Politicos, Alabamians wish Robert Bentley would just ‘go away’
In April 2017, former Gov. Robert Bentley resigned amid a growing scandal — allegations he used state resources to cover up an affair he was having with one of his former aides. Now, over a year later the “Luv Gov” has resurfaced on social media leaving many politicos speculating whether or not he’s prepping to for another run at public office. Despite being one of the most red states in the nation, Alabamians alike — from politicians to residents — seem to all share one thought: they wish Bentley would just go away. “I hope that if Dr. Bentley truly cares for Alabama, as he says he does, he would consider letting us go,” said Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan told Yellowhammer News last week. when asked what she thought about a possible Bentley U.S. Senate run in 2020. She’s not the only politician hoping Bentley would go away. Outgoing Montgomery State Sen. Dick Brewbaker also tweeted his disapproval. “Oh for heavens sake, I’ll go away if you will,” Brewbaker tweeted in response to Bentley earlier this month. Oh for heavens sake, I’ll go away if you will. — Dick Brewbaker (@dick_brewbaker) August 5, 2018 In fact, Brewbaker grew so tired of Bentley, he dediced to block him altogether. “I usually only block people who feel the need to use gratuitous profanity. I confess that I blocked @GovRBentley today. While not profane the account began to strike me as somehow obscene,” he tweeted Sunday. I usually only block people who feel the need to use gratuitous profanity. I confess that I blocked @GovRBentley today. While not profane the account began to strike me as somehow obscene. — Dick Brewbaker (@dick_brewbaker) August 19, 2018 But politicians aren’t the only ones weighing in. Bentley’s Twitter feed is filled with comments on tweets from Alabamians from across the state expressing their disapproval. Michelle Garver from Alabama: You’re a disgrace. Please go away. You’re a disgrace. Please go away. — Michelle Garver ❄️™ (@mgarver10) August 20, 2018 Eric Hulsey from Hazel Green, Ala.: You inspired me! After your resignation from office I realized that the head of all three branches of state government had been removed from office. Therefore I started a modest political movement, Make Alabama not Suck Anymore. You staying out of all politics would help. #MAnSA You inspired me! After your resignation from office I realized that the head of all three branches of state government had been removed from office. Therefore I started a modest political movement, Make Alabama not Suck Anymore. You staying out of all politics would help. #MAnSA — Eric Hulsey (@hulsey_eric) August 19, 2018 Unnamed twitter user Alt Trite from Birmingham, Ala.: On a Sunday. Lord have mercy. Go away. Repent. On a Sunday. Lord have mercy. Go away. Repent. — Alt Trite (@alt_trite) August 19, 2018 Katherine from Mobile, Ala.: Let me join the chorus of “GO AWAY”. You’ve embarrassed us ENOUGH! Go get @RoyMooreSenator & ride off into the sunset together. Good riddance. Let me join the chorus of “GO AWAY”. You’ve embarrassed us ENOUGH! Go get @RoyMooreSenator & ride off into the sunset together. Good riddance. — Katherine (@beckiluk) August 19, 2018
Where’s Rebekah Mason when the Luv Gov needs her?
I remember watching the train wreck that was Governor Robert Bentley‘s March press conference about his then-alleged but now confirmed affair with Rebekah Mason and thinking this has to be the worst decision by a principle and communications team I’ve ever seen. I wondered why no one stopped him. He’s a small man and his security detail would probably have turned a blind eye to someone tackling him and not letting him to the podium. I mean we’ve all heard how some on the detail had turned a blind eye to so many other of his and his staff’s indiscretions by that point. When the governor resigned and took his plea deal I thought/hoped that would be the end of our reminder of what a disappointment he ended up being to the Yellowhammer State. Then I came across a new t.v. interview published Tuesday by WVTV13 where our former, and now disgraced governor, talked about his political downfall and life out of office. Needless to say, his level of denial borders on clinical. My first thought when I read the AP headline, “After resigning in disgrace, Bentley gives himself high marks as Alabama’s governor,” was yet again — why didn’t someone stop him? Then I realized he doesn’t have anyone to stop him. For a brief moment I wished Mason was around to tell him what a bad idea any interview would be, let alone one he was clearly unprepared for. During the on-camera interview (though the camera is out of the room during some shots), Bentley said he was the “best governor” Alabama has ever had. Sadly, I’m not kidding. He actually said it. He then went on to say special interests are now running the state. Which leads me to believe he isn’t following the news. If he were, he’d probably know that Governor Kay Ivey has instituted new rules that prohibit lobbyists from serving on commissions and boards. She’s also gotten rid of some of the fluff he and his team created and her approval ratings are incredible. She has the 5th highest approval and the lowest disapproval of any governors. In the ill-fated interview Bentley talked about his popularity and said that everywhere he goes people want to shake his hand. Let me be clear, I have no desire to shake his hand or congratulate him for a job well done. As someone who tried to give him the benefit of doubt when the affair rumors first surfaced I just want to wag a finger at him and tell him what a disappointment he turned out to be in the end. He knew that he broke laws and abused his power in his attempt to cover up his affair and for months he denied it. To say he loves the state of Alabama and to claim he served it well is laughable. That said, there is a Bentley whose hand I would like to shake, Dianne Bentley‘s. I want to shake her hand, give her a hug, high five her and then buy her a bottle of wine. She remains one of the only players in the Robert Bentley saga that I hope doesn’t fade from sight. Her work as the first lady on domestic violence issues was incredible. Her actions in taping the governor and quietly filing for divorce — classic. I could go the rest of my life without being reminded of the opportunities that Governor Bentley wasted and missed. I could go the rest of my life without being reminded that he let so many down, betraying their trust and making the office of the governor. I could go the rest of my life and never need to hear his excuses and delusions about this being a witch hunt again. So if Rebekah Mason is still around, hanging onto a burner phone or two, or if there’s any communications professional in his circle of trust, would someone please give the former governor a call and, for the love of all that is holy, keep him from doing any more interviews and embarrassing himself and the state further.
Steve Flowers: Dark horses emerge to follow legacy of ‘Luv Gov’
Well, folks, let’s put the final coup de grace to the Robert Bentley six-year Governor’s reign and move on. Ole Bentley was quite a story his last two years. He had become the ringleader of a circus and an infamous national cartoon character. The salacious and lurid details of his affair with Mrs. Rebekah Mason were a never-ending, titillating saga. The story, along with his picture, could aptly be a plot for a tabloid or a Soap Opera. I will actually be surprised if it does not make it to television or even the movies. Unfortunately, this story will be his legacy as governor. He has no public policy initiatives to tout for posterity. He will be known as the “Luv Gov.” Our last two governors may not have gone to jail like previous ones, but they garnered terrific nicknames for their exploits over their last year in office. Bob Riley spent his last year doing the bidding of the Indian Gambling syndicate and his cowboy and Indian escapades closing down all the non-Indian casinos earned him the nickname of “Bingo Bob.” Ole Bentley, who appeared to be the least likely person to play the part, became a sex-crazed philanderer. His and Rebekah’s sordid romance tapes sounded like the x-rated version of Barney Fife sweet talking Thelma Lou. Even the national media dubbed him the “Luv Gov.” Bentley never really showed any genuine remorse or contrition. Even when he read his prepared resignation speech, it did not seem heartfelt or sincere. They were just words wrapped in religion. He never seemed to apologize from the heart. He still seemed a little bit haughty. Having taught Sunday school for many years, one would have thought Bentley had taught some from the book of Proverbs. One of Solomon’s greatest proverbs says, “Pride goeth before a fall.” Early in the day of Bentley’s resignation, I was walking around the Capitol with rumors swirling that Bentley’s demise was imminent at any time. I was wishing the best for ole Bentley. I thought about ole Big Jim Folsom standing on the Capitol steps when the press would pound on him and ask him to resign. He would say to them, “Y’all ain’t gonna get old Big Jim to quit. When I was a boy, growing up in Coffee County my old pappy would make me get out of bed before daylight and go work in the fields chopping cotton and plowing behind a mule. I’d see a rain cloud come up and start praying for rain so I could quit for a while. My pappy would say, boy, it may cloud up but it ain’t gonna rain on Big Jim.” Well, bless his heart, it did rain on Bentley. He’s gone. Kay Ivey will serve out the remaining 19 months of his term. She may decide to run for a full term of her own as governor. As the incumbent governor, she would be a viable candidate. There is an ever-growing list of potential and probable horses that are gearing up for the 2018 gubernatorial derby. The list of viable candidates is at about a dozen. However, let me tell you again, like I have been telling you for years, Alabamians like to vote for a dark horse for governor – one who has not been around the political track. Let me give you the names of two very rich businessmen who could pull off a Fob James 1978-like coup. Jimmy Rane, known as “Yella Fella” from his ads of riding a horse and wearing a big yellow hat advertising his yellow lumber, started out and built Great Southern Wood out of Abbeville where he was born and raised and still calls home. Forbes magazine has his net worth at $600 million. Johnny Johns became CEO of Birmingham-based Protective Life at a young age. He built the company started by Colonel Rushton into one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. When an international corporation bought Protective several years ago, Johnny walked away with $300 million. He is known throughout Birmingham as one of the most civic-minded people in the Magic City. Either one of these two distinguished gentlemen could easily buy the governor’s office with their pocket change and they may be interested. See you next week. ___ Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state Legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
