison), saying

"The program works towards its goal of depolarization through deliberately proposing divisive topics for their debates, student fellow Luke Romeo Alley explained. With its concern for complex issues, the organization seeks to bring students together through constructive dialogue."

I posted The Denisonian article on my Blogging Eagle Facebook on September24th.

On February 21st I started posting about Braver Angels as a "national movement to bridge the partisan divide." Per the email set out at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/...posting about In Alabama, I am striving to engender depolarizing conversation via the Braver Angels organization (and by other means). See

https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/02/braver-angels-birmingham-alliance.html

I hope you consider what I am doing to try "to bring the people in the middle together to stop this madness" worthy of your support and worthy of being considered by others in Eagles Mere for what they can do.

Thank you very much, Richard.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Reminiscences by Deb Kelly

Labor Day weekend adventures in Alabama

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Sharon Tinsley <stinsley@al-ba.com>
Cc: bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>
Sent: Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 09:36:35 AM CDT
Subject: Email to Dr. Butler re American Bar Association Task Force for Democracy; getting word out to broadcaster members
Good Sunday morning, Sharon.
Although I had a mix up in email addresses, below is an email I have sent to Educational Advisor Dr. Brian Butler regarding the recently created American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy, and urging that broadcaster members of the Alabama Broadcasters Association could help in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is trying to accomplish.
Dr. Butler may have learned about my email only last Thursday, and I don't know what Dr. Butler thinks about what I am urging. I hope Dr. Butler decides to be proactive in his capacity as Educational Advisor to the Alabama Broadcasters Association.
You previously indicated to me that, if I wanted anything communicated to broadcaster members, I needed to do the communicating directly, and you would not pass on to broadcaster members anything I communicate to you. Is that still the case?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: bsbutler@ua.edu <bsbutler@ua.edu>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 06:23:07 PM CDT
Subject: Fw: Alabama broadcasters and American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Dr. Butler:
The wepage https://news.ua.edu/2022/05/ua-names-butler-dean-of-communication-and-information-sciences/ caused me to send the below August 13th email mistakenly using Dr. Welbourne's name and email address. I noticed this mistake today and am forwarding the email to you using your email address.
Thank you.
Rob Shattuck
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: bryant.welbourne@ua.edu <bryant.welbourne@ua.edu>
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 05:37:02 PM CDT
Subject: Alabama broadcasters and American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Dr. Welbourne:
I am emailing you in your capacity as Educational Advisor to the Alabama Broadcasters Association.
This week the American Bar Association created a "Task Force for American Democracy" and published a Task Force Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
As a predicate for the Task Force, the Mission Statement says:
"Our American democracy is under threat. . .. Clearly, our American democracy is not as strong as we once thought and there are those who seem determined to push it to the breaking point. The time for answers and action is now."
The Mission Statement lists nine things the Task Force will consider and address. These nine things are:
1. Education of our citizenry on the importance of an inclusive, strong, and enduring democracy;
2. Ways to maximize voter confidence and participation in our democratic process;
3. Ways to dis-incentivize irresponsible and extremist rhetoric and positions among elected officials and candidates for elective office;
4. Ways to ensure the administration of elections remains nonpartisan;
5. Ways for ensuring the integrity and the safety of state election officials and workers across the country;
6. Ways in which the press and social media can and should contribute to the promotion and avoid denigration of our democracy;
7. The role cyberspace can play in either promoting or corrupting the American democratic process;

8. Anti-democratic weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the existing manner in which candidates for federal office are elected in this country; and
9. Potential changes in federal, state, and local practices, laws, and constitutions to meet these ends.
I am a retired lawyer and I have sent to the Alabama State Bar an email urging it to undertake supportive activities in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is doing. My email to the Alabama State Bar is set forth below.
I think the broadcaster members of the Alabama Broadcasters Association can help in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is trying to accomplish.
I hope you agree and you will press upon the Alabama Broadcasters Association and its broadcaster members how, in the threat to our democracy: "The time for answers and action is now."
Thank you very much for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook, AL

To: terri.lovell@alabar.org <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 06:23:49 PM CDT
Subject: Will ASB undertake supportive activity in Alabama re ABA Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Terri,
I am an inactive member of the Alabama State Bar.
Yesterday, American Bar Association president Mary Smith announced the creation of an ABA-sponsored Task Force for American Democracy, which announcement was accompanied by the Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
I think the Alabama State Bar should undertake supportive activity in Alabama that follows along that which is laid out in the the ABA Task Force's Mission Statement, appropriately limited to and tailored for Alabama.
If the ASB undertakes any such supportive activity, I would like to participate in the same.
I think you are aware that I personally have been considering matters that the Mission Statement lists for addressing by the ABA Task Force, such as at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/05/weaponization-of-justice-system.html.
Please let me know if the ASB makes a decision to undertake supportive activity in Alabama in connection with what the ABA Task Force will be doing, and whether I may participate in the ASB's supportive activity.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Sweet Home Alabama

Online letter to The Honorable Kay Ivey, Will Ainsworth, Greg Reed, Anthony Daniels, Gary Palmer, Mike Rogers and Dale Strong
August 22, 2023
Re: Special Capitol Journal from Point Clear this past Friday
Dear Gov. Ivey, Lt. Gov. Ainsworth, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, House Minority Leader Daniels, and Representatives Palmer, Rogers and Strong:
This letter relates to last week's Business Council of Alabama’s Government Affairs Conference, which was covered by the special edition of Capitol Journal at https://twitter.com/ALDailyNews/status/1693669378812686573.
This email follows up on the email I sent to BCA CEO Helena Duncan, also related to the BCA conferenc, that appears immediately above this online letter.
The emphasis of the BCA's Government Affairs Conference on Alabama's economic development is understandable.
My email to Ms. Duncan quotes Mr. Jimmy Rane as saying, “If the citizens of a state, or a city or a county or a country are not concerned enough about their government, and the laws that their government are going to enact, to get involved and ensure that they are sending qualified, competent, honest, serious people to do the government’s work, then they deserve what they get.”
My email to Ms. Duncan then said that "[i]t seems that, for the next 15 months, politics and acts of governance in the United States will be subordinated to resolving the Donald Trump situation."
Do you agree that for the next 15 months, politics and acts of governance in the United States will be subordinated to resolving the Donald Trump situation?
In my lowly citizen capacity, I am working on trying to resolve the Donald Trump situation. Particularly, I am focused on the recently announced American Bar Association "Task Force for American Democracy," such efforts being indicated at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/08/american-bar-association-task-force-for.html.
Acting on a belief that "[o]ur American democracy is under threat", the American Bar Association published a Task Force Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
The Mission Statement particularly cites sobering facts that:

1. In a recent Pew study, 51% of Americans said they are dissatisfied with how democracy is working and 46% said they are open to other forms of government, including rule by a strong leader.
2. Less than one third of Millennials consider it essential to live in a democracy.
3. According to a 2022 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey, 25% of US adults can name only 1 of the 3 branches of government and more than 20% can't name any branch of government.
4. Against all available evidence, many Americans believe the 2020 election was stolen and question the integrity of our election system. Some even say they are prepared to resort to violence if their desired candidate does not win the next election.

The Mission Statement further says:

"The strains on our democracy culminated on January 6, 2021, when an insurrectionist mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in a violent attempt to stop the constitutionally prescribed process for the election of the next President. There is also evidence of related plots to subvert the 2020 presidential election results at the state level. State election officials and workers have faced scorn and physical threats simply for doing their jobs and refusing to bend to political pressure to do otherwise."

Saying that "[c]learly, our American democracy is not as strong as we once thought and there are those who seem determined to push it to the breaking point [and] [t]he time for answers and action is now," the Mission Statement lists nine things the Task Force will consider and address, related to protecting our democracy and elections.
The Mission Statement says the Task Force will solicit the views of a wide array of state election officials, present and former elected officials, academics, think tanks, public interest and other stakeholder organizations, and everyday voters.
You are elected officials in Alabama. Possibly the ABA Task Force will solicit your views. Whether or not it does, I, as an Alabama citizen, urge you to formulate your views related to what the Task Force is doing and submit the same to the Task Force.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Mountain Brook 

Email to The Honorable R. William Ide III, Vice Chair, American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy

From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: bill.ide@akerman.com <bill.ide@akerman.com>
Cc: terri.lovell@alabar.org <terri.lovell@alabar.org>; wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>; bryant.welbourne@ua.edu <bryant.welbourne@ua.edu>; dcole@bcatoday.org <dcole@bcatoday.org>; cfranklin@bcatoday.org <cfranklin@bcatoday.org>; wnewman@bcatoday.org <wnewman@bcatoday.org>; Wes.Allen@sos.alabama.gov <wes.allen@sos.alabama.gov>; ed@edpackard.com <ed@edpackard.com>; Robert Garris <rgarris@leeco.us>; john@johnhmerrill.com <john@johnhmerrill.com>; dianeken333@yahoo.com <dianeken333@yahoo.com>; michelle.thomason@bellsouth.net <michelle.thomason@bellsouth.net>; britneymgarner@gmail.com <britneymgarner@gmail.com>; snewmanhsv@gmail.com <snewmanhsv@gmail.com>; bchoat@trussville.org <bchoat@trussville.org>; pcook@trussville.org <pcook@trussville.org>; janderson@trussville.org <janderson@trussville.org>; lbright@trussville.org <lbright@trussville.org>; bshort@trussville.org <bshort@trussville.org>; ataylor@trussville.org <ataylor@trussville.org>; hduncan@bcatoday.org <hduncan@bcatoday.org>; todd@aldailynews.com <todd@aldailynews.com>; News@TrussvilleTribune.com <news@trussvilletribune.com>; tim.gallagher@chlaw.com <news@trussvilletribune.com>; cpii.law@gmail.com <cpii.law@gmail.com>; gbutrus@balch.com <gbutrus@balch.com>; juliana.dean@dcnr.alabama.gov <juliana.dean@dcnr.alabama.gov>; cryan@uasystem.edu <cryan@uasystem.edu>; jhayes@princelaw.net <jhayes@princelaw.net>; fhelmsing@mcdowellknight.com <fhelmsing@mcdowellknight.com>; darylbailey@mc-ala.org <darylbailey@mc-ala.org>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2023 at 03:23:27 PM CDT
Subject: In Alabama, I'm very serious about ABA Task Force for American Democracy
The Honorable R. William Ide III
Vice Chair
American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Mr. Ide:
In Alabama, I am very serious about the mission of the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy.
Please read what I have done thus far at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/08/american-bar-association-task-force-for.html.
If there is a contact at the ABA Task Force to whom I can send future communications, that would be much appreciated.
Thank you very much for your attention to this email.
Sincerely
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook, AL

American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy

Email to Alabama State Bar re ABA Task Force for American Democracy

To: terri.lovell@alabar.org <terri.lovell@alabar.org>S

ent: Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 06:23:49 PM CDT
Subject: Will ASB undertake supportive activity in Alabama re ABA Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Terri,
I am an inactive member of the Alabama State Bar.
Yesterday, American Bar Association president Mary Smith announced the creation of an ABA-sponsored Task Force for American Democracy, which announcement was accompanied by the Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
I think the Alabama State Bar should undertake supportive activity in Alabama that follows along that which is laid out in the the ABA Task Force's Mission Statement, appropriately limited to and tailored for Alabama.
If the ASB undertakes any such supportive activity, I would like to participate in the same.
I think you are aware that I personally have been considering matters that the Mission Statement lists for addressing by the ABA Task Force, such as at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/05/weaponization-of-justice-system.html.
Please let me know if the ASB makes a decision to undertake supportive activity in Alabama in connection with what the ABA Task Force will be doing, and whether I may participate in the ASB's supportive activity.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck

Email to University of Alabama and Cumberland law school deans re ABA Task Force
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>
Cc: terri.lovell@alabar.org <terri.lovell@alabar.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 04:11:07 PM CDT
Subject: American Bar Association's Task Force for American Democracy - supportive activities of Alabama law schools
Dear Dean Brewbaker and Dean Hudson (c/o Deborah Clayton):
This week the American Bar Association created a "Task Force for American Democracy" and published a Task Force Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
I think the Alabama State Bar should undertake supportive activity in Alabama that follows along that which is laid out in the the ABA Task Force Mission Statement, appropriately limited to and tailored for Alabama. I sent the Alabama State Bar the below email urging same.
I think the University of Alabama law school and the Cumberland law school also should undertake supportive activities, which I urge on you as well.
If your law schools decide to undertake such supportive activities, and if there is anything I can do to help out regarding the same, please let me know.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Email to Alabama Broadcasters Association re ABA Task Force
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: bryant.welbourne@ua.edu <bryant.welbourne@ua.edu>
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 05:37:02 PM CDT
Subject: Alabama broadcasters and American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Dr. Welbourne:
I am emailing you in your capacity as Educational Advisor to the Alabama Broadcasters Association.
This week the American Bar Association created a "Task Force for American Democracy" and published a Task Force Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
As a predicate for the Task Force, the Mission Statement says:

"Our American democracy is under threat. . .. Clearly, our American democracy is not as strong as we once thought and there are those who seem determined to push it to the breaking point. The time for answers and action is now."

The Mission Statement lists nine things the Task Force will consider and address. These nine things are:

1. Education of our citizenry on the importance of an inclusive, strong, and enduring democracy;
2. Ways to maximize voter confidence and participation in our democratic process;
3. Ways to dis-incentivize irresponsible and extremist rhetoric and positions among elected officials and candidates for elective office;
4. Ways to ensure the administration of elections remains nonpartisan;
5. Ways for ensuring the integrity and the safety of state election officials and workers across the country;
6. Ways in which the press and social media can and should contribute to the promotion and avoid denigration of our democracy;
7. The role cyberspace can play in either promoting or corrupting the American democratic process;
8. Anti-democratic weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the existing manner in which candidates for federal office are elected in this country; and
9. Potential changes in federal, state, and local practices, laws, and constitutions to meet these ends.

I am a retired lawyer and I have sent to the Alabama State Bar an email urging it to undertake supportive activities in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is doing. My email to the Alabama State Bar is set forth below.
I think the broadcaster members of the Alabama Broadcasters Association can help in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is trying to accomplish.
I hope you agree and you will press upon the Alabama Broadcasters Association and its broadcaster members how, in the threat to our democracy: "The time for answers and action is now."
Thank you very much for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook, AL

Email to Business Council of Alabama re ABA Task Force
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: dcole@bcatoday.org <dcole@bcatoday.org>; cfranklin@bcatoday.org <cfranklin@bcatoday.org>; wnewman@bcatoday.org <wnewman@bcatoday.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 06:01:04 PM CDT
Subject: Business Council of Alabama and American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy
Dear David, Caroline and William:
You and the BCA have received many emails from me, and I hope this one provides more of a response.
This week the American Bar Association created a "Task Force for American Democracy" and published a Task Force Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
As a predicate for the Task Force, the Mission Statement says:

"Our American democracy is under threat. . .. Clearly, our American democracy is not as strong as we once thought and there are those who seem determined to push it to the breaking point. The time for answers and action is now."

The Mission Statement lists nine things the Task Force will consider and address. These nine things are:

1. Education of our citizenry on the importance of an inclusive, strong, and enduring democracy;

2. Ways to maximize voter confidence and participation in our democratic process;

3. Ways to dis-incentivize irresponsible and extremist rhetoric and positions among elected officials and candidates for elective office;

4. Ways to ensure the administration of elections remains nonpartisan;

5. Ways for ensuring the integrity and the safety of state election officials and workers across the country;

6. Ways in which the press and social media can and should contribute to the promotion and avoid denigration of our democracy;

7. The role cyberspace can play in either promoting or corrupting the American democratic process;

8. Anti-democratic weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the existing manner in which candidates for federal office are elected in this country; and

9. Potential changes in federal, state, and local practices, laws, and constitutions to meet these ends.

I am a retired lawyer and I have sent to the Alabama State Bar an email urging it to undertake supportive activities in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is doing. My email to the Alabama State Bar is set forth below.
I think the Business Council of Alabama can help in Alabama regarding what the American Bar Association Task Force is trying to accomplish.
I hope you agree and you will press for the BCA to respond to the threat to our democracy, as to which: "The time for answers and action is now."
Thank you very much for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Email to Samford University
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Amcewan@samford.edu <amcewan@samford.edu>; mwithers@samford.edu <mwithers@samford.edu>; jcobia@samford.edu <jcobia@samford.edu>
Cc: dburch1@samford.edu <dburch1@samford.edu>; denisonian@denison.edu <denisonian@denison.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 2, 2023 at 09:23:50 AM CDT
Subject: "Listening, Speaking and Teaching" at Samford; American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy
Dear Dr. Ewan, Dr. Witherspoon, and Dr. Cobia:
I am sending you this email in follow up to the below August 12th email I sent to Cumberland Law School Dean Hudson (c/o Deborah Clayton) relative to the American Bar Association's recently created "Task Force for American Democracy" and its Mission Statement that appears at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/leadership/office_of_the_president/american-democracy/overview/.
I have not heard from Dean Hudson and do not know what his thinking is about what I have suggested.
The ABA Task Force says, during the coming year, it will reach out beyond lawyers, as it needs do given its mission, and I am doing that in Alabama, including to the business community, the university academic community and the news broadcasting community.
My efforts are indicated at https://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2023/08/american-bar-association-task-force-for.html.
I am sending you this follow up email because of your involvement in the "Listening, Speaking and Teaching" event at Samford earlier this year, reported at https://www.samford.edu/education/news/2023/Listening-Speaking-and-Teaching-the-Subject-of-2023-Diversity-Forum?image
Do you think a " "Listening, Speaking and Teaching" event relative to
the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy and its Mission Statement can be organized at Samford?
As encouragement regarding the scope and mode of such a "Listening, Speaking and Teaching" event, I cite you Denison University's Debates and Discourse Program reported at https://denisonian.com/2023/09/news/college-debates-and-discourse-program-partners-with-denison/
If there is anyone else at Samford to whom this email would be better directed, please tell me.
Thank you very much for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook

Did Trump know he lost the 2020 election?

Trump lost the 2020 election and tried (probably criminally) to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. In below video, compare Trump to Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Nixon, and other Presidential candidates who lost their elections.https://t.co/zyRcnB6txP via @msnbc

— Blogging Eagle (@BloggingEagle) August 4, 2023

It should be emphasized that Trump is being criminally prosecuted for exercising his free speech rights to tell lies as part of a conspiracy to obstruct the transfer of power to Biden.https://t.co/e2BSSM2odl@toddcstacy @CapitolJournal #alpolitics https://t.co/ranyGjw5St

— Rob Shattuck (@RobShattuckAL06) August 7, 2023

A burden has been lifted from me